On July 30, 1941, Paul Anka was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and he went on to become one of the most successful artists in Billboard history. Today, the music legend celebrates his milestone 85th birthday.
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.
The teen idol started out singing doo-wop-influenced rock and roll, later transitioning his sound into genres that include soft rock, pop, contemporary, jazz, and blues.
"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.
Anka's magical pen extends to more artists than just himself, writing hits for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. He wrote the English lyrics for Sinatra's signature anthem, "My Way," Tom Jones' major 1971 hit, "She's a Lady," and contributed to the King of Pop's posthumous tracks "This Is It" and "Love Never Felt So Good," according to Britannica. Additionally, the longtime talent composed the famous theme music for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
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."
Over his seven-decade-spanning career, Anka has recorded over 120 albums in a wide variety of languages, selling close to 50 million worldwide. The iconic singer has charted a whopping 48 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and made history by becoming the only artist to have a song enter the chart for seven consecutive decades after the release of his album Duets (2013).
Anka was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993, where the organization celebrated his 900-song catalog and impressive career.
And he's still not hanging up his mic just yet.
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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