If not for my years working as a nanny, an amazing singer and songwriter like Paul Anka may have slipped under my radar. But thanks to my former employer, Jim, I was exposed to Paul Anka’s Rock Swings album one morning upon arriving to work. As I heard Van Halen's “Jump” being delivered in a classic, Sinatra-esque style, I couldn’t help but turn to the eldest child and comment, "Your parents have awesome taste in music." I was in love at first sound and I borrowed the CD immediately, which essentially influenced my desire to go see Paul Anka perform this past Friday night at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. [Photo courtesy of Paul Anka's Myspace.]
The January 29 date was Anka’s final show of his tour and his faithful fans filled out the hall. I was outnumbered by audience members twice my age or even older, and watching the crowd was half of the fun. With no opening act, Anka started promptly at 8 p.m. and entered the auditorium from the very back of the room, walking down the stairs to greet the crowd. The ladies went wild, pushing husbands out of the way, arms outstretched to get a piece of him.
Anka started off the show with a bang and an incredible amount of energy, his back up band made up of percussion, drums, guitar, bass, horns, piano and even a synthesizer. Outfitted in a swingin’ black suit, white shirt and white tie, he sauntered sporadically from stage to crowd and back while serenading the masses with their favorite tunes, and encouraging them all to sing along. After 53 years of touring, it’s safe to say the man knows what he’s doing and he was incredibly keyed in to every single beat of each tune.
This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2010.