Song - Paul Anka - Put Your Head On My Shoulder 2021 — S1 E1

2021-03-08

Paul Albert Anka born July 30, 1941 is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. He became famous with hit songs including "Diana", "Lonely Boy", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "You're Having My Baby". He wrote the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, one of Tom Jones' biggest hits, "She's a Lady", and the English lyrics to Claude François and Jacques Revaux's music for Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way", which has been recorded by many, including Elvis Presley. Three songs he co-wrote with Michael Jackson, "This Is It" "Felt So Good", and "Don't Matter to Me", became posthumous hits for Jackson. Paul Anka recorded his first single, "I Confess", when he was 14. In 1956, with $100 given to him by his uncle, he went to New York City where he auditioned for Don Costa at ABC Records, singing what was widely believed to be a lovestruck verse he had written to a former babysitter. In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross in 2005, he stated that it was to a girl at his church whom he hardly knew. The song "Diana" brought Anka stardom as it went to No. 1 on the Canadian and US music charts. "Diana" is one of the best selling singles ever by a Canadian recording artist. He followed up with four songs that made it into the Top 20 in 1958, including "It's Time to Cry", which hit No. 4 and "My Heart Sings", which reached No. 15, making him (at 17) one of the biggest teen idols of the time. He toured Britain, then Australia with Buddy Holly. Anka also wrote "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" a song written for Holly, which Holly recorded just before he died in 1959. Anka "Anka stated shotly afterward It Doesn't Matter Anymore" has a tragic irony about it now, but at least it will help look after Buddy Holly's family. I'm giving my composer's royalty to his widow – it's the least I can do.