UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Few musicians have endured for decades with as much success and transformation as Paul Anka.

On a world tour and just returning from Asia, the prolific and legendary songwriter brought his deep catalog of hits to the Mohegan Sun Arena Friday night.

A big 1950s teen idol, Anka spent part of the '60s in Italy, when the British Invasion took away fans, before returning to the American scene in the '70s. Despite his 67 years of age, his golden voice remains, as shown in the nearly 30 songs he sang.

Anka, born in Ottawa, is quite an entertainer, engaging with the crowd throughout his shows. Entering the 10,000-seat arena singing his 1957 No. 1 hit "Diana" that shot him to stardom, Anka made his way through the crowd before standing on a chair eight rows back from the stage and directly in front of this reviewer. Pointing and singing to the reviewer's mother, one of his big '50s fans, Anka can still make females swoon.

The band featured two guitarists, two drummers, a keyboardist, pianist, and 11-member horn section. After a cover of Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life," Anka sang "You Are My Destiny," a song from 1958 that has been remade on his latest CD, "Classic Songs, My Way," which has Anka mostly putting his own spin on contemporary ballads by songwriters such as Billy Joel.

Anka paid tribute to a departed friend, Bobby Darin, with the Big Band number "Mack the Knife." Anka's beautiful hit from 1975, "The Times of Your Life" featured video of the singer throughout the ages.

"Rock Swings," another recent CD, also had Anka remaking some modern songs, including Van Halen's "Jump," which he did in concert, as well as "(You're) Having My Baby," a 1974 No. 1 which Anka did with Odia Coates.

Anka than sang a batch of his '50s hits, including two that made it to No. 2 on the charts, "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" and "Puppy Love," which Donny Osmond covered.

Two famous songs which Anka wrote, "She's a Lady," a big hit for Tom Jones, and the country "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," the last song Buddy Holly recorded, were compelling.

The classic "My Way," which Anka wrote for Sinatra, was one of the last songs of the evening. He does the song with Jon Bon Jovi on the new CD.

Sinatra's "New York, New York," and a cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" wrapped up the versatile show.