Paul Anka – My Home Town



PLEASE NOTE: I divided my uploads between multiple channels, Bookmark this link in your browser for instant access to an index with links to all of John1948’s oldies classics. LINK: tinyurl.com One of the biggest teen idols of the late ’50s, Paul Anka moved to the adult sphere several years later and became a successful performer, songwriter, music businessman, and recording artist, remaining so well into the new millennium. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1941 to parents of Lebanese Christian descent who owned a local restaurant, Anka proved a child prodigy, beginning his show business life at the age of 12 as an impressionist. By the age of 14, he was stealing the family car to drive to amateur singing contests in nearby Hull, Quebec, and writing his own songs. His first single, “I Confess,” appeared on the Riviera subsidiary of Jules and Joe Bihari’s RPM label. While on a trip to New York with a group of friends who sang as the Rover Boys, Anka gained an audition with ABC producer Don Costa, and sang his own composition, “Diana,” an ode to a former babysitter. Costa liked what he heard, recorded the teenager, and watched as the single hit number one on both sides of the Atlantic later in 1957, eventually selling a reported ten million copies worldwide. Anka placed four songs in the Top 20 a year later, including “You Are My Destiny” and “Crazy Love,” tempering the all-out rebellion of rock & roll with songs that questioned parental authority rather than promoting outright

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17 Responses

  1. jakescottify Says:

    what a cute cover hehe! love the anka’s all about anthea’s new blog here

    antheaanka. com

  2. John1948Ten Says:

    @catinish Tal vez mi programa de traducción no trabajó correctamente pero no entiendo su comentario.

  3. catinish Says:

    lo siento mi casa natal mi casa de campo es el frente sandinista de liberacion nacional fsln

  4. ugetita Says:

    Añoranzas de una pre_adoscencia. De aquellos dias en que fuì FELIZ!

  5. loydkoh826 Says:

    I love this too. . . very joyous, uplifts my spirits up!
    Superb video! Thanks for posting.
    Thanks mbf for sharing, enjoyed this much.

  6. felixbautista Says:

    Hi John ! Am so happy you uploaded this song which was one of my favorites among his many hits- Thank you and more power to you – more of this please/

  7. John1948Ten Says:

    Me too! Millard High School, Millard, Nebraska, class of 1966.

  8. Greenhornet270 Says:

    Plesanton CA; I’d give my right arm to see it again. . .
    Bob in Swamps

  9. Airhead740541 Says:

    Messmarizing !! Masterpiece. . Glad that I’ve lent my ears to this song and glad that i’ve downloaded the entire album for free at DownloadMusic[DOT]im , . .

  10. kimoltr Says:

    I was born in 1966 but for some reason I like this music the photos are AWSOME maybe because I am also from a small town Congrats on you vids good stuf.

  11. nelsonvargascatalan Says:

    Que recuerdos! What beautiful memories! les plus belles souvenirs!! les migliores ricordi!!

  12. John1948Ten Says:

    Thanks. These are the most meaningful to me too.

  13. anitashelby Says:

    Wow John, I Love this when you put old photos In your vids! This Is Great!!! . . Thanks John. . . Anita. .

  14. LaVerne37 Says:

    love the bouffant photo!!! I was the kid that would sneak off to dance class while the other boys played sports. . . the high school quarterback was my best friend so NO ONE messed with me!!! ;)

  15. John1948Ten Says:

    All the photos that aren’t of Paul Anka came from my yearbook – MHS 1966.

  16. John1948Ten Says:

    I did OK. It was a small town so you didn’t have to be a NFL prospect to play. I started every game from 9th grade on. You could probably describe me as Steady Eddie.

  17. LaVerne37 Says:

    WONDERFUL PHOTOS John!!! I’ll bet you were one of the football stars!

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