Happy Birthday Paul Anka! 7 Things You Never Knew About the ’50s Crooner
Paul Anka has been a fixture in the music industry for decades and recorded his very first single when he was only 14 years old. The now 84-year-old is known for his smooth voice, heartfelt lyrics and undeniable influence on the pop music landscape. While many recognize him for hits like “Diana,” “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” and “My Way,” there are plenty of fascinating facts about his life and career that might surprise you. If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, you may remember when Lorelai got a dog and named him after the star (he also made a guest appearance!), proving that his influence continued year after year. In late 2024, a documentary about his life, Paul Anka: His Way, was released and has been showing at film festivals.
Still proving to be grateful for his fans, in honor of his birthday on July 30, he has invited them to send him birthday greetings with a chance to be featured on his socials and has a special treat for all today on his YouTube channel.
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Here are some other things you never knew about Paul Anka:
1 He discovered some of today’s music’s biggest stars, including Michael Bublé
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Beyond being a successful singer and songwriter, Anka has an impressive track record for spotting talent. He played a crucial role in launching the careers of Michael Bublé, Corey Hart and David Clayton-Thomas, for example. Anka saw something special in these artists and helped guide them toward their own musical success. Bublé, now a coach on The Voice, has a lot to thank Anka for and has collaborated with him many times. Bublé also paid tribute to Anka by singing at his Canadian Walk of Fame induction.
2 He wrote “Diana” for his babysitter
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One of Anka’s biggest hits, “Diana,” was inspired by his childhood crush on an 18-year-old babysitter who cared for his younger siblings. The song became a massive success, topping the U.S. charts in September of 1957. At just 15 years old, Anka’s talent for songwriting was already pretty incredible.
3 He composed the theme song for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
While many associate Anka with pop ballads, his musical contributions extend to television as well. He composed the famous theme song for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, which became one of the most recognizable TV themes of all time. The tune played every night as Carson took the stage, making it an enduring part of television history. Anka later confirmed that he got paid every time it played!
4 “Lonely Boy” was written for his mother
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Anka’s song “Lonely Boy” became a major hit, but few people know the emotional story behind it. He wrote the song for his mother, who passed away from diabetes. This deeply personal connection to his music is one of the reasons his songs have stood the test of time.
5 There’s a street named after him in Ottawa
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Anka was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, and his hometown has honored him in a unique way. He has a street named after him — Paul Anka Drive — recognizing his contributions to music and his deep connection to the city.
6 He wrote “Puppy Love” about his romance with Annette Funicello
Anka’s song “Puppy Love” was written about his teenage romance with Annette Funicello, one of the original Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club. The song became an instant classic and resonated with young lovers everywhere. Over a decade later, Donny Osmond‘s cover of the song turned it into a hit once again, introducing it to a new generation of fans.
7 He also wrote “My Way” for Frank Sinatra
Anka has written some impressive hit songs, but one of the most recognizable has to be “My Way,” for the famous Frank Sinatra. Anka recalls that Sinatra always asked him to write him a song, but he was terrified, especially since he was used to writing teen love songs. Sinatra invited him for dinner and revealed that he was going to retire, but he wanted to do one more album, and he wanted Anka to write a song for it.
“I thought, ‘What would Frank do with this melody, if he were a writer?’” Anka shared. “And all of a sudden, it just came to me: ‘And now the end is near. I face the final curtain.’” Of course, Sinatra loved it and recorded it. Anka said that he cried the first time he heard “My Way.”
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Even after decades in the industry, Anka continues to perform for audiences around the world. His tours bring him to cities across North America and beyond, where he performs his greatest hits and shares stories from his legendary career. In early 2025, performed several shows across the country, but no new tour dates have been announced. Now tell us, what’s your favorite Anka song?
70s Pop Idols
May 2019
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