Paul Anka Did It His Way, And Still Does

Singer-Songwriter Looks Back On His Long, Prolific Career With A New Album, His 125th

(CBS)  When Paul Anka sings the song that made him famous in the '50s, a crowd of women in their 50s (and beyond) become teenagers again.

Anka was just 16 when he became one of the biggest teen idols of the early days of rock 'n' roll.

"I was traveling with 20 of my friends," he told CBS News correspondent John Blackstone. "You know, from the Everly Brothers to Frankie Avalon to Chuck Berry, Fats Domino. We were all on one bus."

But long after most everyone else from that musical era has faded away, Paul Anka is going strong. At age 66, he's celebrating his 50th year in show business.

"When you have my demographic and the people who have grown up with me, I feel they're looking at me differently," he said. "That earlier music really sets off a different emotion in people. And you see it in their faces. If there's a woman close enough, up she gets and she'll dance with me, 'cause that's what she did when she was a kid."

Partly to prove he's much more than a nostalgia act, Anka is marking this anniversary with a new CD called "My Way." It's a collection of classic rock songs, like Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," done in Anka's own style. Billy Joel's "I Go to Extremes" gets the Anka treatment, too.

Anka says he may be getting older, but he feels like he's in the prime of his life.

"I think right now, I'm in a very good place," he said. "I feel I'm on top of my game."

In fact, Anka seems to have been on top of his game almost continuously since the very beginning - always determined to build a career. Growing up in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, he wrote songs, performed at every opportunity, and pestered his parents to let him go to New York.

"My mother gave me money and I went down and got a contract at ABC Paramount," he said.

A recording session was set, but "Diana" wasn't finished yet.

"I was stuck in one line," Anka said. "And I finally filled it in at the session. Went 'uh-oh, uh-oh,' which became - why it was a hit, I think."

Virtually overnight, girls were screaming for this new teen sensation. He wrote and recorded a string of hits and appeared on the top music show of the day, Dick Clark’s "American Bandstand." But even with screaming girls around him, he found inspiration to pen "Lonely Boy."

"You're locked in a room, no place to go," he said. "You’re lonely. You're dating Annette, Mouseketeer. Walt Disney doesn't want this romance. 'Break those kids up. It's just a puppy love.' Bing, you go home. You write it."

He also wrote "Puppy Love," based on his own life. With the money he was making, he moved his parents and his younger brother and sister from Canada to a house near New York - a close family remained close. That's reflected in "Destiny," also on his new CD.

"Because I wrote it for my mother originally who was a big supporter of mine and who died when I was 18," he said.

Before he was 20, Anka was traveling the world. He played to big crowds in Europe and Asia and had hit records. He sold 1 million copies in Italy and got a gold record. He also got a gold record in Japan.

But in the 1960s, teenage musical tastes suddenly changed. The Beatles and the rest of the bands from the British invasion took over the music scene, and Anka's record company no longer wanted him or his music.

"When they started not to believe and they sensed that things were changing, I said, 'OK, give me back my life. Give me back my music,'" he said.

Anka paid $250,000 to buy back the rights to all his music - music he's been making money on ever since. Then he took his act to Las Vegas, where he made the transition from teen idol to sophisticated crooner.

"When I started really focusing, on the nightclubs and really working at being a performer and getting that solid foundation, I got a lot more secure to where I said, 'Well, I can always perform and do this, and write.'"

All along he was writing music for others. "She's A Lady" went to No. 1 for Tom Jones. When Johnny Carson took over the "Tonight Show," Anka offered to write the theme song. But Carson's bandleader wanted different music.

"I said, 'Well, you know what, Johnny? I'm giving you half the song,'" Anka said.

Splitting the royalties with Carson turned out to be good business. Anka collected checks on the "Tonight Show" theme for 30 years.

Producer Darryl Zanuck cast him in the 1962 war epic "The Longest Day," and Anka wrote the theme music.

"I was very proud of 'The Longest Day,'" he said. "You know, I was proud to be in the film, and hearing that music was a kick for me."

Anka says he has written more than 900 songs, the biggest of all in 1968 for Frank Sinatra.

"When we had dinner, he said, 'I'm quitting. I'm getting out of here,'" Anka said. "And that really hit me. He was retiring. And I just started typing, at 1 o'clock in the morning. 'And now, the end is near. And so, I face the final curtain.' A few months later, I got a phone call. He said, 'Kid, listen to this.' And he put the phone up to the speaker. And I heard 'My Way' for the first time. I started crying."

Music industry figures show "My Way" has now been performed more than 4 million times. In the 1970s, his third decade in the business, Anka came back with his own hit record, one that brought him both controversy and derision: "You're Havin' My Baby." Feminists criticized it as the clear work of a male chauvinist.

"They came right at me," Anka said. "And the curious thing was, they took the record right to No. 1!"

Anka had written the song for his wife Anne, mother of their five daughters. Their marriage of 37 years ended in 2001. Now Anka has another family: girlfriend Anna, her daughter and their 2-year-old son.

"It's very different to have a son," he said. "And it's very different to have a child at mid-'60s. But having this child - Ethan, my boy, has just made me a new person."

Still, after 50 years, he has no intention of facing that final curtain - at least not as long as his fans keep showing up. Looking back on his long career, Anka says he's sometimes amazed with what he accomplished as a teenager.

"I'm moved by what I've done," he said. "And you know, when you're doing it, you're so focused and busy, it doesn't really hit you till you reflect on it. I say 'Wow, it’s gone so quickly,' and 'How did I get it all in?'"

[likeitis5050]

I Did It My Way is an anthem to many many lives. Wonderful song. Loving music the way I do, I have nothing but admiration for songwriters who make beautiful music that stands the test of time. Paul has always been at the top my most favorite list of writers/composers.

[frb01]

There are a lot of artists now in their 60''s and 70''s that have put out a lot of work. The lessor know Neil Sedaka who had a parallel career is also celebrating 50 years this fall.

[alleo-2009]

I have a 78 recording a name Blue Boy that sounds a lot like The Tonight Show theam I have all of the info off of BMI and ASCAP about the writer and there dues all paid up I might have the only copie of this 78,

[barbaraf4]

Not mentioned is the fact the "My Way" was a French song of a slightly different version. Anka bought the rights and re-wrote it.

[juljo724]

It is no surprise he has been in the business for 50 years. He writes and performs songs with such emotion in his voice that evoke feelings people can connect to in their lives. It is no wonder he is the only performer who has been on the Billboard charts for 6 consecutive decades! Anyone who has seen him perform will say that he gives you the best show in town. He is also very gracious and appreciative of his fans all over.

[likeitis5050]

frb01 Neil S. is up there on my list, too. What a career these men have had during some very diverse shifts in the musical paradigm. Amazing.

[makita98]

Great music, great memories ! love the whole article !

[beadazzle]

Ah to listen and to feel the 50''s and 60''s music again and to be able to understand the words and the way it makes one feel is the greatest thing that a muscian can do for his/her listeners.

It''s music without slang or cuss words. It''s music that you can remember your first date or your first kiss.It''s also music that gives you a warm feeling all over and makes you want to dance,or take your girlfriend ot boyfriend to a drag race on the streets before it was put on race tracks.

It''s music you and your buddies would go to the old A&W or the Sonic to where you could watch the ladies bring your food and drinks on roller skates.It''s music you can remember a favorite song when you made love for the first time.

These are just a few things i can remember the songs from back then,that bring fond memories to my mind at the young age of 52. I wish the kids of today would or could enjoy such music and realize that they don''t have to listen to music about killing cops or doing drugs.

Keep singing Paul.

[mrchiloop]

Grew up with sounds of the 50''s and Paul was one of the more favorite of the street guys. To put it a different way he was a lady''s man but to the guys he was similar to Dean Martin a man''s - ''MAN,'' he was one of the guys.
In later years through driving a limo I got to know Paul and his crew. There''s no finer bunch you''ll ever meet. Paul is a success today NO. 1# because of his talent (Singer, Song Writer,Business Man). I''m sure there are people as focused as Paul is but it still holds true there''s only one PAUL ANKA.

[idahilld]

I have been listening to Paul since I was very, very young, and continue to listen. Paul''s music, whether written by him or not always touches the heart. Too bad most of his best music is the stuff you never hear on the airwaves, or can readily be found at your local music retailer. As for "My Way", yes, Paul bought the rights to the song AND gave it new life which it might otherwise not have had, and oddly enough, even though it was written for Sinatra, Paul performs it best, IMHO. Keep ''em coming, Paul. You''re one of the greatest!

[jmamb]

I love Paul!! I''m 67 years old and he still pulls the strings in my heart.

[jscribe58]

I remember the 50''s music being dubbed ''jungle'' music that was going to corrupt our youth, but they were still songs of love that had great lyrics, so good in fact that they later blended with the mucic of the greats.

I remember seeing this little kid with a big nose from Canada, who sang with an enthusiasm that just had to be set apart from so many of the others. Yes, the girls screamed, but this kid (my age) impressed me with his business sense, and the fact that he not only wrote his own songs, but had a list of hits recorded by other singers.I saw this as his ticket to permanent success.

Paul has not had his success just handed over to him - he worked very hard for it, and came up to the plate whenever he had to. His long marriage failing had to be a big blow, no matter who was at fault, but he weathered it and came out with another dream come rue - a son.

His life decisions of course were his, but I remember nodding in agreement when he got his famous nose job, when he bought back the rights to his songs and when he decided to challenge Vegas. I knew you were up to it, Paul!

[asor1-2009]

Paul Anka is living proof that "nice counts". Love him and his music. Thanks for a great article to start my day.

[carolrhill]

Paul has worked very hard all of his life he never had anything handed to him never. I can only tell you in the 50''s when I listened to him and I did nobody was allowed to speak to me because I had to hear every word. I was so in Love with him my heart would go a little (lot) faster because I could feel the love he would sing about. The only thing I miss is seeing him with his hair it is beginning to go away but that is OK all of us are doing the same thing but in may case I am grayer much grayer.
You never heard any kind of garbage about him he always kept himself clean and neat of which I thank GOD for that.
I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL SONGS THAT HE GAVE TO US AND TO THIS DAY I REMEMBER ALL OF THE WORDS. HE GAVE US ALL SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME THEN AND NOW.
THANK GOD FOR HIM AND ALL OF HIS SONGS!!!

[likeitis5050]

I teach sign language to children using music...and to them our artists of the 50s and 60s are brand new. They love the words, and the easy-to-keep-up-with beat. Paul is one of the best to start with because of the sincerity in his voice that forces the students to use the face and body to convey meaning...which is essential in ASL. Add to Paul, Roy Orbison, and Neil Sedaka and we have too much fun.

[wheelnut53]

I missed the opportunity to meet paul the other day I hope he saw me