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Paul Anka, Canada's original teen idol, was enjoying the success of his first single, "Diana" which was released in 1957 and topped Billboard's Top 100. The very next year he made his acting debut in the early musical, LET'S ROCK. Some of the Ottawa native's other modern-day classics included "I'm Just A Lonely Boy" and "Put Your Head On My Shoulder". 15 years would pass before he reached number one again, with the '74 duet with Odia Coates that sparked controversy with feminist groups around the world, "You're Having My Baby". Some of his other credits include writing "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", Buddy Holly's last single before dieing tragically in a plane crash in 1959, "My Way", which became Frank Sinatra's signature song in '66 and penning the original theme for 'The Tonite Show With Johnny Carson'. An active man in the community, he also bought into the NHL's Ottawa Senators, and remains a minor shareholder in the team today. Paul Anka was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 1980.
Another teen heart throb of the day was Bobby Curtola, also from Ontario. His first single was released in 1960, "Hand In Hand With You". He would go on to crack Billboard's Top 100 a number of more times in the '60's with gold hits such as "Hitch Hiker", "Alladin", "3 Rows Over" and his biggest chart-topper "Fortune Teller". Now making Edmonton his home, Curtola today is widely sought after for product endorsements and is one of the top draws around the lounge and club circuit.
Born in Massachussets, Robert Goulet moved to Edmonton - where he lived next door to my Mom, attended Mount Caramel Catholic School and reportedly was a little hell-raiser. He overcame his mischivieness through acting in several school plays, then graduating to local productions throughout the city. After appearing in a CBC feature of Edmonton's drama community, he moved to Toronto to become a prime player in the CBC's lineup in the late 50's. But after only 3 seasons, he ventured south in 1960 to meet his international fame in stage and screen, including the role of Lancelot in the hit musical CAMELOT, which debuted in 1960 in Toronto. Some of his more recent works have included playing Frank Drebin's nemesis Quentin Hapsburg in NAKED GUN 2 1/2 - - and was kidnapped by Nelson Muntz and forced to play to a standing-room-only crowd in Bart's treehouse. ... HAA! HAA!
The same era also saw 3 Canadian groups leave an indelible mark on the music scene during the 'doo wop' days. The 4 Lads, originally known as The 4 Dukes, first hit the charts in '52 with "Mocking Bird". Other hits of the day included "Who Needs You", "It's So Easy To Forget", and "Moments To Remember", which peaked at #5 on Billboard in 1955.
The Crew Cuts, originally known as The Canadaires, made a career of covering other artists' songs, beginning with their first of two singles in '54, "Crazy 'Bout You Baby", written by Rudi Maugeri and Pat Barrett. "Sh'Boom", done by The Chords a year earlier, reached #1 on Billboard later that year, topping the charts for seven weeks. The next year saw them cover The Penguins' "Earth Angel", peaking that summer at #3.
The Diamonds, like the 4 Lads and The Crew Cuts, were a Toronto-based vocal group who enjoyed a great deal of success in the mid 50's thru to the '60's, beginning with their first entry in Billboard, 1956's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?". The next year saw them crack the Top 5 twice, "Little Darlin'", their biggest hit which peaked at #2, while "The Stroll" hit #5 and prompted a dance craze of the same name. All three of these groups were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1984 in recognition for their outstanding influence on shaping Canadian pop music.
In 1958, Ronnie Hawkins brought his brand of folk/rockabilly from Arkansas and formed Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks. The band consisted of fellow American Levon Helm and a group of Toronto area musicians which included Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Robbie Robertson. They would record two tracks the next year now deemed early rock classics, "40 Days" and "Mary Lou". Hawkins would go on to record and tour with a number of individuals who'd strike gold on their own, including Domenic Troiano and Lawrence Gowan.
