Paul Anka swings into Pala Aug. 25

Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal

Special to the Village News

Few entertainers will live long enough to be called a legend. Paul Anka is one who has. After celebrating his last birthday July 30, he has now passed the sixth decade in a celebrated singing career.

Paul Anka is appearing at the Pala Casino and Spa in Pala, Friday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. The show will be at the Starlight outdoor theatre along with his traveling band of 13 musicians. Tickets are selling out and can be ordered at the Box office, (800) 585-3737, Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. or www.palacasino.com.

Anka’s first hit, "Diana", happened when he was just 15, “I’m so young and you’re so old,” followed by "Lonely Boy", “I’m just a lonely boy, lonely and blue. ” He wrote from his heart then the way he does now.

It was 1957. Paul Anka was just a kid. He would go on to perform live across America on every teenager’s favorite show, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, followed by The Ed Sullivan Show, the nation’s highest rated family program. And, yet, he wasn’t old enough to drive.

That was then and this is now. As a celebrated international performer, Anka has recorded in Italian, Spanish, Japanese, German, and French. He has traveled the world, and just when you’d think he would be ready to take it easy, he married again last May and started a North American tour.

Writing over 500 songs for artists, television and movies, he has kept swinging with hits for other performers like Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Michael Jackson, and the most recognized orchestration of all times, the Tonight Show theme song.

Did you know he charted five Top-20 Billboard hits before he was 18 and over 100 hits in the top 100 Billboard? He is the only, yes the only, artist to be in the Billboard Top 100 for seven consecutive decades. Not only has he done it my way – baby, he wrote the lyrics. As every one must know, "My Way" became Frank Sinatra’s anthem.

Starting out with other young singers like Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Elvis, Jerry Lee Louis, the Everly Brothers, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly, he also hung out with Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack in Las Vegas.

Paul Anka is still here. And still performing. And, fortunately for all of us, his voice has become richer and more full-bodied. Even his speaking voice is like warm honey.

With his mega-stardom, Anka realizes responsibility and has linked his talent to raising funds and awareness for diabetes (the disease that took his mother), the heart association, cerebral palsy and the humane society.

When asked what he would like to say to his fans, he had a short, honest answer straight from his heart, “I am thankful”.

Don’t miss Paul Anka Friday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. at Pala Casino and Spa in Pala, at 11154 Highway 76. He is gonna swing from a star, I just know it.