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By Markos Papadatos     22 hours ago in Music - Digital Journal

Westbury - Veteran English pop star Engelbert Humperdinck chatted with Digital Journal about his new Christmas album, "Warmest Christmas Wishes," as well as his 50th year anniversary in show business.

On his new holiday album, Warmest Christmas Wishes, Humperdinck said, "After 40 years of silence on the Christmas albums, I thought it was about time to do another Christmas album. We endeavored to do a new one, and this one is a very family-oriented album that incorporates family very well, and it includes a few brand new songs."

Affectionately known as The King of Romance, Humperdinck celebrated 50 years in showbiz. "I am very fortunate because not that many people's careers last that long," he said. "I am still going strong, I am still recording and still touring. I am putting out a new TV special at the end of the year, and now I will be releasing my Christmas album. There are a lot of things happening, which is great."

Each day, Humperdinck acknowledged that he is motivated simply by the "love of the business." "I love being in show business. I love singing and being creative, and I love to get involved with musical arrangements," he said, effusively. "I just love walking on stage."

Humperdinck continued, "I don't mind doing 80 to 90 concerts a year since it takes me all over the world. I just love touring."

On Saturday, October 13, Humperdinck will be headlining the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Long Island as part of "The Man I Want To Be Tour." "I go to Westbury every year and I always get a great audience. They are always appreciative of what I do. I will be bringing them new songs from The Man I Want To Be album," he said.

Humperdinck shared that he won't be singing any of his new Christmas songs at the Westbury show on Saturday since it is "too early." "I am a little bit superstitious," he admitted.

For Humperdinck, the key to longevity in the music business is keeping things fresh, looking after yourself, and you need to look good all the time. "I have taken 31 pounds off this body and I've felt good about it. Losing weight has made me feel a lot better. I shall talk about that in the show too," he said.

He defined the word success as follows: "Success means that you have done a lot of hard work in your life. I have and I will continue to do it to keep the success rolling for many more years to come."

Digital transformation of the music industry

On the impact of technology on the music business, Humperdinck said, "You have to go along with what's going on in today's world. I just go along with what's happening. You have to."

Humperdinck acknowledged that vinyl is making a resurgence. "Vinyl is lovely. I miss the big albums and the fact that you can hang the album covers on the walls, and I miss the clarity of them," he said.

For aspiring singers, the English crooner said, "People who are beginning in this business these days have great starts. If you get an audition on The Voice or America's Got Talent, and you are seen by millions at the beginning of your life and that is an incredible thing. When I first started you had to go around and promote yourself in little places across the country. You didn't have the big media to get you in front of millions of people at once. It's good for young people."

Warmest Christmas Wishes is available for pre-order on iTunes and on Amazon.

To learn more about iconic English pop sensation Engelbert Humperdinck, check out his official website.

Read more:  http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/music/engelbert-humperdinck-talks-christmas-album-50-years-in-showbiz/article/534306#ixzz5TfOU8yy1

https://www.facebook.com/PasteMusicAndDaytrotter/videos/2272248906121789/

The ‘Warmest Christmas Wishes’ Gift Set, a luxury pre-order package for Engelbert Humperdinck’s forthcoming Christmas album, is now available to order from OK!Good Records

The ‘Warmest Christmas Wishes’ Gift Set is now available for pre-order via OK!Good Records for Engelbert Humperdinck’s upcoming Christmas album.  ‘Warmest Christmas Wishes’ is an exciting new addition to his legacy, and his first Christmas album in almost forty years.

The Engelbert Humperdinck Warmest Christmas Wishes Gift Set is an elegant, unique, and thoughtful gift that will surely top any Engelbert fan’s wish list. The Autographed Warmest Christmas Wishes Holiday Greeting Card and the Warmest Christmas Wishes Ornament were made specifically to commemorate the release of Warmest Christmas Wishes.  Every item included is exclusive to the gift set, meaning that you cannot purchase them anywhere else!

The first 50 pre-orders of Engelbert Humperdinck Warmest Christmas Wishes Gift Set will receive an Embroidered Engelbert Humperdinck Handkerchief free of charge! Discounted pre-orders are available for this gift set until the official release of Warmest Christmas Wishes, October 12th.

ALL Engelbert Humperdinck Warmest Christmas Wishes Gift Sets include…

• Autographed Edition of Warmest Christmas Wishes

• Autographed Warmest Christmas Wishes Holiday Greeting Card

• Warmest Christmas Wishes Ornament

OK!Good Records will be taking orders for this item beginning Monday, September 17th.  Order by Friday, October 5th to guarantee Domestic US shipping by Friday October 12th, the official release date of Warmest Christmas Wishes.

*** Warmest Christmas Wishes is autographed on the booklet inside, not the cover. ***

Pre-order this luxury gift set here: http://www.okgoodrecords.com/product/engelbert-humperdinck-warmest-christmas-wishes-gift-set/

http://www.okgoodrecords.com/blog/2018/09/17/warmest-christmas-wishes-gift-set-engelbert-humperdinck/

August 28, 2018

Iconic singer Engelbert Humperdinck will release ‘Warmest Christmas Wishes’, his first Christmas album in almost Forty Years, on Friday, October 12th 2018 on OK!Good Records. Engelbert Humperdinck’s new album features 14 heartfelt holiday songs – including 2 brand new originals especially written for this album.

Iconic pop singer Engelbert has decided to launch the next chapter of his illustrious career by surprising his fans with a brand new Christmas album – his first in almost forty years.  Not satisfied with the yearlong celebration of his 50th showbiz anniversary in 2017, Engelbert Humperdinck is eager to begin his next decade in music on a celebratory note. Following the success of his first album in over a decade, the acclaimed The Man I Want to Be, Engelbert is excited to bring yuletide gladness to families everywhere.  Engelbert Humperdinck’s new Christmas album, titled Warmest Christmas Wishes, will be available via OK!Good Records on Friday, October 12, 2018.

Much like its predecessor, A Merry Christmas With Engelbert Humperdinck, Warmest Christmas Wishes is a combination of classic, new and unexpected songs. Traditional holiday songs like “Silent Night” and “O Tannenbaum” sit next to American Yule standards like “Please Come Home for Christmas” and “White Christmas”. Fans can expect to hear the latter reinvented in a Django Reinhardt-inspired swing arrangement.  Engelbert delivers Christmas cheer with contemporary tunes such as Chris Rea’s “Driving Home for Christmas” and Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Christmas Song”. Two new original songs – “Christmas for the Family” and “Around the Christmas Tree” are bound to become instant holiday favorites. In all, there are 14 new holiday tunes to celebrate Christmas joy, delivered in Engelbert Humperdinck’s inimitable style.

The new album, like last years “The Man I Want to Be”, was produced by Jurgen Korduletsch, arranged by Geoff Stradling and longtime Engelbert collaborators Johnny Harris and the late Jeff Sturges. Recorded at some of Los Angeles’s most iconic studios, most prominently Capitol Studios Hollywood with some of the finest musicians LA has to offer, Warmest Christmas Wishes is a Christmas gift to enjoy for everyone this holiday season.

Engelbert is thrilled to bring holiday cheer to his fans once more, as he shared his excitement in a recent interview with Billboard:

“It’s been such a long time since I recorded a Christmas album, and fans have been asking me, ‘When are you going to do another one?’ … Finally, we decided to do it. I love (Christmas). From me growing up with a large family and everybody singing around the Christmas tree, it was a wonderful, wonderful upbringing. So (Christmas) is very special with me to share.”

Digital and physical pre-orders for Warmest Christmas Wishes to be announced by OK!Good Records in the coming weeks.

Tracklisting:

1. “Please Come Home for Christmas”

2. “Driving Home for Christmas”

3. “Christmas Song (I’m Not Dreaming of a White Christmas)”

4. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”

5. “Snowy Christmas” – Medley (including ”Let It Snow”, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland”)

6. “A Christmas for the Family”

7. “Silently Falls the Snow”

8. “O Tannenbaum”

9. “Still Still Still”

10. “Silent Night”

11. “Around the Christmas Tree”

12. “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”

13. “Leise rieselt der Schnee”

About Engelbert Humperdinck:

Iconic careers don’t come any bigger than Engelbert Humperdinck’s. One would be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with his multi-platinum selling hits such as “Release Me”, “The Last Waltz” or “After the Lovin’”. These and many other of his hits have contributed greatly to 150 million worldwide album sales by the “King of Romance”, as Engelbert is lovingly nicknamed by his legion of fans. Just having entered a new decade of his life, the very youthful Engelbert is also celebrating his 50th year in showbiz with the release of a brand new album ‘The Man I Want to Be’. Not content with being a legacy artist, Engelbert demonstrates effortlessly with this album (his first album of original material in over a decade), that he is very much a relevant artist for today’s audiences as he has been over the last five decades of his career.

About OK!Good Records:

OK! Good Records is a genre independent record label established in 2010 to distribute, market, and promote artists and music that defy boundaries, reject limitations, and transcend the ordinary. They champion and celebrate independent music, thought, art, expression, and enterprise. http://www.okgoodrecords.com

http://www.okgoodrecords.com/blog/2018/08/28/engelbert-humperdinck-to-release-warmest-christmas-wishes-christmas-album/

8/27/2018 by Gary Graff, Billboard

At 82 and more than 50 years into his entertainment career, Engelbert Humperdinck is on a roll.

Earlier this year the British singer released a new studio album, The Man I Want To Be, his first set of original material in more than a decade. And on Oct. 12 he'll celebrate the season with Warmest Christmas Wishes, a 14-track set whose rendition of the Charles Brown staple "Please Come Home For Christmas" premieres exclusively below.

"It's been such a long time since I recorded a Christmas album, and fans have been asking me, 'When are you going to do another one?'" Humperdinck -- who released his first holiday set, Christmas Tyme, in 1977 and has put out several more since -- tells Billboard. "Finally, we decided to do it. I love (Christmas). From me growing up with a large family and everybody singing around the Christmas tree, it was a wonderful, wonderful upbringing. So (Christmas) is very special with me to share."

Produced by The Man I Want To Be's Jurgen Korduletsch, with arrangements by Geoff Stradling, Johnny Harris and Jeff Sturges, Warmest Christmas Wishes mixes classic and contemporary material, from "White Christmas" (in a jazz-styled arrangement), "Silent Night" and "O Tannenbaum" to Chris Rea's "Driving Home For Christmas" and Gilbert O'Sullvan's "Christmas Song." The set, which Humperdinck recorded in Los Angeles, also includes two brand new songs -- "Christmas For the Family" and "Around the Christmas Tree." Humperdinck also wrote English lyrics for "Silently Falls the Snow," originally a German song.

"'Driving Home For Christmas' is just a great Christmas songs because people are in their cars and driving home," Humperdinck says. "I just wanted to make an album people could put on and maybe enjoy the holiday a little more with the music."

Taking on "Please Come Home For Christmas" was a challenge, Humperdinck adds. "It was kind of an unusual style when I heard the original version of it, because it's very sort of bluesy," he explains. "But I got ahold of it and with the great arrangement that we've got here I think I did a good job on it."

Humperdinck is filming a PBS special in Hawaii, which will feature five of the songs from Warmest Christmas Wishes as well as other favorites from throughout his career, with an airdate TBA. Meanwhile, Humperdinck is already plotting what to do next and how to keep his current roll, well, rolling. "Retirement has never entered my mind for one moment because I don't feel the age I am -- and I don't act it and I don't speak like it," he says. "When God calls me, that's when I stop. Until then I'm going to just keep going."

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8472296/engelbert-humperdinck-please-come-home-for-christmas-premiere

By DAVE LAWRENCE

Legendary entertainer Engelbert Humperdinck has arrived in the islands for a pair of shows at the Hawaii Theatre Saturday and Sunday which include the filming of a PBS TV special. When announced, he took time for a pair of advance phone interviews with HPR All Things Considered Host Dave Lawrence, both archived online, one recorded in May and another recorded in July, when the second date was added. After arriving this week for his concerts, he took time for a third conversation at the hotel, which we share today.

http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/post/hprs-all-things-considered-hotel-engelbert-humperdinck

Humperdinck sets Sept. 20 Kavli show

August 23, 2018, Thousand Oaks Acorn

AT THE CAP

Even at the age of 82, Engelbert Humperdinck is not the man he wants to be. He owns up to his shortcomings on the title track of his latest studio album, which he’ll promote with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 20 in the Kavli Theatre at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

“The Man I Want to Be,” penned by British singer-songwriter Jon Allen, is about a man reflecting on his life, accepting his faults, vowing to do better and thanking his spouse for loving the “man I am and the man I want to be.” The song is a love letter to Patricia, Humperdinck’s wife of more than 50 years. They were married in 1964, three years before Humperdinck would strike pop music gold with “Release Me,” the chart topping single that would keep the Beatles’ “Penny Lane” from reaching No. 1 in England.

Patricia stood by her man for over five decades as Humperdinck captivated the world with his music, and now he’s doing the same for her as she deals with Alzheimer’s disease. “It’s something that has been put upon my shoulders and it’s something you’ve got to handle,” he said. “I’m caring for her in the best possible way I can.”

“The Man I Want to Be” album, released last November, also finds Humperdinck putting his unique stamp on such songs as Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are,” Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph,” Willie Nelson’s “Crazy” and the Drifters’ “On Broadway.” He even duets with his 9-year-old granddaughter Olivia on “I’m I Glad I Danced With You,” a song written by his daughter Louise and dedicated to Patricia.

Over the decades, Humperdinck has sold more than 150 million records, garnered four Grammy nominations, earned a Golden Globe for Entertainer of the Year, notched 63 gold and 24 platinum records, and clinched a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has recorded everything from ballads to the platinum-selling theme song “Lesbian Seagull” for the “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America” movie.

Tickets for Humperdinck’s T.O. show are $46 to $101, available in person at the box office or through Ticketmaster, (800) 745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.

For more information call (805) 449-2787 or visit civicartsplaza.com.

https://www.toacorn.com/articles/release-me-singer-gets-reflective/

HONOLULU (KHON2) - English pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck will be in Hawaii later this month for a concert at the Hawaii Theater.

He last performed here back in 1987 at the Sheraton Waikiki during a celebration and luau to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Humperdinck is probably best known for his number one hit Release Me, which held the number one spot in the U.K. for six weeks in 1967.

The first concert on Saturday, August 25 sold out, so another one was added for Sunday, August 26.

Tickets start at around $50 and can be purchased at the Hawaii Theater Box Office or on the Hawaii Theater website.

Humperdinck's also performed in Hawaii 36 years ago to a sold-out crowd at Neal Blaisdell Center Arena in 1982.

In celebration of Humperdinck's return to Hawaii, Mayor Kirk Caldwell will present Engelbert Humperdinck with a special Proclamation declaring "Engelbert Humperdinck Day in Honolulu" with music, hula, and of course, flowers.  

The presentation will be at the Halekulani with friends, select fans, and VIP guests invited to attend and share in this special celebration with Engelbert.

Response to Humperdinck's return to Hawaii has been overwhelming, his first show in Hawaii after more than 30 years at the Hawaii Theatre will be filmed for a national public television special.

The show will begin airing in December 2018 through 2019 with some holiday favorites added for the December airings.

His first show at the Hawaii Theatre sold out in just a few weeks, a second show was added to meet public demand.

Details for Hawaii Theatre Show:

WHERE:   Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St, Honolulu, HI 96813

WHEN: Saturday, August 25, 2018 - SOLD OUT

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Hall Doors:  7:00 pm (All ages above the age of 4 years)

Show:  8:00 pm (All ages above the age of 4 years)

Prices: $49.50 - $125.00 Reserved seating

Tickets: www.bampproject.com / www.hawaiitheatre.com / Hawaii Theatre Box Office / Charge by phone 808-528-0506

Humperdinck comments, "This is a very special honor to return to Hawaii after so many years and be presented with a Proclamation and a day named in my honor from Mayor Caldwell. Hawaii has always had a hold on me. Hawaii is a fragrant, melodious and relaxing favorite destination. I have many wonderful memories of vacations with my family, chilling out with my toes in the beautiful, soft sand. This all started my love affair with the islands. I remember the days when I'd hang out on the beach with Lana Turner and Tom Selleck and then go to see Don Ho and other local talent including a very young Bruno Mars who did an Elvis song at my birthday party. And like my dear friend Elvis, I finally will realize my dream to do a TV special from Hawaii. I look forward to sharing all these special moments with all my fans and friends."

"As 'My Music' enters its 20th year on public television, we are making two dreams of mine come true. We are recording our first special in Hawaii, a place that's an integral part of my spiritual journey in life and to work with the amazing Engelbert Humperdinck. Engelbert's music throughout my life has been a constant of beautiful love songs and lush arrangements -- he defines the divine and sings what's in our hearts - I'm so excited to share in his special day and especially the journey, mahalo" says TJ Lubinsky series creator, executive producer and director of public television's most successful fundraising programming musical franchise in history.

In a career spanning almost 50 years, Humperdinck has sold more than 140 million records worldwide, including 64 gold and 35 platinum albums, 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 the Queen four times, several presidents and many heads of state.

He has recorded everything from the most romantic ballads to movie theme songs, disco, rock, and even gospel.

His unique voice has charmed millions of fans around the globe with hits such as "Release Me," "Quando Quando Quando," "After The Lovin'" and "The Last Waltz."

However, it's not just the voice, but the man himself, with his endearing sense of humor and self-deprecating jokes.

Humperdinck original hit song Release Me held the No.1 spot in the U.K. chart for six weeks in 1967, preventing The Beatles single Penny Lane from reaching the top (and breaking their four-year run of chart toppers).

Release Me was the highest-selling single in 1967, spending a record-breaking 56 weeks in the charts and hitting the No.1 spot in 11 countries.

Last year, he hit the charts again when his 2-CD Anniversary Collection Release Me debuted on the on the U.K. Billboard album chart at No. 5, making it the eighth top-five album of Humperdinck's career.

https://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/engelbert-humperdinck-returns-to-hawaii-for-tv-special/1360729096

Engelbert Humperdinck reveals loving support for wife’s Alzheimer’s battle He’s had the support of his loving wife Patricia for more than 50 years, and now Engelbert Humperdinck has revealed their bond is as strong as ever as he supports her during her lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

The 82-year-old musician – real name Arnold George Dorsey – has praised his wife’s incredible strength in a moving chat with Starts at 60, confirming she’s still fighting and doing incredibly well 10 years after she was first diagnosed with the incurable brain condition.

“She’s doing okay now. It’s been 10 years now, it’s amazing,” he said.

Patricia, who has four children and eight grandchildren with the music legend, began receiving pioneering treatment in Los Angeles a few years ago, helping her to remember more and continue communicating with her loved ones.

Since then, she has continued to fight the disease and Engelbert receives help from carers and professionals as he cares for her amid his busy work schedule.

“It’s something that has been put upon my shoulders and it’s something you’ve got to handle. I’m caring for her in the best possible way I can,” he said.

Asked if she recognises her children and grandchildren, he explained: “Sometimes, it’s more her own children that she recognises.”

The couple are regularly visited by their grandkids, keeping the bond between them strong, and the star revealed music has helped connect them throughout Patricia’s disease.

“Music is a very powerful instrument in healing. It’s helped her [a lot],” he said while adding that people’s prayers have also been a huge support to them both. “I wanted to raise awareness, and I think the more people that pray for you the better. The power of prayer is huge. It has and will help even further in her life.”

Engelbert married Patricia in 1964, three years before he had his first hit with ‘Release Me’. The song went on to famously keep The Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’ off the top spot in the UK charts at the time.

Asked what advice he’d give to others going through the same concerns with a loved one battling Alzheimer’s or dementia, he said: “You have to take it a day at a time and hope that the cure is around the corner.”

Described as “one of the finest middle-of-the-road balladeers around”, Engelbert has enjoyed a hugely successful career spanning more than 50 years. He has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, and worked with top names including Ray Charles, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Tom Jones and many more.

He’s still working on music now, but splits his time with his family and grandchildren. Revealing he’s loved becoming a granddad, the musical star admitted he isn’t called “grandpa” or anything similar.

“They call me all kinds of different things,” he joked. “Olivia [granddaughter] calls me Pa, while some of them call me Boomer because they couldn’t pronounce anything else!”

Olivia has followed in her Pa’s footsteps too, and even duets with him on his new album. He explained: “She was nine years old at the time. She did an amazing job, she’s a cracking singer, really great. She’s going to be a big star. I’ll predict she will be the next female Bruno Mars.”

Engelbert is now preparing to return to Australia, with his ‘The Man I Want To Be’ tour set to land down under in March 2019. He will be performing in iconic theatres around the country, showcasing new music as well as hits including ‘Quando Quando Quando’, ‘Release Me’, ‘A Man Without Love’, ‘The Last Waltz’ and ‘Am I That Easy To Forget’.

https://startsat60.com/entertainment/arts/music/engelbert-humperdinck-music-interview-wife-patricia-alzheimers

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By Jim Sullivan / Contributing Writer

Posted Jul 19, 2018 at 6:00 AM, Cape Cod Times

Engelbert Humperdinck will sing old hits and new songs Thursday at Cape Cod Melody Tent.

Engelbert Humperdinck – the 82-year-old English balladeer and ageless sex symbol - made a promise when I spoke with him around 2011. We’d been talking about how Frank Sinatra went out as a performer – not well, reading lyrics from a video prompter and not exactly full of voice.

Said Humperdinck: “I will know when to hang my hat up.”

“And that was seven years ago, right?” Humperdinck queried, last week on the phone from his Los Angeles office. “Well, I’m still going strong. I just love the business. I love being on stage. I haven’t slowed up in any way. On stage, I still dance around and do the things you’re supposed to do. And I’ve got a great following. They don’t quit on me so I’m not going to quit on them. I have a great affinity with my audience.”

Humperdinck – who was born Arnold George Dorsey in India and is “Enge” to his friends and family – relocated with his family to Leicester, England at age 10. He played out initially under his own name, and, as Humperdinck, has been recording since 1967, notching 63 gold and 24 platinum records.

Humperdinck released “The Man I Want to Be” album last November and just completed an as-yet-untitled Christmas album for release in September. (He’s taping a PBS show in Honolulu next month to air around the holiday.)

Humperdinck and his longtime band – six musicians, two female singers - will perform Thursday at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. His set will no doubt include “Release Me,” “Crazy,” “The Last Waltz” and “Quando, quando, quando” and up to half a dozen new tunes.

“I love being in the contemporary world,” Humperdinck says. “That’s where I want to be, in my world, which is the romantic contemporary world.”

In the interview, he talked more about his long career:

Cape Cod Times: You used to do 140 shows a year and in 2011, you told me you’d scaled back to 90. How about now?

Humperdinck: That’s about it now. The show usually lasts about an-hour-40-minutes. (I tour) all over the world, which makes it interesting for me. I get to go to countries that I’ve been to before and not go in and out like I normally do, but go ahead and really test the waters, take a look

around, take some pictures and understand where they’re coming from.

CCT: Sometimes, musicians on tour can’t tell you anything about where they’ve been except which airport they flew into and the hotel rooms they stayed in.

Humperdinck: That’s something I can’t tell you about, hotels. I don’t remember much about hotels, but I do remember the countries.

CCT: Many musicians, entering a latter phase of performing, will say, “This is what I do, I don’t do anything else and I have the most fun doing this.”

Humperdinck: I’m still working hard, improving my shows that I give the people. I don’t just go there with a show that’s been done before. I give them something fresh every time. I’ve got a new album out, “The Man I Want to Be,” and I’ve got a lot of material from that I use in the show and it gives it a nice fresh appeal.

CCT: What is your secret in maintaining your voice?

Humperdinck: I wish I could tell you the answer to that because I don’t know myself. I’ve just been very lucky with my vocal cords and as I’ve aged, the vibrato slows down. I don’t use much vibrato in my voice now. It’s become a very commercial sound which (to me) is much more than I had 30, 40 or 50 years ago.

CCT: What about longevity? You’re one of the few singers, Tony Bennett being another, who has transcended fads, trends and eras. Any way you can account for that?

Humperdinck: I think mainly because of the style of music that I sing. It’s not something that comes and goes very quickly. I sing about romance, I’ve got good lyrics, good melodies that have a lasting appeal and that’s what we put on our albums. Normally, in today’s world, albums come and they go like – bang! nothing – and nobody remembers it after two or three weeks.

CCT: Tell me about the latest album. What Engelbert are you giving people in 2018?

Humperdinck: Well, there’s a lot of new songs on the album. Number one, is the fact that I dedicated this CD to my wife (Patricia Healy). It’s a love letter to my wife and there’s a couple of songs on it that are for her because she has Alzheimer’s. There’s only one duet on the album, and it was written by my daughter Louise (Dorsey) and her partner Tony Toliver. It’s recorded with her daughter, who was 9 years old at the time. She does an amazing portrayal of this particular song. It’s called “I’m Glad I Danced With You.” You see, I met (Patricia) when she was 17 at a dance hall and we’ve been together ever since. And the other song, “Just Like the First Time,” was written by a guy who must have done his homework because it really depicts my wife and I, our story together.

CCT: Is it hard to sing these songs in concert?

Humperdinck: No, because we are working hard to make her better. She’s had it for a long time (eight years), and it takes a little while before it can go away and I know it can go away. I have extreme confidence in that. It’s not a maybe; I’m positive it’s going to go away.

I also do a song from Bruno Mars called “Just the Way You Are.” There’s a nice story attached to that. I first met Bruno many years ago in Hawaii. I had a fan club party and he performed for me. He was 5 years old at the time. He was doing Elvis.

CCT: I know you and Elvis were friends. What’s the best “friendship” story and best “outrageous Elvis” story?

Humperdinck: I don’t know too much about outrageous. I want to say knowing him was the best thing that ever happened to me because I learned a lot from him by watching his show. We had good conversations. I asked him, “I hope you don’t mind if I sing some of your songs” and he said, “Don’t worry about that, pal, I’ve all your records and I do some of yours, too.”

Besides being an amazing entertainer, he was a great human being, had a lot of civility and he was very humble.

CCT: Being on somewhat the same level professionally, maybe you didn’t have to jump over this big gap and think, “Oh my God, I’m talking to Elvis!” He did what you do.

Humperdinck: (laughs) Well, he was a little bigger than I was. But I talked to him in a very ordinary way. I didn’t think “Oh my God, look who I’m talking to.” Although when I first met him it was “Oh my God!” but after a while it became OK.

CCT: You’ve done duets with Elton John, Smokey Robinson and even Kiss’s Gene Simmons, but I’m not sure if you’ve ever made a more radical choice than singing “Lesbian Seagull,” the song you had in the “Beavis and Butt-Head” movie.

Humperdinck: (laughs) You know, I’ve never performed that live. I feel it’s a great song and a great talking piece and has given me lots of publicity in many ways but putting it in my show could be a little bit dangerous.

CCT: Well, I’ve never heard a more beautiful song about a homosexual relationship between two birds.

Humperdinck: Exactly. I know.

http://www.capecodtimes.com/entertainmentlife/20180719/humperdinck-sings-about-man-i-want-to-be