finetune artist: Paul Anka

b. 30 July 1941, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. A prolific songwriter and child prodigy, Anka was one of the major teen-idols of the 50s. He burst onto the scene in 1957 with the self-written "Diana", an intense ballad describing the frustration and unrequited love of a young teenager for a slightly older female. With its distinctive rhythm pattern, the song was powerfully evocative and stayed at the top of the UK charts for a lengthy nine weeks, as well as reaching number 1 in the USA. It sold a reported 10 million copies worldwide. Anka followed it with a series of hits such as "You Are My Destiny", "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" and "Puppy Love". Adolescent worries and the desire to be taken seriously by condescending parents were familiar themes in those songs and contributed greatly to his success. As the 50s drew to a close, he wisely moved away from teen ballads and planned for a long-term future as a songwriter and cabaret artist. His moving "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" was a posthumous UK number 1 for Buddy Holly in 1959. By this time Anka had begun an acting career, appearing in Let's Rock and Girls Town, the latter of which included the huge US hit "Lonely Boy".

Listen to Paul Anka at Finetune.

(2008) The Best Of The United Artists Years 1973-1977
(2007) Classic Songs, My Way
(2005) Rock Swings
(2000) The Very Best Of Paul Anka
(2000) The Very Best Of Paul Anka
(1998) A Body of Work
(1998) A Body Of Work
(1991) Paul Anka: Five Decades Greatest Hits
(1988) 21 Golden Hits
(1988) 21 Golden Hits

Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Diana
Lonely Boy
You Are My Destiny
Puppy Love