Pop Music
Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1941, Paul Anka had already recorded several records by the time he was 15. In 1957 the 15 year-old Anka traveled to New York City where he auditioned for Don Costa at ABC. Anka sang a love song. (The stories about the Diana who inspired the song vary. However, in his book My Way: An Autobiography, Anka says that he developed a crush for a 19-year-old girl named Diana Ayoub, who worked as a secretary in the offices of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ottawa. He saw her at a church and she would sometimes babysit his younger siblings.) Costa was impressed and gave him a deal and helped to make him a teen idol in the ’50s. In 1957, the song “Diana” brought Anka stardom as it went to #1 on the U.S., Canadian, and United Kingdom music charts. Anka was the first teenager at the time to have a million seller in the U.K. (he was still 15 when it charted). At the time, it was the biggest-selling single in the U.K. history. “Diana” is still one of the best-selling singles ever by a Canadian recording artist. And Anka has had a remarkably successful career to this day as a singer, songwriter, and performer.
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[…] traveled to New York City where he auditioned for Don Costa at ABC. Anka sang the love song “Diana.” Costa was impressed and gave him a deal and helped to make him a teen idol in the […]
[…] If you would like to read about and listen to other songs by Paul Anka: “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” and “Diana.” […]