NEWS

Ilana Keller, @ilanakeller 6:14 p.m. EDT July 29, 2016, Ashbury Park Press 

Englebert Humperdinck has been driving audiences wild around the globe for a half-century.

But don't think that means he's settled into a groove.

At 80, the legendary performer still is pushing the envelope, evolving his own music, touring the world and keeping things fresh.

"If you don’t learn and you don’t change, you get stagnated and become stale," he said in a phone interview from California. "I think my style has become more modern. I think I’m singing better than I’ve ever done. My voice hasn’t lost its power — three-and-a-half octave range, I haven’t lost it. I don’t eat the microphone." 

Humperdinck also has embraced the rise of social media, boasting a Facebook page with nearly 300,000 followers and an active Twitter account.

"I’m so thrilled now because social media is playing a big part in show business," he said. "Audiences put little bits and pieces on social media, people get to know you before you get there. It’s strange, but it’s brought a new dimension to our lives."

Humperdinck catapulted onto the music scene in the 1960s with his smash hit single “Release Me,” which set a Guinness world record with 56 consecutive weeks on the charts. The tune climbed to the top spot in 11 countries — becoming the song that "stopped the Beatles from having their 13th No. 1," he pointed out. He since has sold more than 140 million records, including 64 gold albums and 35 platinum ones and collected four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe and stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Las Vegas Walk of Fame and Leicester Walk of Fame. He has performed for millions of fans spanning the globe.

In between recent trips to Egypt, Manila and Singapore and an upcoming New Zealand swing, Humperdinck has two New Jersey shows on tap.

He's set to perform at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair on Friday, Aug. 5, and the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove on Saturday, Aug. 6.

Humperdinck promises a lineup chock-full of his biggest hits, including "After the Lovin' " and "There Goes My Everything," as well as material from his most recent albums and maybe a cover or two.

"I like to see what people think of my version of someone else’s song — challenge myself in that respect," he said.

With the 50th anniversary of "Release Me" approaching, 2017 promises to be a huge year. Humperdinck has a full calendar of celebrations planned, including extensive global touring.

"It’s wonderful to be able to go to all of these different countries and know that they know your music, all due to one record that started it all," he said.

http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/07/29/80-engelbert-humperdincks-keeping-fresh/87678174/