Paul Anka was a bit before my time, but of course I had heard of him. I'm not gonna lie, I saw him as a Rat Pack wanna be. I knew he was a writer, but the songs were not really my thing. Then I watched the documentary!
The first thing that got me was the sound of his voice. It was unique, almost Sting-like. At the age of sixteen, he had solid pitch and time. And a certain little quirk in his tone and phrasing that I had never noticed. The scene where he is sitting at the piano, figuring out the ubiquitous C, Am, F, G chord progression blew me away. I did that exact same thing when I was in high school. Those chords form the infrastructure of all pop songwriting … "Handy Man", "This Boy", "Rhythm of the Falling Rain" … the list goes on forever. "In Your Letter" from our Hi Infidelity album could have been written by Paul Anka. It's those same four chords.
And his pure desire and drive! He personifies the idea that to make it in music, you have to need it. Everybody wants to be a star. Everybody wants to write hits. But some people actually need it for their very survival. It is what they were put on Earth to do.
Anyway, once again I totally agree with you. Anyone who is in the entertainment business, or wants to be a professional entertainer needs to see this doc. I freaking loved it. … kc
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Your post is a masterclass on everything that's wrong with AI-generated music.
Craig Anderton
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I watched it last night. Brilliant!
Johnny couldn't screw Skitch Henderson………..UNTIL he got half the song and cowriting credit. Skitch who?
Mike Bone
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Couldn't agree more, Bob. Loved this biopic. As a former musician (cellist in Lighthouse and eventually a writer and associate professor of screenwriting), I've always been connected to music and film. I saw the Paul Anka film at the Toronto film festival a year and a half ago. What I left feeling was the significance of reinvention and how, in some ways, plastic surgery and externals aside, reinvention can actually be a spiritual act. So, for all the outward trappings, there is a spiritual underpinning to Anka's journey in that his actual Voice never wavers. Just so happens that his drive is as strong as his voice which doesn't hurt if you want to make money too.
When the Beatles came along his goose was cooked, even though he was an international teen Idol. But at that young and tender age he began to cultivate the art of reinvention. He learned to put his ego aside and pivot with his gift and remain on the path.
Howard Wiseman
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Hey Bob:
A few years back Paul Anka released a rock 'n' roll record and when I heard him interviewed by Steve Jones and they played Black Hole Sun, I had to call him and tell him how much I loved it. I've known Paul my whole life. My dad, Roy, and my godfather Norman worked with him as agents and managers from the 60s on. As a matter of fact, it was because of a tip from Paul that that they went and signed the Beatles to GAC and ended up booking their tours in the US. He is a true gentleman and icon. A couple of days later after the call, I received a package with DVDs of his interviews about the record and all the reviews. There's nobody like him. He is the most professional/CEO/ Star ever. He's also funny and immensely charming. A couple of years ago he was playing the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills and the audience was comprised of every demographic, but they all had in common the knowledge of all the words to all his Brilliant songs and they were singing away. His daughters and sadly, deceased wife, are amazing people. He also has a son in law Jogi who is an 8 time Tour de France finisher. As you said he could teach people how to be a star. Any interview with him is a master class in superstardom, but also in the history of the entertainment business. Anybody on the road to success needs to ask what would Paul do?
Bill Gerber
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Interesting read Bob.
In the summer 2022 we brought Paul, in conjunction with Shuki Weiss ,to Israel.
One show at the Roman amphitheater in Caesaria. Another at the Sultan's pools in Jerusalem. Sold very well. Although he's no youngster, Paul is the quintessential old school master entertainer. He worked the crowd without effort or a hitch, was thoroughly professional to work with and has a crazy, resonant and booming voice that he uses without any effects for a 2 hour plus show. Again, he and his crew were a real pleasure you work which as most promoters will tell you -is not a a given with some artists. I look forward to watching the doc.
Hillel Wachs
2b Vibes Music
Tel Aviv - Jerusalem
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And, he discovered John Prine, managing him and getting him signed. For that alone he deserves love.
Bob Anthony
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Couldn't agree more. This is one of the best music documentaries I can remember having seen. And to add to what you've said, the guy is truly a lifer and destined to do this. He couldn't imagine doing anything else and doesn't want to stop. That level of dedication is rare and it should be celebrated. Lastly, he's not afraid to change with the times. You hear him talk about Justin Timberlake, and Drake and embracing TikTok where he's had his music trend. The guy is hip and in-tune with the culture too and he loves interacting with people. Truly a legend.
Richard Young
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Great perspective here. I came away from this documentary like a student reflecting on a lecture by a master. His ability to push forward, to pivot, to just show up. The harder he worked, the luckier he got. Imagine that.
Peter Barsocchini
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It's gotta be great. He's great. The bridge between the rat pack and Rock and Roll.
Saw him last year, the 75+ year old women love him!
Great songs great talent great stories.
C'mon Bob….he does it his way!
Av Miller
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Thanks for this wonderful letter about Paul Anka. He is the real deal and I have been consumed with his career, his Our Way podcast, his interviews and stories from now and back in the day! A Tour de Force and I'm so glad you wrote this lovely and loving letter in the midst of all the chaos right now.
What a pick me up! Thank you -
Best,
Sharon Wright
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Here's the early doc on Anka. They lifted some of it for a really crazy 60's movie called
"Privilege", that's about a state-sponsored rock star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN7WLZZx5E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs4hDSvJvls
George Drakoulias
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Thank you so much for your recommendation of the Paul Anka documentary; an amazing life that is still contributing to this thing called Popular Music. Your words, along with those recently about Neil Sedaka, truly give an accurate taste of what we loved back then in addition to Elvis, Buddy, and Chuck.
Dennis Brent
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Bob I've done work for Paul Anka and he's someone. I wrote a lengthy bio for him in 2005 when he released his "Rock Swings" album of songs by Nirvana, Bon Jovi, and Oasis with updated arrangements. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.
Paul was so pleased with the bio that he used it for years on his home site. After our interview he sent me by courier 3 packages. 1) A gold record of "Diana"; 2) A 24x11 photo of himself signed with remarks to me. 3) Large sheet music of "My Way" that his band used, with the dedication, "You and I Larry, we did it our way."
Over the years we have talked and met several times. I found that he has great recall memory, or exceptional recall. A subject we talked about at an event he would bring up the next time we met a year later and again a year or two afterwards. Not just recall the memory but adding to the conversation each time.
Along the way I learned how he and other '50s pop stars were influenced by the mainstream success of Bobby Darin. How he picked up James Brown's international music publishing. How he came to release albums in different languages in the '60s and tour the different international countries. Why he bought back his entire recording catalog in the early '70s, and then later sold it to Gordon Mills who managed Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck.
Even 20 years after we met he still returns emails and answers his phone for me.
One of a kind.
Larry LeBlanc
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I saw him on Bill Maher a few weeks back and it's like he had just emerged from a cryonics capsule.
The guy's inability to age puts the late Dick Clark to shame.
Send Paul to NIH, figure out his genetic fountain of youth, and give it to us, asap.
It's cliche to call someone a Force of Nature, but does it ever fit here.
I'd love to know how much dough the Tonight Show theme made Anka over Johnny's 30-year reign.
—Emory Damron
Alexandria VA
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Bob nice day what a great article!!! You might remember me I started MLM an independent marketing company in the 70;s which turned out to be a very very successful venture our clients included Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Billy Idol, Cher, Huey Lewis, Pointer Sisters, Al Stewart, Pretenders, Prince and Paul Anka, the list goes on….our focus was not so much radio as was rcord retailers …. Paul had just switched to Columbia Records and the album was doing very well in Europe but not much in the U.S I suggested that Paul do a tour of Europe and at that time perform live on tv stations. I'm not quite sure of the date I think it was1984. I mapped out a 30 day tour using Paris as our base and with 9 markets left at the end of the tour he asked me to be his manager, that's the part I played on this incredible tour…I told him thanks I'm flattered but I'm not the type…one of the amazing experiences was that we flew the Concorde from New York to Paris in 2 hours!! Paul was recognized wherever we went "palanka palanka" was the call ..we remained good friends for quite a while, thanks for bringing back some really good times …ciao, Macey Lipman
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From: Don Miggs
PA is a complete original. He's been family forever and when we finally got in a studio together you felt his magic. A turn of phrase, a lift in melody and every word mattered. That's what I was struck by. Up to that point (this is several years ago now) I was led more by gut than craft and sentence tense or a casual "but" or "and" wasn't something to belabor. PA made all of that matter.
We finished one write where he didn't dominate the room. He let it breathe and he took control when he had to but it was a true collaboration. As he's leaving he stops in the middle of the hallways, arms out a little like he was catching himself, eyes closed but seemingly looking up- I thought he was having a heart attack. I swear to God. I was a second from dialing 911. I'm sort of softly calling his name, ready for a fall, while simultaneously keeping a respectable distance and he starts to hum….
Some words, a melody starting to form. He opens his eyes like I stepped on a toe and darts to the piano and starts this thing about "Michelle" and as he's editing his thoughts in real-time he's also reminding me- AND HIM- to be careful because the Beatles already have a famous "Michelle" tune. This went on for several minutes with making little suggestions I'm about certain he heard but never really acknowledged. I was just lucky to bear witness. And then it stopped.
He got up and said "we should finish that sometime." And was gone.
He's a bundle of energy. He knows when the moment needs to be capitalized on and how to do it with an old-school flair you can't beat.
I have a few other stories with him that I cherish because he helped me feel "legitimate". A real superstar who let me in, just enough. Very thankful for that.
Thanks for the reminder.
https://miggs.com/
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I watched the Paul Anka documentary recently and read My Way a couple years ago. Both were Deja Vu moments for me.
Fifty one years ago I went to work for Irvin Feld after he acquired Ringling Brothers Circus. Irvin's business partner, Allen Bloom became my mentor and for 25 years we had a close personal and professional relationship. During this time I was privy to many great stories of the birth of rock and roll and Paul Anka years with Irvin, Izzy and Allen. Everything Paul says about loading up in a buss with all the other 50's musical stars is true. Super Shows (Irvin and Izzy's company) was the first Live Nation in that they toured acts nationally. Irvin was also Paul's manager at this time. He also managed a few other acts like Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Allen used to add to the stories a few insider "extras" like the fact that there was one set of drums for the tour and the financial numbers for each tour stop. He had a small spiral notebook and it showed everything: who was on the bill, ticket gross, concessions, programs, expenses, net and how much was deposited in the bank or carried overland. Allen was the road manager for the early acts and was there the "day the music died" in Iowa with Buddy Holly and others. Allen was an incredible raconteur and an encyclopedia of 50's rock n roll history.
Allen told me a tidbit once that never made it into Paul's book or documentary but nevertheless is a bit of musical history. Paul evidently had a relationship with Annette Funicello while on tour and it ended to his disappointment. Paul lamented his broken heart story to Irvin to which he consoled and replied: "Paul, it's only Puppy Love, you will get over it."…... Which became the title to a hit song written by, of course, Paul Anka.
Irvin Feld was a genius. He was also mercurial to be around. You were either a superstar or worthless based on your performance. His mind for math and numbers was uncanny. One day not long after I went to work for Irvin he sent me to Baltimore to check in with Shirley Feld (his brother Israel's wife) at the box office. Shirley supervised Washington D.C. and Baltimore ticketing operations back in 70's. You always had to have the numbers handy if Irvin or Allen showed up unannounced (which they did often). Irvin walked up to me in the box office and wants the numbers for the weekend and I have them. He asked me a series of questions about sales trends (which I have) and remarks offhandedly that the gross was up 13.82 percent over the previous year. He thanks me and leaves to watch the first half of the show. Fixated on his percentage comment I get a calculator and run the numbers and it was exactly 13.82 percent as Irvin spontaneously calculated. He was amazing and knew everything about his business. Later that day he checked in to get the final number from the matinee and made an indelible comment to me: "Young man, If you treat my money like your money, we're going to get along just fine." I never forgot it for 45 years working for Irvin, Allen and later Kenneth Feld when he took leadership of the company."
Back to Paul, the whole shift from teen star to Vegas was Irvin and Paul repositioning his career towards away from teeny bopper to MOR. Once again amazing stories from decades of listening to Allen Bloom.
I am proud to have worked for Irvin Feld for 10 years before he passed unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm. He taught me so much about being tough but fair in business with his partners. His son Kenneth carried on this tradition and is universally respected in the industry. So many great memories.
Thanks for the post on Paul. While we never met I kinda know Paul Anka through the lens of Irvin and Allen and their history with him and the birth of rock and roll.
Bill Powell
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Thanks for the tip and will subscribe for a month just to watch it.
BUT... it will be tough to beat your interview with him, Bob, one of your best ever.
DG
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