NEWS

"It keeps me young," the 90-year-old singer says ahead of two Place des Arts shows this week.

By

Bill Brownstein The Gazette

October 7, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

He croons a moving — and most mellifluous — rendering of The Cars’ 1984 classic Drive, along with impressive, touching takes on Kiss’s 1976 offering Beth and the 1983 Journey smash Faithfully, also the title of his recently released album.

It may well shock some to learn that said crooner is one Engelbert Humperdinck.

Engelbert is truly a force of nature. The British singer is now travelling the land on his Celebration Tour to promote the disc. He hits Montreal for two shows at Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts, on Oct. 8 and 9.

Engelbert is 90.

He surely doesn’t need the money. In a career spanning 70 years, he has cut about 90 albums (64 of which have gone gold and 35 platinum) and has sold over 150 million records.

So, has he made some sort of deal with the devil that still keeps him going?

“All I can say is God has been good to me and I love performing and touring — it keeps me young,” Engelbert says in a Zoom interview from his L.A. residence before taking off on this latest tour.

He took a different approach — dare we say more rock-oriented — to Faithfully. The disc’s 15 tracks feature some impressive guests: Journey’s Jonathan Cain; master keyboardist Rick Wakeman of Yes and David Bowie fame; Grammy-winning guitarist Al Di Meola; Canned Heat’s Harvey Mandel; Jethro Tull legend Ian Anderson; and guitar whiz Eric Gales.

“When I sat down with my record company (Cleopatra) to talk about my next album — they’re into all this hard rock — they asked why I don’t try this avenue. I’ve never done that before, but I’ve recorded so many different albums with so many different styles. But this is the first time I’ve ever recorded an album of this nature with music mostly from the 1980s and those big sounds. It turned out well, and I did it my way,” notes Engelbert — unintentionally, it seems, reprising the famed Frank Sinatra catchphrase.

And just to ensure he remains constantly busy when not touring or recording, Engelbert started doing a podcast in September: The Engelbert Humperdinck Show. “I call it my poddy.”

Montreal holds many memories for him. One of his first gigs here was at the long-extinct Playboy Club in the late ’60s, where he did 19 shows. The club may not have lasted more than a decade, having closed in 1976, but he has.

Interesting times we live in. Demand remains strong for a host of golden-agers on the culture front. For instance, fellow Brit John Cleese, who turns 87 on Oct. 27, is heading back to Montreal on his Not Dead Yet! Tour.

An additional show had to be added to meet unexpected demand for both Cleese and Engelbert. They will even be competing for audiences on one night: Cleese’s appearances at L’Olympia are on Oct. 7 and 8, with a screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail followed by a conversation and Q&A.

“Don’t know about John, but all I can say is that I’m not going to give up — this is not my last tour,” declares Engelbert, who could pass for at least 10 years younger. “I’ll do it again next year. It won’t be a celebration tour — it will be a double celebration tour!

“I think that if you record a good, meaningful song, people will always be able to relate to it. That has been my strength. I did A Man Without Love in 1968 and it recently went into the Moon Knight (miniseries, based on the Marvel Comics character). And it then went back to No. 1 on Spotify. That’s just unbelievable.”

Such Engelbert megahits as Release Me, The Last Waltz, There Goes My Everything and Am I That Easy to Forget — all recorded in the late ’60s — have also come back again on the charts.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he quips.

He is in awe of the likes of Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Elton John still plugging away. But he cites Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Sinatra and Dean Martin — “who had a unique way of being casual yet charismatic with audiences” — as his inspirations.

“All my mentors, people I’ve learned from, are all gone. They’ve left such great legacies behind, and that’s what I want to do when God says: ‘It’s your turn.’”

But not any time soon. He gets a kick out of Clint Eastwood’s response to a question from late country singer Toby Keith about how Clint had been able to act, direct, jog and golf well into his senior years: “I don’t let the old man in.”

Words to live by for Engelbert. In 2018, Keith recorded a song called Don’t Let the Old Man In. Eastwood added the tune to his film The Mule. And Engelbert performs it at his shows.

Engelbert’s anti-aging secret: He does aerobic exercises in his pool every day when not on the road.

“I don’t swim. I can, but I just use the pool for working out.”

He also shoots less than his age on the golf course and is a martial artist, having earned his black belt in karate in the ’80s “to balance my mind.”

So best not to mess with his body — or mind.

“I used to break a lot of boards. I’m no good in a fight, but if a board ever attacked me, I’d kill it,” he shoots back with a hearty laugh.

Regrets? He’s long had one.

“I always wanted to be an actor as well, but my manager back in the day would throw all the scripts I received from Hollywood into the garbage. He didn’t want me to spend six months acting in a studio when I could be on the road and be a money-spinner for the record company.

“So I never made it as an actor, but I still consider myself a thespian of song.”

AT A GLANCE

Engelbert Humperdinck’s Celebration Tour is at Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts on Oct. 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $83.50 to $153 at placedesarts.com.

https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/brownstein-engelbert-humperdinck-will-never-say-release-me-to-the-touring-life/

• By LuAnn Thibodeau, special to The Suburban October 2, 2026

Engelbert Humperdinck will be returning to Montreal on October 8 and 9, bringing The 2026 Celebration Tour to Théâtre Maisonneuve in Place des Arts. And what a year of celebration it has been. Enge (as he is known to his legion of fans around the world) turned 90 years young on May 2. While many people his age would be content to stay at home, sitting in an easy chair with their feet up, that is not who Enge is. As he has said many times,  “I’m going to keep going until God calls me.”

One of the songs in his show reflects that notion and is so apropos: Don’t Let The Old Man In. It is totally Enge’s motto. He stated that he tries to look and act as young as possible, and while he never has had plastic surgery, he readily admits that he dyes his hair, and has been doing it since going prematurely gray in his 20s.

A couple of years ago, Engelbert started the Last Waltz Tour, which he brought to Canada in the fall of 2024.  After the tour was over, he was home for a couple of months and was climbing the walls. “I called my manager and said this is definitely not The Last Waltz Tour. Let’s keep going until I can’t sing anymore… I’ve got a great following, so why not carry on doing it?”

And believe me, his fans are definitely grateful for that decision.

There are two other reasons to celebrate. The first is his new song, I’ve Got You, which was released on his birthday. It’s a beautiful ballad that was produced by Joel Diamond (who also produced After The Lovin and other hits). The second is his new album, Faithfully, released on August 28. This album differs from his usual work in that it includes songs from several well-known big bands, such as The Beatles, Aerosmith, Kiss, and more. It also includes one new song composed by René Le Blanc from the Netherlands. The title of that song is Always My Love. 

Engelbert has recently finished a tour of New Zealand and Australia, as well as doing a concert and a TV show in Germany. By all accounts, everyone agrees that these were fantastic performances. The videos and photos capture the essence of the man who is known worldwide as The King of Romance and Hearts. And he recently did a meet and greet and album signing at Barnes and Noble in Los Angeles, where fans were more than overjoyed to see him and have photos taken with him, as well as autographed vinyl albums and CDs — all treasures to last a lifetime.

Enge’s connection to the audience is truly real. From his song choices to his interpretation and delivery of those songs. Many people that I have spoken to through the years say it’s as if Enge is singing directly to them, and I couldn’t agree more. Enge says that “there is no better feeling than walking out on stage,” and also says that he is not just a singer but a “thespian of music,” who “reads many a lyric differently, since my wife passed away.”  There are many times when his emotions are very evident, not only in his voice and phrasing of a song, but in also in his face and body language. At each of those special moments in time, the audience is even more behind him than usual, and his appreciation is clearly visible.  

His sense of humour is also an integral part of each show. His jokes about the ladies banging on his door to there being only “tea” in the glass that he uses to propose a toast brings smiles and laughter to everyone. And of course,  the sincere handshake that several folks are fortunate enough to receive at the end of the show are a memory that lasts a lifetime. As someone who has received a few, I must say that it’s a handshake like no other. But the utmost treasure is a red signature hankie- Enge tosses several out into the audience at each show, before he bids everyone a good night. 

There are many fans who follow Enge and travel to his concerts, giving him the blessing of seeing familiar faces in the audience. And a whole new generation of fans is now in the fold, thanks to the feature of one of his greatest songs (that he originally recorded in 1968) A Man Without Love, in the Marvel series Moon Knight. The song is still an integral part of each concert, with many of the ladies swooning as he delivers it in a very special way. He also gained more younger fans after he sang I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles in the movie Bullet Train.

Engelbert also maintains a very special relationship with his fans around the world by posting regularly on his social media accounts.  As he says, “social media is the best PR we’ve got right now”. He does a weekly message called Tuesday Museday, and just last week started a bi-weekly podcast. The first episode focused on his early life, and if it is any indication of what the next episodes are going to be like, stay tuned, because there is no doubt they will be wonderful. The podcasts are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Enge also shares videos and photos taken by fans on his Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok pages.

Before he returns to Canada, Engelbert will be performing a few shows in Asia. And then it’s two in Las Vegas, where he will again be at The Westgate (he was there in April, when he was presented with a key to The Westgate and a proclamation declaring April 17th as Engelbert Humperdinck Day). The Las Vegas shows are October 2 and 3.

Then it’s off to Canada for Engelbert, where he will be performing six shows. The first is in Toronto at Massey Hall on October 6. Then he is going to be in Montréal for two shows October 8 and 9.  On October 11 and 12, he will be at Théâtre Capitole in Quebec City, before closing out the Canadian tour at Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Lemay in Gatineau on October 14.  All of the shows start at 7:30 pm, with the exception of the one Oct.12.  That show, which is on Thanksgiving Day, is at 2 p.m. What a great way to celebrate the day and give thanks to and for the man who is a living legend.

https://www.thesuburban.com/arts_and_entertainment/entertainment/engelbert-humperdinck-faithfully-returns-to-canada/article_b17458db-60f6-4997-a153-abe23e207e6f.html

https://www.cfqr600.com/player/podcasts/episodes/spotlight-montreal/

“I love a challenge,” says 90-year-old music legend on reinterpreting classic rock ballads by Journey, the Cars, Aerosmith and more.

By Warren Kurtz  August 31, 2026 Goldmine

Britain’s Engelbert Humperdinck debuted in early 1967 at the age of 30 with the Top 5 single “Release Me,” the Top 10 album of the same name, and he has never stopped recording and performing. Now, at the age of 90, Cleopatra Records has released Faithfully, a collection primarily of Humperdinck’s covers of rock ballads from the late ‘60s through the early ‘90s, joined by Rick Wakeman, Jonathan Cain, and more. We have spoken to Humperdinck many times in recent years about his recordings and joined him again this summer to discuss seven songs from his new album.

GOLDMINE: Welcome back for our eighth interview in recent years. You keep on releasing wonderful music including Christmas songs, ‘70s soul covers, and now, your versions of rock ballads. With the title tune, Journey’s “Faithfully,” your storytelling delivery of life on the road is so convincing. I think about you and your wife Patricia, and your children who I have spoken with, Louise and Bradley.

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK: When we were going through songs for the album, I picked out “Faithfully” for that particular reason. I know that Steve Perry did a great job on the original recording but Arnel Pineda, who is currently in Journey, is quite unbelievable and does an amazing job of it too. I have to congratulate him on his performance. To introduce these songs to my audience, I used “Faithfully” as an example in my show and it went down extremely well. When we were starting this project, I was in Baku, Azerbaijan doing a weeklong music festival for the singer Emin Agalarov. During the daytime, I was listening to all of the tracks to decide which ones to choose trying to block out hearing the festival rehearsals happening below my room. Louise was instrumental in trying to pick out the songs. She knows her dad more than anybody else. With her help, we came up with the conclusion of all the songs on the album.

GM: You mentioned Arnel Pineda not being an original Journey member but doing a great job with the band since 2007. I agree and similarly, I have seen that with KISS. I went to school with my friend Eric Singer, who was a KISS fan, and became KISS’ drummer starting in 1992, so I have been to many KISS shows and have heard the pair of KISS songs you and Louise selected many times before. On your version of “I Was Made for Loving You,” the 1979 peak disco era sound is removed, and the addition of strings is wonderful. You add so much power at the end when you sing, “I can give it all to you.”

EH: I heard the final version of this album in my own little environment. I went into my car, input the CD, and turned up the volume to the level we always listen to music, and I heard one track after another and I was, to use an English expression, gobsmacked. The order that the songs are in is so perfect. I said bravo to the team who put this together, producers Pete Mills and Adam Hamilton, and our mixing engineer Jürgen Engler. Pete was so knowledgeable in guiding me. I enjoy taking directions. I am not an “I know all” person. The arrangements are wonderful.

GM: When I was playing the CD for my wife Donna, she also was complimentary about the arrangements. Then there are the guest musicians. Rick Wakeman’s piano on KISS’ highly successful flip side “Beth” is so classy.

EH: That is so good. Rick did a hell of a job on that song. I am happy to sing these KISS songs that appeal so much to me. I have met Gene Simmons, and he is just a wonderful person.

GM: Donna and I grew up in Cleveland, as did Benjamin Orr of The Cars, who originally sang “Drive.” When you sing the phrases, “hang it up” and “plug their ears,” the Engelbert vocal magic comes through.

EH: Thank you. Some of the lyrics on these songs took me back to growing up, and when you can relate to the lyrics, you can express it better.

GM: What surprised me is that you included a song that I think I missed in 1989, Warrant’s gold single “Heaven.” You sing this so nicely and you even have a touch of country in your voice.

EH: I had the choice of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven” and Warrant’s “Heaven” and Warrant’s song hit me harder, so I chose that one to record. It is a wonderful song and I enjoy it.  

GM: “Always My Love” is a song that I definitely didn’t know and I certainly enjoy.

EH: A guy from The Netherlands named René le Blanc sent me a few of his songs. I told him that they wouldn’t fit on my album of covers but his song “Always My Love” lent itself in style to this particular album. I said, “OK, let’s go for it,” and the people at Cleopatra Records agreed with me on this song that is not known and has never been recorded before.

GM: The full production of “Always My Love” ends the vinyl album so nicely. The CD includes three bonus tracks, beginning with Heart’s big ballad “Alone” with wonderful piano from Jonathan Cain and great guitar from Steve Morse.

EH: I have never sung songs like this before. It was a brand-new project for me and I love a challenge. I decided to try this when the people at Cleopatra Records came up with this brilliant idea and I think it worked. I am looking forward to people’s comments on the album. The audience listening to this album may not believe that it is the voice of a 90-year-old person. It has been nice talking to you one more time. God bless. Thank you.

https://www.goldminemag.com/columns/fabulous-flip-sides/engelbert-humperdinck-talks-surprising-covers-of-kiss-ozzy-and-heart-for-new-album-faithfully/