Paul Anka Had No Idea He'd Co-Written Michael Jackson's First Posthumous Hit. Then the Phone Rang

Mar. 15, 2025

Paul Anka in 2019; Michael Jackson in 1996.Photo:George Pimentel/WireImage, Phil Dent/Redferns

George Pimentel/WireImage, Phil Dent/Redferns

Michael Jackson’sdeathon June 25, 2009, at the age of 50 shocked the world, but the aftermath of the King of Pop’s passing packed an extra punch forPaul Anka.

The legendary crooner and composer was surprised to discover that he’d co-written Jackson’s first posthumous hit — and he had no idea until it was already on the airwaves.

Anka, 83, recounts the story in the new documentaryPaul Anka: His Way, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10.

He’s responsible for chart-toppers like thefuture TikTok anthem “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,”“You Are My Destiny” and “Diana” under his own name, as well asFrank Sinatra’s “My Way,”Tom Jones’ “She’s a Lady,” Buddy Holly’s “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore" and the theme to Johnny Carson’sTonight Show.

Buteven Anka was surprised to learn that he’d co-written the first Jackson song released after his death: “This Is It.”

The pair first became acquainted in the ‘70s, when Jackson — then performing with his brothers as the Jackson 5 — frequently attended Anka’s shows in the glittering showrooms of the Las Vegas strip. By the dawn of the new decade, Jackson was forging his own path as a solo artist and sought out Anka as a collaborator.

“Michael came up and stayed in my guest house and we went to the studio,” Anka recalls in the documentary. “We wrote and spent time together and we got three or four things down. I got his vocal and piano [recorded].” One of the tracks they worked on during those 1980 sessions was tentatively called ‘I Never Heard.’ "

The title proved prophetic. With the record-breaking success of Jackson’s decade-defining albumThrillerin 1982, the songs penned with Anka were shelved indefinitely, and the musician largely forgot about them until he was contacted in the wake of Jackson’s death, when a posthumous release called “This Is It” was making news.

Anka’s name was hastily added to the credits, thus adding to his list of hits.

Elements of a third song from the sessions — incomplete and thought to be untitled — was incorporated into theDrakecut “Don’t Matter To Me,” which was included on the rapper’s 2018 albumScorpion.

A theatrical release date forPaul Anka: His Wayhas not yet been announced.The Toronto Film Festival continues through Sunday.

source: people.com