Dec. 3, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: LISA WOSKE
(805) 756-7110
Master Showman Paul Anka Coming to Cohan Center Jan. 7
SAN LUIS OBISPO -- With over 60 million records sold to date
and 33 Top 40 hits to his credit, Paul Anka is an industry legend.
The
New York Times wrote, “Mr. Anka could give lessons on showmanship.”
On Friday, January 7, 2005 at 8 p.m. in the Christopher Cohan Center,
Cal Poly Arts presents Paul Anka with his dynamic 12-piece band
for an
all-hits concert, celebrating Anka’s 45th anniversary in show
business.
Paul Anka is one of music’s most prolific songwriters. He
has achieved
success in virrtually every venue: stage, screen, television, and
recording. With over 124 albums released, Anka has been named "the
21st
most successful artist" in Billboard magazine’s history.
His musical compositions are internationally-known, have been performed
well over 150 million times, and were recorded by some of the great
names in the entertainment industry, including Frank Sinatra (“My
Way”),
Buddy Holly (“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”), and
Tom Jones (“She’s A Lady”).
Anka gained fame at 16 as a 50’s teen idol, with appearances
on TV’s
“American Bandstand” and major hits on the charts --
”Diana,” “Lonely
Boy,” “Puppy Love,” “You Are My Destiny,”
and “Put Your Head on My
Shoulder.” His continued success throughout the decades was
highlighted
with top songs in the 70’s, “(You’re) Having My
Baby” and "Times of Your
Life."
With well over 900 songs to his credit -- performed by such diverse
artists as Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, The Sex Pistols, Nina
Simone, Gypsy Kings, and Robbie Williams -- Anka has also successfully
collaborated with songwriters David Foster, Carol Bayer Sager, Richard
Marx, Michael McDonald, Michael Jackson, and many others.
Anka’s biggest contribution to television was the most recognized
show
theme song in history: “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,”
which has
been performed over 1,400,000 times. He was nominated for an Academy
Award for writing the theme music and title song for the film, “No
Way
Out,” starring Kevin Costner. His theme song for Louis Malle’s
“Atlantic
City” took top honors at the Venice Film Festival.
Paul Anka continues to tour ten months out of the year and recently
signed an unprecedented three-year deal with The MGM in Las Vegas,
as
well as with the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and a multi-year deal
with
The Borgata in Atlantic City.
Tickets for the performance range from $44 - $68, with student
discounts
available, and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Ticket Office,
10
a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order
by
phone, call 805/756-2787; to order by fax: 805/756-6088. Order on-line
at www.pacslo.org.
Sponsored by Patricia McNamara in loving memory of Francis McNamara
and
byAl and Patty Moriarty and Avila Village Inn.
For audio and video samples of Cal Poly Arts events, visit
www.calpolyarts.org.
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