Celebrated Singer, Songwriter and Former Teen Idol Paul Anka Takes the Stage at Hard Rock Live on January 20
Tickets go on sale Friday, December 11 at noon
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Celebrated singer, songwriter and former teen idol Paul Anka brings his impressive catalog of hits and standards to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Wednesday, January 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 11 at noon.
Armed with a sense of tenacity as formidable as his talent, Paul Anka has conquered many challenges over the course of the last five decades, forging a career that’s unlike any other in the history of pop. Anka has seamlessly made the transition from ’50s teen idol to celebrated songwriter to a contemporary torchbearer for all that swings. The multi-talented musician has had a song on Billboard’s charts in every decade since 1957 when he was only 17. Since then, he’s recorded over 120 albums in a wide variety of languages, selling close to 15 million albums worldwide and landing three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 – “Diana,” “Lonely Boy” and “(You’re) Having My Baby.”
Plenty of other artists have him to thank for some big hits, too. His 900-song body of work includes such titles as “She’s a Lady” (Tom Jones), “Puppy Love” (Donny Osmond), “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” (Buddy Holly) and “Teddy” (Connie Francis). The theme he wrote for The Tonight Show was heard every night by millions of Johnny Carson fans. As for “My Way,” which Anka famously turned from a little-known French song into a perennial showstopper for his late friend Frank Sinatra, it can be heard at any given moment in a karaoke bar somewhere on the planet.
Born in 1941 into a tight-knit Lebanese-Canadian family in Ottawa, Anka didn’t waste much time getting his life in music started. He sang in the choir at St. Elijah Syrian Orthodox Church and briefly studied piano. He honed his writing skills with journalism courses, even working for a spell at the Ottawa Citizen. By 13, he had his own vocal group, the Bobbysoxers.
In 1956, he released his first single, “Blau-Wile Deverest Fontaine.” It was not a hit, but Anka kept plugging away, going so far to sneak into Fats Domino’s dressing room to meet the legend. The following year, he released “Diana,” which made him a star. He began penning hits for a variety of popular singers. Among his proudest accomplishments was writing the Academy Award-nominated theme for The Longest Day, the 1962 film in which he also starred.
Becoming a junior associate of Sinatra and the Rat Pack had its privileges. By the ’70s, the success of “My Way” and a string of hits like “(You’re) Having My Baby” confirmed his status as an icon of popular music. His later achievements as a recording artist included “Hold Me ‘Til the Morning Comes,” a hit duet with Peter Cetera in 1983, the Spanish-language album Amigos in 1996, and Body of Work, a 1998 duets album that featured Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Patti LaBelle, Tom Jones and daughter Anthea Anka.
Anka’s two most recent albums are Rock Swings and Classic Songs, My Way which feature lush treatments of songs by Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, and Bryan Adams, a swinging take on the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and surprising new renditions of two classics from Anka’s own formidable canon. Michael Bublé and Jon Bon Jovi also join Anka for some show-stopping tunes on the album.
Tickets cost $95, $75 & $55.* All seats are reserved and available at the Hard Rock Live Box Office, open Monday – Saturday from noon to 7pm and on Sunday – only open on event days at noon. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.
About Hard Rock Live
Hard Rock Live, a spectacular state-of-the-art facility has quickly emerged as the entertainment capital of South Florida. Attracting music, comedy and sports fans, this 5,500-seat indoor arena further expands the ultimate entertainment experience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. For more information please visit www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino provides quality guest experiences where South Floridians can play, stay, dine, and shop. Eighty-nine tables offer Blackjack, Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker and Let it Ride on a nearly three-acre casino floor. Play one of the more than 2,500 Vegas-style slots including the Native-American casino linked Multi-Area Progressive Jackpots and Mega Jackpots. Separate high-limit rooms for table games and slots, in addition to a non-smoking room are available for guests to enjoy. Loyal Player’s Club members experience an exclusive VIP Plum Lounge and celebrity show kitchen. Convene in The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise for Texas Hold ‘em, limit Texas Hold ’em, Seven Card Stud and two dollar and four dollar limit Omaha Hi Lo games. Located inside the casino is Hard Rock Café-Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 123 globally recognized rock ‘n roll themed restaurants. The Green Lodging Certified by the State of Florida, AAA, Four Diamond rated resort showcases 500 luxurious guest rooms, 16 restaurants and lounges, 40,000-square-feet of meeting room space, a European-style spa, auto salon, 22 retail shops, 14 nightclubs, Paradise Live, and Hard Rock Live. Located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. Take I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way.
For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1 800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com .
Contacts:
Ryan Rogers, Seminole Hard Rock, 954-327-7631, ryan.rogers@seminolehardrock.com
Ana Lanzas, Seminole Hard Rock, 954-327-7504, ana.lanzas@seminolehardrock.com
Fran Folic, Bitner Goodman, 954-730-7730, ext. 117, fran@bitnergoodman.com