Beginning his rise to fame in the '50s as a young teenager, he was nicknamed "Rock and Roll's Original Lonely Boy" due to the success of his No. 1 smash hit "Lonely Boy" in 1959. The classic anthem was released in May and rose to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, remaining in the coveted spot for four weeks. The track even got the movie treatment when Anka performed it while appearing in his first acting role in the feature film Girls Town starring Mamie Van Doren.
"Lonely Boy" aside, the crooner is known for such hits as "Diana"—the breakout tune that officially put him on the map—"Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "(You're) Having My Baby," "Puppy Love," "It's Time to Cry," "Times of Your Life," "I Don't Like to Sleep Alone," "My Home Town," "Summer's Gone," and many more.
The singer/songwriter has often reflected on his massive success. "I love writing," Anka told Business Jet Traveler in 2015. "That's what got me into this business. My first hit, 'Diana,' was a poem I set to music. When my records started selling, I was scared that success might not last, and I felt I could always fall back on my writing. So I promised myself that I would write, and if a song wasn't good for me I'd offer it to another performer. Writing's been very good to me. The royalties on the theme for The Tonight Show put my kids through college."
Anka was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993, where the organization celebrated his 900-song catalog and impressive career.
As Parade previously reported, the star-since-the-'50s announced a spring concert series in January 2026, playing several dates across the U.S. this past spring from March through May on his Paul Anka: A Man and His Music Tour.
Next, 1958 Classic Rock Song, a No. 1 Hit by a 15-Year-Old, Became a Timeless Heartbreak Anthem
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