Book Review: Paul Anka's Autobiography "My Way"

I grew up with Paul Anka, and he has always remained one of my favorite performers.  Paul has re-cycled himself more times than I can remember, each time emerging as a more clever and astute singer/composer and performer. I never knew much about his personal life except that he was from Canada and had four beautiful daughters. Even though he was an extremely popular singer, he always conducted himself as a gentleman, and he was able to avoid getting in the middle of any press scandals. No small accomplishment for someone who has been in the public view for over 50 years. When most of the singers who started out in the 50's and 60's became old, they stopped performing.  Paul had the smarts to recognize major music changes during his career and made the necessary changes to become new again.

This autobiography is not just the story of Paul Anka's life and career. It is a story about the music and entertainment business of 6 decades starting in the late 50's and continuing right up to present day. Certainly for anyone who was around when Paul had his first hit, "Diana" this book covers life as you lived and observed it through these years. The focus on Vegas, Sinatra, the "Rat Pack" and the changes in the music business over the last 60 years are nothing short of fascinating! We all have our memories and perceptions of what Vegas was like in the 60's and 70's but Paul gives the reader an insider-look.

I was very surprised that Paul's writing was so frank and detailed.  If you are an Anka fan, you will flip out reading this book. Paul talks about all the rock and roll singers at the time he had his first hit and for me it was like opening a college yearbook and remembering my past. He pulls no punches and what he has written in his autobiography are the facts as Paul remembers them.

I know a lot of my readers are Sinatra fans so I know you will love the following quotes from Anka.

"I finished typing my final draft of "My Way" at five A.M. in the morning. I know Frank is at Caesars, I know he's offstage, drinking at the bar and I know he's there with Don Costa and I say, "Frank I've got something very interesting, I'm gonna bring it out. I flew to Las Vegas in August 1968 and I played it for Sinatra.  I knew Frank loved the song when I originally played it for him but he always wanted to be cool, so all he said was "That's Kooky, kid. We going in." Coming from him, you have to understand that meant he was ecstatic."

"Frank went into the studio on December 30. He knew the song so well he sang it in one take.  All the musicians were there, this huge orchestra playing live. Everybody who'd worked with him through the years was there, they all stood up and gave him a standing ovation.  I got a phone call from the studio on Sunset Boulevard and Sinatra played it to me over the phone and I started crying."

Paul Anka's autobiography is just a wonderful read and a must read for anyone that lived through the same period of time Anka did!

 I have attached a "YouTube" of young Paul singing some of his early hits.

                                                                   BOOK REVIEW
                                       The Music Man Awards This Book "4 Quarter Notes"
                                                   4 Quarter Notes= Excellent, Must Read
                                                   3 Quarter Notes= Good Read
                                                   2 Quarter Notes= Somewhat Interesting
                                                   1 Quarter Note  = Save Your Time and Money

CD Review: "Yeah......About That" by Johnny Hodges

I just listened to a remarkable new CD from Trumpeter Johnny Hodges which highlights his ability not only as a Trumpet player but also his talents as a composer/arranger and sound engineer.  John has been playing Trumpet since the 5th grade but don't be fooled by the fact that this is his first solo release.  Johnny has paid his dues over the years performing as a sideman for musical greats across many different types of music and sound.  Just a few of the notable artists he has worked with include: Paul Anka, The Temptations, The Four Freshman, Clark Terry, Roy Clark, Diane Schuur, Vic Damone and Johnny Mathis.

This CD has a funky jazz-inspired sound on some exciting new music that Johnny has composed and arranged.  He also produced all the rhythm programing and the Brass. A virtual one-man band with the feel of a big and serious jazz group.  Bryan Cook added his Trumpet to the mix on track 8, "First Try" and Jeff Barone played some serious guitar licks on Tracks 3 & 8.

I especially liked Track 1, "Dixie Twister", Track 3, "Cozumel" and Track 5, "Para Ti, Mi Amor". There is no doubt that Johnny Hodges is an excellent songwriter, arranger, sound engineer and jazz Trumpet player. This is pure and simple a great jazz CD with a modern but disciplined sound that won't disappoint any Jazz fan.  This CD was released on August 21, 2012.  In my opinion this CD is worthy of a  Grammy nomination. This proves that Jazz is still alive and well in the USA in year 2012.

Frank Di Salvo Sings Sinatra And The Great American Songbook

On February 17, I had the opportunity to see Frank Di Salvo his "Frank and the Sinatra Show" at the Indian Wells Resort Hotel.  I tried to go to this show with an open mind because as a devoted Sinatra fan, I have been disappointed so many times by performers trying to imitate Sinatra. What I found at the Frank Di Salvo show was an excellent performer with a strong clear voice who did an outstanding job singing not only a lot of Sinatra signature songs but also many other great songs out of the "Great American Songbook".  The title of this show was "Frank and the Sinatra Show" but this title does no justice to the great singing that I heard.  Frank brings his own style and strong voice to the Sinatra songbook, but Frank's singing talent is not just limited to Sinatra songs.

Frank sang the Sinatra classics with ease and did a particularly outstanding job on Paul Anka's great song "My Way" that he dedicated to his late father. He also received a strong audience response to the Guys and Dolls favorite, "Luck Be a Lady Tonight".

I was very impressed with Frank's renditions of "Mack the Knife",  the Rodgers & Hart tune from "Pal Joey", "I Could Write a Book" and the Joe Bushkin & John DeVries  great song "Look At Me Now". Frank is a relative new comer to the desert arriving here only 6 months ago.  But I have a feeling, listening to him that Frank feels like he is really at home here.  He is a welcome addition to the talented group of musicians that call the California Desert their home.  At the end of the 2nd set, Frank called up a friend of his, Marc Koltun who sang a couple of Johnny Hartman songs that were just wonderful.  I learned Marc has not performed in 20 years, but you would never know it. Hope Marc continues to sing, he has a really great voice and feel for great lyrics.

Frank will be performing at the Indian Wells Hotel on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  In addition, you can go to Frank's web site: "Frankdisalvo.com" to see where Frank will be performing.  Make sure you call for reservations because the word is already out that Frank is an act that should not be missed.