Paul Anka: His Way

When setting out to make a documentary about Canadian-born singer-songwriter Paul Anka, award-winning director John Maggio had a Herculean task. How to properly capture a remarkable career spanning eight decades and filled with unprecedented global success that is still going strong?

Born in Ottawa, the son of Syrian/Lebanese immigrants, Anka exhibited musical talent early on. In an act of bravado and ambition, he borrowed money at 16 to head to New York City, and soon after exploded onto the charts with his first hit “Diana,” which was followed by more record-breaking titles. What set Anka apart from other teen idols of the day was his ability to write his own songs. While he toured the world and performed for millions, he simultaneously wrote for such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Buddy Holly, Michael Jackson, Céline Dion, and, later, even Toronto’s own Drake. Anka’s ability to create across decades and genres has meant a catalogue of instantly recognizable music has been embedded in the hearts of several generations.

Besides its remarkable volume of archival footage, the singular feature here is Anka’s candour. The singer freely reveals previously unheard stories about everything from his business success to his mistakes (although he clearly never made the same one twice), the pressures of fame on his first marriage, and numerous ribald recollections around his working relationships with other musical icons. Paul Anka: His Way holds fresh insight for longtime fans as well as newcomers ready to learn just how far-reaching this artist’s words have been through the years.

JANE SCHOETTLE