Header Image
Icon: Facebook Icon: Youtube Icon: IMDB

NEWS

Singer Engelbert Humperdinck on Leicester City F.C. & whether he's had to use karate

October 20, 2018

Darren Paltrowitz, October 19, 2018, Sportskeeda

With 50 years in show business to his credit, singer Engelbert Humperdinck has released more than two dozen charting albums. Still playing to packed houses around the world, Humperdinck has not slowed down at all in recent years. 2017 saw the release of The Man I Want To Be, whereas 2018 has brought Warmest Christmas Wishes and a PBS concert special recorded in Hawaii.

As featured on Warmest Christmas Wishes, “Please Come Home For Christmas” was premiered by Billboard in late August. Said Humperdinck of Warmest Christmas Wishes: “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."

While Engelbert Humperdinck was in New York City doing press, I had the pleasure of interviewing the musical legend in-person within the office of Paste Magazine. Sports-related highlights from that chat are below; the rest of the interview, including anecdotes about Elvis Presley, comedian Jerry Lewis and recording for the Beavis & Butthead soundtrack, be played on an upcoming episode of the Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz.

In the meantime, all things Engelbert-related can be found online at www.engelbert.com.

I believe you had two albums slated to come out within a couple of months within one another…

Engelbert Humperdinck: One of them is already out. The Man I Want To Be is out and it has a lot of great new songs. My Christmas album comes out tomorrow.

How long had you been planning to have two releases so close together?

Engelbert Humperdinck: I'll be honest with you… My album came out and then we started production on the Christmas album I haven't done a Christmas song for 40 years and my fans following kept saying, “When are you going to do another Christmas album?” So finally we got together with a record company and we solved the problem by putting the album out and getting it finished. All ready to go!

One of my favorite parts of your career is that a lot of artists will say that they have a multigenerational audience, but you literally do with the fact that Damon Albarn is a fan, and there’s the Beavis & Butthead Do America soundtrack and all that. When did you first start to notice that you had multiple generations following you?

Engelbert Humperdinck: I see them in the audience… I see all age groups out there, you know? Especially when when you've been in the business half a century and then you see young faces in the audience people who enjoy it. It's so wonderful to see it, and I think the reason why I have longevity in this business is because of the multi-generation… I think three, four generations, whatever it is… It's given me a very stable career… I've been very fortunate.

Your name as a performer was taken from an old-time composer, yet your name itself was used as a tribute to a professional wrestling character, Sir Oliver Humperdink, who managed Bam Bam Bigelow and worked with Diamond Dallas Page. Was that something that ever came your way or people talked about?

Engelbert Humperdinck: Is that right?

Yeah…

Engelbert Humperdinck: But there's a lot of people have been named after me after I took the name. And it's amazing what people say, “My mother chose the name [Engelbert] because of you.” But I believe there’s also a ball player named Engelbert.

In football?

Engelbert Humperdinck: I believe so, yeah.

I know that you're a real estate guy, but away from all the work and all that, are you a sports fan?

Engelbert Humperdinck: I come from Great Britain and I'm a soccer fan and a couple of years ago my team in Leicester, where I live and lived, they won the Premier League. I was so happy because I idolized that team. I was able to hold the cup in my hand and meet the whole team and meet the owners. It was just wonderful. But I do play sports, I play golf and I play tennis. I’m a water-skiier. I’m a slalom skier.

Water-skiing, really…

Engelbert Humperdinck: Yes, I’ve studied martial arts with the number-one martial arts guy in the early years. His name is Mike Stone. He was an undefeated world champion. He lives in the Philippines. In fact, he put me on my diet and he told me what to do with and the exercises to do to keep [my weight] down.

Regarding your martial arts background, did you ever have to use that in a fight?

Engelbert Humperdinck: No, I… One time on-stage this guy, I just did a little bit. (laughs)

So moving back to today, how far in advance do you plan your career? I ask because you’ve got this PBS special coming soon, plus you had the holiday album and a regular studio album. Do you look ahead a year or two in advance?

Engelbert Humperdinck: It's always a year ahead. Hopefully this coming 2019 is going to be an excellent year for me, because who knows how long I've got left in show business. But I never try to think I'm going to retire. I don't want to retire, and as long as I have a good following and people still love me and my music, I am going to keep going .

Is there something that you wish more people knew about you beyond the music?

Engelbert Humperdinck: It started with social media, the way it is especially today, we are streaming across the world and people are getting to know me a lot more. With Facebook I put little things out on a daily basis, to keep everybody in touch with what's happening in my life.

So in closing, any last words for the kids?

Engelbert Humperdinck: Who are up and coming?

Sure.

Engelbert Humperdinck: Stick to it, it’s a great life.

 

https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/singer-engelbert-humperdinck-on-leicester-city-fc-whether-he-s-had-to-use-karate

 

 

 

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE YOUR E NEWSLETTER

Discography

All About LoveAll About Love
You’re The First, The Last, My EverythingYou’re The First, The Last, My Everything
RegardsRegards
SentimentsSentiments
ReflectionsReflections
Warmest Christmas WishesWarmest Christmas Wishes
The Man I Want to Be The Man I Want to Be
The Complete Decca Studio AlbumsThe Complete Decca Studio Albums
Engelbert Humperdinck - 50Engelbert Humperdinck - 50
DuetsDuets
Christmas CDChristmas CD
Runaway CountryRunaway Country
Engelbert CallingEngelbert Calling
ReleasedReleased
We Made It Happen/SweetheartWe Made It Happen/Sweetheart
My Love/King of HeartsMy Love/King of Hearts
Legacy of Love Disc 2Legacy of Love Disc 2
Legacy of Love Disc 1Legacy of Love Disc 1
The Winding Road The Winding Road
An Introduction to Engelbert HumperdinckAn Introduction to Engelbert Humperdinck
Totally Amazing Totally Amazing
Best of Engelbert Humperdinck: The Millenium CollectionBest of Engelbert Humperdinck: The Millenium Collection
GoldGold
Let There Be Love Let There Be Love
Love Songs and BalladsLove Songs and Ballads
His Greatest Love Songs His Greatest Love Songs
Release MeRelease Me
Always Hear the Harmony: The Gospel Sessions Always Hear the Harmony: The Gospel Sessions
Engelbert Humperdinck Live Engelbert Humperdinck Live
Definition of Love Definition of Love
You Belong to My Heart You Belong to My Heart
Love is the Reason [DM]Love is the Reason [DM]
Red Sails in the Sunset Red Sails in the Sunset
I Want to Wake Up With You I Want to Wake Up With You
It’s All in the Game It’s All in the Game
Original Gold Vol. 2Original Gold Vol. 2
Original Gold Vol. 1Original Gold Vol. 1
Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck & the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraEvening with Engelbert Humperdinck & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
An Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck An Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck
#1 Love Songs of All Time#1 Love Songs of All Time
At His Very BestAt His Very Best
The Engelbert Humperdinck Collection The Engelbert Humperdinck Collection
Live at the Royal Albert HallLive at the Royal Albert Hall
In the Still of the Night: 20 Beautiful Love SongsIn the Still of the Night: 20 Beautiful Love Songs
Dance Album [Bonus Track]Dance Album [Bonus Track]
The Best of Engelbert Humperdinck Live The Best of Engelbert Humperdinck Live
Merry Christmas with Engelbert HumperdinckMerry Christmas with Engelbert Humperdinck
Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck 2 [Live] Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck 2 [Live]
Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck 1 [Live]Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck 1 [Live]
The Dance AlbumThe Dance Album
16 Most Requested Songs16 Most Requested Songs
From the HeartFrom the Heart
FeelingsFeelings
Live in JapanLive in Japan
After DarkAfter Dark
You are So BeautifulYou are So Beautiful
Sings BalladsSings Ballads
The Magic of ChristmasThe Magic of Christmas
Magic NightMagic Night
Engelbert Humperdinck Sings the ClassicsEngelbert Humperdinck Sings the Classics
Love UnchainedLove Unchained
Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Engelbert I Love YouEngelbert I Love You
Step into My LifeStep into My Life
An Evening with Engelbert HumperdinckAn Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck
Yours: Quiereme MuchoYours: Quiereme Mucho
YoursYours
Hello Out ThereHello Out There
Engelbert Heart of GoldEngelbert Heart of Gold
Step into My LifeStep into My Life
Love is the ReasonLove is the Reason
Live in Concert/All of MeLive in Concert/All of Me
Remember I Love YouRemember I Love You
Getting SentimentalGetting Sentimental
You and Your LoverYou and Your Lover
Misty BlueMisty Blue
Don't You Love Me Anymore?Don't You Love Me Anymore?
A Merry Christmas with Engelbert HumperdinckA Merry Christmas with Engelbert Humperdinck
Love’s Only LoveLove’s Only Love
Engelbert Sings the HitsEngelbert Sings the Hits
This Moment in TimeThis Moment in Time
Love LettersLove Letters
The Last of the RomanticsThe Last of the Romantics
A Time For UsA Time For Us
Engelbert Sings For YouEngelbert Sings For You
Christmas TymeChristmas Tyme
MiraclesMiracles
After the Lovin’After the Lovin’
The World of Engelbert HumperdinckThe World of Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck His Greatest HitsEngelbert Humperdinck His Greatest Hits
My LoveMy Love
Engelbert King of HeartsEngelbert King of Hearts
In TimeIn Time
Live at the Riviera Las VegasLive at the Riviera Las Vegas
Another Time, Another PlaceAnother Time, Another Place
SweetheartSweetheart
We Made It HappenWe Made It Happen
Engelbert HumperdinckEngelbert Humperdinck
EngelbertEngelbert
A Man Without LoveA Man Without Love
Last WaltzLast Waltz
Release MeRelease Me