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By Richard Burnett • On April 4, 2019 Curtainsup.TV

A candid Q&A with pop icon Engelbert Humperdinck

When I first interviewed Engelbert Humperdinck a decade ago, he was riding another wave of popularity after recording the song Lesbian Seagull for MTV’s 1996 adult cartoon film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.

The filmmakers liked that Engelbert – or ‘Enge, as in Stonehenge’ – has a sense of humour, a character trait much on display when he performs live in concert.

But about Lesbian Seagull, Mr. Humperdinck told me, “They asked me to sing a serious ballad and I listened to the song and it was quite beautiful. So if being gay can happen in humans, it can happen to birds. And I support that. We should all have freedom of life.”

It’s no surprise that, in addition to his big voice, Mr. Humperdinck has a big heart.

Born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, British India, the ninth of 10 children, in 1936 (he shall turn 83 on May 2, but looks much, much younger), Humperdinck shot to fame in 1967:  His massive hit Release Me prevented The Beatles from scoring their 13th U.K. Number One hit (with their double A-side Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane), and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for selling the most singles in that era.

Humperdinck became the toast of Swinging London and would conquer the world, selling more than 140 million records worldwide.

Today, the ever-popular Humperdinck is riding yet another wave of popularity following the recent airing of his PBS TV concert special Engelbert Humperdinck in Hawaii recorded live at the historic Hawai‘i Theatre in Honolulu in August 2018.

Humperdinck brings his Angel on My Shoulder World Tour to Montreal for three nights at Place des Arts, from April 10 to 12, and recently sat down for a candid Q&A about his life and career.

Curtains Up: I read that you like to visit a local church when you perform in a new city. You have been performing in Montreal for many years. Have you visited a church in Montreal?

Engelbert Humperdinck: I probably have, because I do everywhere I go. This time for sure because I’ll be in Montreal for quite a length of time. They say that if you pop into a church in another country and ask for a favour, it will be granted.

What do you ask for?

I pray for my family, I pray for my wife because she is not in very good health at the moment (his wife Patricia has Alzheimers) and I am hoping it will improve very soon.

I think you also like to visit hospitals?

I sometimes do visit, if I have time.

Could you talk to me about healing? You have a gift.

I guess God has been good to me, has given me a few things in life, he gave me my voice and some people say they find peace and calmness from listening to it, and I think that is a form of healing that I am glad that I have.

My mom and I recently watched your Engelbert Humperdinck in Hawaii TV special on PBS. Your voice sounds amazing. What do you do to keep your voice in shape?

I’m just lucky. I don’t do anything specific to keep in it shape. I never get nodes on my throat which you get from singing incorrectly. I haven’t had a voice lesson in my life so I don’t really know how to sing properly. But I think I’ve been given a gift, and I sing properly anyway!

You haven’t lost any of your vocal power.

No I haven’t, but I have come down a semi-tone.

You also look great. What’s your secret?

When I started to do that special in Hawaii, I hadn’t done a special in a while and I thought to myself, “If this is going to be around for a long time, then I want to look like I looked many years ago.” So I went on a serious diet, a serious exercise regimen and I dropped 31 pounds.

Your Hawaii TV special also reminded me of another great TV special filmed in Hawaii, Elvis Presley’s Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite in 1973.

Yeaaaah! That was one of the reasons I wanted to do a special there, because of the connection I had with Elvis. I wanted to do something that he also did.

Do you miss your old friend?

I do miss him very much.

I always thought Elvis started the sideburns craze. But it was really you!

It was me! I brought it to America, I brought it to Canada, I brought it to the world. I started it in 1965. Elvis didn’t start his until around 1970-71.

I was trying to create an image. So I told my manager at the time, Gordon Mills, “I have to create an image. Everyone starts at the head!” Like The Beatles all had one hairstyle (here Engelbert sings a Beatles-esque “Woooo!”)

Even Yul Brynner started his own look.

It all starts with the head. No one looks at your feet when you walk onstage. So I dyed my hair black and grew sideburns and created a style for my first television show. My manager even told me, “You better shave them off, they look ridiculous!” I said no. Soon the Beatles and Elvis also grew sideburns. Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, you name the name, they all put on sideburns after me.

Back in the day visiting performers used to stay at your home in Vegas. I’m thinking Dean Martin?

Dean was a very good friend of mine. As a matter of fact, Dean took a shine to me because I played at his hotel, The Riviera, the first high rise on the strip. Dean was a co-owner. It was a classic hotel. He used to put his name on the marquee: “Dean Martin presents Engelbert Humperdinck.” He never did that for any other artist. I was the only one. I used to dine a lot with him in L.A.

Vegas has changed incredibly over the decades. What do you think of the city Vegas has become?

It’s more than a city, it’s a small country! Even Lake Mead, which was a familiar place for performers to go sunbathe and water ski, the water level is way down low now because they can’t cope with all the people who have moved into the city. When I went there, there was about eight hotels, now there’s a hundred hotels.

I once visited the Liberace Museum in a Vegas shopping mall off the strip. Sadly, the museum is now closed.

Lee was a very good friend of mine.

When Liberace played in Montreal back in 1944, a publicist at the Mount Royal Hotel changed his name from Walter Liberace – pronounced Lib-ber-ayse – to the more showbiz Liberace with a hard-c Italian pronunciation. Liberace was being paid $350 a week to play at the hotel’s Normandie Roof ballroom and left Montreal a star.

Lee was an incredible performer. As a matter of fact, I used to visit his home over here in Los Angeles, and also in Vegas. He had beautiful houses. He certainly knew how to decorate them!

Jimi Hendrix played guitar for you. What was that like?

He didn’t play for me. He was in the show. They wanted somebody known to introduce him to Europe, so they used my name. He did the first half of the show. Then one day my guitarist didn’t show up and Jimi told me, “Don’t worry, man, I’ll play for you.” I said, “You can’t come onstage and play, Jimi.” And he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll play behind the curtain!” And people were wondering where this fantastic guitar sound was coming from! It was quite an experience, no pun intended. He sounded like three guitars!

Do you still have a collection of motorcycles?

I still have one motorcycle. I used to have five Harleys but you can only ride one at a time. So I sold four of them because they were crowding my garage. Now I have two cars and a motorcycle, and that’s enough.

You used to ride your Harley from concert to concert, no?

I didn’t do that. That’s a bit difficult! But I still like to ride.

When was the last time you rode your Harley?

Right here recently in the hills! I don’t like to go on the main roads very much, so I like to stay on the Pacific Highway. It’s an open road. It helps me get the wind in my face.

People must be surprised to see Engelbert Humperdinck pull over and take off his helmet.

It’s always a surprise! (Laughs)

You’ve been to Montreal a million times. What would you like to do in Montreal when you return?

I don’t know what the weather is going to be like, but if it’s nice I’d like to play some golf. The last time I was up there during nice weather, I played on Céline Dion’s golf course. Montreal is a wonderful city and my fans there have supported my career from the very beginning. I always enjoy returning to Montreal.

Engelbert Humperdinck headlines Théatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts on April 10, 11 and 12. For tickets, visit placedesarts.com.

http://curtainsup.tv/an-audience-with-engelbert-humperdinck/

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times, April 6, 2019

The singer whose career has flourished for more than a half-century is Engelbert Humperdinck, who will be bringing his “The Angel on My Shoulder Tour” to the American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-0 648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) on April 7.

In a career spanning 50 years, Humperdinck has earned 64 gold and 35 platinum albums, four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe, and stars on the Hollywood and Las Vegas Walks of Fame.

He has recorded everything from the most romantic ballads to movie theme songs, disco, rock, and even gospel.  Some of the evergreen hits that belong to Engelbert include “After the Lovin’,” “The Last Waltz,” “Spanish Eyes,” “Quando, Quando, Quando,” and the unforgettable “Release Me,” which spent 56 consecutive weeks on the charts.

“The longevity of your career depends on how hard you work,” said Humperdinck, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from his home in Los Angeles.

“I’ve always wanted to be in show business, and I’ve maintained it by giving people what they want to hear – going all the way back to songs such as ‘Release Me’ and ‘A Man Without Love.’ I continue to play shows around the world. I just came back from a tour of Australia, Tahiti, New Zealand, Malaysia and Indonesia.”

Ironically, Humperdinck wanted a career in music but never wanted to be a singer.

The youngest boy of a family of 10 children originally from Leicester, England, he grew up in Madras (Chennai), India, where his father was stationed during World War II. He knew he could sing harmonies, but the power of his own voice came as a surprise to him and other people.

According to Humperdinck, “It’s just so loud, but I discovered I can be tender with it at the same time. My mother’s side of the family had the singing voice so I must have inherited that from her. My father was a man’s man – strong, athletic, charismatic. And I like to do all kind of men things. I love sports, golf, tennis martial arts, soccer, skiing, but, at the same time, yes I do appreciate women.”

Humperdinck’s appeal is more than just his voice. It includes his endearing sense of humor and self-deprecating jokes – and his ability to connect with audiences.

At the age of 11, Humperdinck, whose birth name is Arnold George Dorsey, started studying music and playing the saxophone. When he was 17, he was playing at a pub that sponsored a singing contest. Goaded by his friends to enter, he put down his sax and for the first time revealed another vocal talent — impersonations. He gave an incredible impersonation of comedian Jerry Lewis and was quickly dubbed Gerry Dorsey by his fans. It soon became his professional stage name.

Gerry Dorsey was very popular on the UK music circuit and in 1959 he released a single called, “Crazybells/ Mister Music Man” on Decca Records. However, he contracted tuberculosis, which silenced him for six months and nearly ended his rising music career. Upon regaining his health, Gerry Dorsey knew he had to end his former image to make a comeback as a strong, dynamic performer. A former manager suggested the new moniker.

The name Engelbert Humperdinck was taken from the Austrian composer who wrote “Hansel and Gretel.” It was outrageous enough to be memorable.

Humperdinck exploded onto the music scene in the 1960s in England along with The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The shy handsome boy catapulted almost instantly to world icon. He became great friends with Elvis Presley and the two legends often performed each other’s songs.

His first single in the charts was “Release Me,” which went into the Guinness Book of Records for achieving 56 consecutive weeks on the charts. It was No. 1 in 11 countries.

“Making a set list for my shows is difficult,” said Humperdinck. “My show has been tried-and-tested. But it’s hard work putting it together.

“I don’t want to sit at home and put my feet up. I’m always doing something. If I’m not riding my motorcycle, I’m playing golf, writing songs or working on the house.

“I used to write songs a lot but not now. I am responsible for my musical arrangements. I make a big judgment on what is going to appeal to the masses. My audience is an unbelievable cross-section – people of all ages from very young to very old. For me, that’s really nice to see.”

Humperdinck’s life has been filled with highlights. One of the most recent had nothing to do with music.

A native of Leicester, England, he has been a life-long fan of Leicester City F.C., a football team in England’s Premier League. In the 2015-2016 season, the Foxes won their first-ever Premiership title. It was a remarkable event considering British bookmakers thought Leicester’s victory was so unlikely that Ladbrokes and William Hill offered odds of 5,000-1 for it at the start of the season.

“That was so great when Leicester won the Premiership,” said Humperdinck. “Being such a fan, it really meant a lot to me. I even had the opportunity to hold the (championship) Cup.”

Video link for Engelbert Humperdinck — https://youtu.be/G6G3L3jOSpU.

The show at the American Music Theatre will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $69.

https://www.unionvilletimes.com/?p=42574

By Jane Rocca, March 3, 2019 The Sydney Morning Herald

Occupation Singer. Age 82. Relationship status Married. Best known for His 1967 hit Release Me. Currently Touring Australia.

My mother, Olive, had a wonderful operatic voice and used to make the chandeliers shake when she sang. I am sure I got my powerful singing voice from her. She always said I was the only one of her 10 children – I was the ninth, born in Madras, British India – who took after her, and would always refer to me as "my son, my son" and say it twice. I felt we shared a bond she may not have had with the others – at least that's how it felt to me growing up.

My father, Mervyn Dorsey, was an officer in the British Army and travelled a lot for his work. I knew very early on that I didn't want to follow in his footsteps.

I had seven sisters growing up. Two, Celine and Olga, have now passed, but the rest of us are all still very close. My parents raised us to be loving and supportive of one another, a valuable tradition that we hold on to. We are as close-knit as it gets.

Olga gave me a saxophone when I was 11. I quickly started playing it and bought lessons after doing paper rounds each week. I was very shy but loved to sing with my family.

My career as a singer happened accidentally. It was only after getting a standing ovation after being on stage at a working-man's club as a 17-year-old that I thought maybe this could be a career path for me.

The first song I released, Release Me, stopped the Beatles from having their 13th number one and it is also in the Guinness Book of World Records for selling the most singles in that era. It gave me world recognition.

My sisters were really supportive of me as their brother who reached the pop charts. My family was very proud of my achievement. I have since sold more than 150 million albums.

I have had the honour of working with some incredible women over the years, from Dionne Warwick to Olivia Newton-John. Olivia duets with me on a Shirley Bassey cover, Never, Never, Never, we recorded in 2014. She is a beautiful woman who I have a lot of time for.

I always adored Dusty Springfield. She sang Ain't No Mountain High Enough on my TV show in 1970 – that was lots of fun. I knew her family before she got into the business and invited her to sing with me. I stand by the fact she is one of the best singers I have ever met. Karen Carpenter is another favourite.

My first kiss was actually with my wife, Patricia. It happened before we married, of course. I met her when she was 17 at a dancehall and we've been together ever since.

I never had to worry about female fans getting in the way of my private life because I have been happily married to Patricia since 1964. Being a global star means you do get lots of recognition, but I got married before I became famous and Patricia stood by me through all the years while I was trying to make it.

It's not that hard to ignore the attention of women these days. It was in the beginning, but not any more! Audiences now don't care if I'm married, but when I started out they did care. Women want you to be single and available.

My marriage works because it comes down to a little word called "love". Patricia has been a great asset to me, a great wife and a wonderful mother to our four children.

Our daughter, Louise, is the firstborn child and I'd go as far to say she is the one who leads the family. She is instrumental in keeping my family together and is the matriarch. She's a songwriter who lives in the USA. We also have three sons – Bradley, Scott and Jason.

My latest album, The Man I Want to Be, is a love letter to my wife. It's really about reminiscing about the history between us.

There is a song on the album written by my daughter Louise and her husband called I'm Glad I Danced with You. Their child Olivia, my nine-year-old granddaughter, sings it with me – it's the only duet on the album. It's wonderful to have a grandchild who's drawn to the stage like me. It brings me to tears.

Engelbert Humperdinck is performing at the State Theatre, Sydney, on March 8 and the Palais Theatre, Melbourne, on March 9.

https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/engelbert-humperdinck-my-latest-album-is-a-love-letter-to-my-wife-20190228-p510sn.html

Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey) will turn 83 on May 2. He's sold more than 140 million records worldwide.He is coming to New Zealand for a three date tour ('The Man I Want To Be' tour); playing Auckland (Bruce Mason Centre) on February 28, CHCH (Theatre Royal) on March 2 and Wellington (Opera House) on March 4The Man I Want To Be tour takes its name from his latest album, released at the end of 2017, marking his 50th anniversary in music. The album, which is made up of original tracks and covers of contemporary songs including Ed Sheeran's 'Photograph' and Bruno Mars' 'Just the Way You Are', has received rave reviews. He talks about his extraordinary career and why he's still touring in his 80s.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018682865/engelburt-humperdinck-on-touring-and-singing-at-83

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love and romance. ♥ What better way is there to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with a giveaway from the King Of Romance himself – Engelbert Humperdinck! ♥

We are giving away a very special prize package to 30 lucky random winners.

The Valentine’s Day Prize Package includes:

♥ An autographed Engelbert Humperdinck Note Card.

♥ A heart shaped limited edition commemorative magnet featuring Engelbert and his granddaughter Olivia singing “I’m Glad I Danced With You”.

♥ A limited edition commemorative “Happy Valentine’s Day” sticker.

http://www.okgoodrecords.com/blog/2019/02/13/engelbert-humperdinck-valentines-day-giveaway/

By Rosanna Greenstreet 9 Feb 2019 The Guardian

The singer on manners, record stores and being an easy sob

Born in India, Engelbert Humperdinck, 82, moved to Leicester as a child. He had his first hit in 1967 with Release Me; his other multi-platinum-selling songs include The Last Waltz. In 2017 he celebrated his 50th year in show business with the album The Man I Want To Be, and he continues to tour the world. Ten years ago, his wife, Patricia, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The couple have four children and live in California and Leicester.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Splitting my pants on stage. It happened a lot in the early days, because I used to wear very tight pants. I was always asked, “How does one get into those?” and I’d say, “You start off with a kiss!”

What is top of your bucket list?

If my wife recovers somewhat, I will be delighted to take my entire family to Barbados. We’re working very hard to bring her back to normality, with western and eastern medicine.

What is your most treasured possession?

My passport.

What would your super power be?

Healing.

What makes you unhappy?

Other people’s incompetence, because I feel I do things to the best of my ability.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

I just did it. I wanted to lose weight and respect my body more, and I’ve lost 31 pounds in three months.

What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?

After an early show, my then manager told me, “You were shit. You only just got by on bullshit and charm.”

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?

Record stores.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Ageing.

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

My wife. I made mistakes in my early life and hurt her. Everybody thinks the grass is greener, but it’s not. To say sorry to her when she understands will be one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Me – if they can make you old, they can make you young again.

When did you last cry, and why?

I have to say I am an easy sob. I don’t mind, because there’s no harm in having a big man cry.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin and Elvis – I knew them all.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A saxophonist, but destiny chose another path for me, and I’m glad it happened that way.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“Sorry, can you say that again – I’m a bit mutton Jeff?”

What has been your biggest disappointment?

Not understanding the business side of my career enough. I could have probably been much wealthier than I am.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

I don’t like to think about that.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Manners.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

I’ve had only one love, and that is my wife. I asked her to dance when she was 17 and we’ve been dancing together ever since.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/feb/09/engelbert-humperdinck-sammy-davis-jr-dean-martin-elvis

Kate Robertson Feb 08 2019, Stuff NZ

Fifty-two years on from its release, Ten Guitars still holds a special place in Engelbert Humperdinck's heart.

The song, which was little more than a B side to Release Me, became an instant Kiwi classic.

Humperdinck tells Stuff he was "shocked," but in the very best way.

These days, the 82-year old can't imagine putting on a show in Aotearoa where he doesn't indulge in playing it twice: "once for me and once for the audience," he says.

The surprise success of the song means New Zealand remains one of the Spanish Eyes singer's favourite countries to tour.

"I do love playing in New Zealand. I love it because Ten Guitars is like the national anthem of New Zealand," Humperdinck says.

He'll return to the country later this month, performing in Auckland on February 28, Christchurch on March 2 and Wellington on March 4. He's playing sizeable venues, but none of them will compare to the New Zealand show that remains one of his fondest touring memories.

"I believe we played in New Zealand to quarter of a million people at one time," he recalls.

"I couldn't see the back of the crowd, it was that big and that large. That's the time I had to do Ten Guitars three times. That's one of the highlights of my life, because it's one of the biggest crowds I've ever played to."

This time round, Humperdinck says Kiwis can expect to hear a selection of classics, along with a number of songs from his 2017 album The Man I Want to Be.

The album is a love letter to his wife Patricia Healy, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

The record features a small handful of covers alongside a number of original songs, one of which now stands as an important piece of Humperdinck family history.

I'm Glad I Danced With You was written by Humperdinck's daughter Louise Sarah Dorsey and her partner Tony Taliaferro, and features the vocals of his granddaughter Olivia Taliaferro.

He says Olivia, who was just nine at the time of recording, "sings these lyrics that were written for my wife so well."

"I met my wife at a dance hall when she was 17, and that's what the song is all about, that I met her when she was 17 and we've been together ever since," he says.

The album, which Humperdinck confidently states is "one of the best I've ever done", also includes re-arranged covers of the Ed Sheeran hit Photograph and the Bruno Mars song Just the Way You Are.

He says the decision to include contemporary songs from young artists has "worked out amazing".

First and foremost he admires their work, but he's also quick to point out that ties on the Bruno Mars track run deeper than most would be aware.

"The Bruno Mars song has quite the story attached to it," he says, pausing for effect.

"I met Bruno Mars in Hawaii many, many years ago, and he performed for me at one of my fan club parties. He was five years old at the time. I said, young man, you're going to be a big star."

"But he's not big, he's a mega star, and so now I'm recording one of his songs."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/110379258/engelbert-humperdinck-still-shocked-by-success-of-ten-guitars

The Engelbert Humperdinck shows for 1/25/19 New Buffalo, MI (Four Winds Casino) & 1/26/19 St. Charles, IL (Arcadia Theatre) have been postponed. The shows will be rescheduled for later dates. Ticketholders can use their tickets for the rescheduled performances. Please stay tuned for more information. We apologize for any inconvenience.

By Ed Condran, The Gazette, January 24, 2019

UPDATE: The show has been canceled. If you have purchased tickets, refunds will be available through the point of your purchase.

If you have a name like Engelbert Humperdinck, it helps to have a sense of humor.

The veteran singer, who was born Arnold Dorsey and raised in India and England, didn’t change his name for laughs before music’s British Invasion. Appropriating the unusual moniker from the 19th century German composer who crafted the “Hansel and Gretel” opera, has earned notice and then some.

During an “All in the Family” episode back in the mid-70s, the iconic Archie Bunker, a malaprop master, called the singer “Engelbert What’s His Dink.”

“To hear Archie in all his Bunker bravado say that on prime time, well, I knew I’d made it,” Humperdinck, 82, said by phone from Clearwater, Fla. “Ed Sullivan and Dean Martin messed up my name too, much to the audience’s delight, and we are still talking and laughing about it.”

Yes, the romantic hits “Release Me” and “There Goes My Everything” are a huge part of Humperdinck’s appeal. But he also engages with his audiences. The Gazette is presenting him in concert Sunday (1/27) at the Paramount Theatre, and he said he’s still having a blast onstage more than a half century after making his debut.

“There is still that excitement for live music in a show that has been 52 years in the making,” he said.

It’s a much different world than when Humperdinck started out. Back then, the record industry was strong and love songs were ubiquitous. That’s not so today.

“I don’t know why love is hard to find on the charts,” Humperdinck said. “The Beatles philosophy carries to this generation, ‘All You Need is Love.’”

There’s lots of love in the tunes at Humperdinck’s shows. “After the Lovin,” “The Power of Love” and “Crazy” are just some of the love songs he’s delivered. He has so many choices when selecting from his deep canon.

“Making a set-list is so challenging,” he said. “People relate to different songs and some have been on this ‘Release Me’ road from the beginning, so there are, thankfully, a myriad melodies and memories to choose from for the show. The format stays somewhat the same in dynamics, because it is tried and tested worldwide, but I like to include unexpected gems that take the audience by surprise and take them back to another ‘Moment in Time.’ I also like to find great current love songs and do them my way and pay tribute to the talent of today.”

Humperdinck has been covering such contemporary tunes as Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” and Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are.”

“I was introduced to Ed by my granddaughter Kiki, who kept singing ‘Thinking Out Loud’ to me until I recorded it and sang it onstage,” Humperdinck said. “Apparently Ed’s mum is a big fan and I was flattered to learn that he liked the rendition. I connected with his lyrics on a deeper level.”

When Mars was a kid, he showcased for Humperdinck.

“Having met him when he was just 5, it just made total sense that I should cover him and maybe some of that ‘24 Karat Magic’ (Mars’ album) would rub off on me. What a fantastic entertainer,” he exclaimed.

Damon Albarn of Gorillaz wanted to work with Humperdinck, but his management never let him know about the proposal.

“Missed opportunities by mismanagement is a huge pet peeve of mine,” Humperdinck said. “It wasn’t presented to me personally and it was a big lesson on being more hands-on with offers that come in.”

But Humperdinck is very busy.

“Basically, the suitcases stays by the front door,” he said. “The first four months (of 2019) have little time scheduled for the dry cleaners and resting in my easy chair. I’m testing out my new show and we start the national tour before heading to Australia and Southeast Asia. ...

“I have a lot going on and I like it that way,” he said. “I’ll be in the studio recording a phenomenal new song that sounds like it should be at the end of a Clint Eastwood movie. Now there’s a legend.”

Pop singer still going strong after 50 years

By TOM CONWAY - Herald Palladium - January 24, 2019

NEW BUFFALO — At 82, Engelbert Humperdinck still tours frequently, a schedule he has maintained for more than 50 years.

“In the old days, not only was it every day, but sometimes a twice-a-day show, and then go out and see someone else perform at a lounge in the early hours,” Humperdinck said. “I think the toll of touring only hits me after a run, when my body knows it can rest. People call me an ox when it comes to my endurance, but I’m really a true bull, a Taurus with a stubborn streak who likes to get the job done and done right.”

The English pop singer will stop at Four Winds Casino Resort’s Silver Creek Event Center on Friday as part of “The Angel on My Shoulder Tour,” named after a song he features in his show that he feels encapsulates the good fortune he has had in his life.

“My angel has had a busy life, as my life has been anything but straightforward,” Humperdinck said. “The song just spoke to my life and how I have always felt a higher power tap me on the shoulder and divert many situations, some that would not have me here anymore. I fell in a timber pond with sharks as a non-swimming boy and was rescued by my brother, who also couldn’t swim. Our parents had no idea we were there, and it could easily have ended our stories.”

Humperdinck’s story involves selling more than 140 million records and having hit singles in the United Kingdom and U.S., with songs like “Release Me,” “The Last Waltz,” “After the Lovin’” and “This Moment in Time.”

Humperdinck’s style of romantic ballad singing was falling out of favor in the mid-1960s with The Beatles exploding on the music scene, but he held his own. “Release Me” kept The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane” from the top spot in the U.K., and stayed on the charts for 56 consecutive weeks, achieving an entry into the Guinness Book of Records.

“I’m sure everyone worried about the hugely talented Beatles and their eclectic style of music that stepped in the waters of different genres, but somehow was their own unique sound,” Humperdinck said. “I felt pretty confident in the shoes I was wearing and the stamp I was trying to make in the business. When I hit, I was off and running and had no time to worry about competition. I was my own competitor, working on one-upping myself and learning the trade as fast as I could.”

Born Arnold George Dorsey, Humperdinck borrowed his stage name from the 19th century composer of operas like “Hansel and Gretel.”

“My manager had three of us in his stable of talent at the time, and he named Gilbert O’Sullivan and myself after composers, and Tom Jones after the film of the same name, which was popular at the time,” Humperdinck said. “Surprisingly, I settled into my new moniker very quickly, with the support of my family. It somehow fit the young man with dreams as big as his new name, but roots solidly planted in the ground from which he was raised.”

Humperdinck has a knack for taking on artistic projects that introduce him to new generations of music fans. In 1996, he recorded the song “Lesbian Seagull” for the soundtrack for the film “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.”

“I had so much fun on that project and was really honored to be considered,” Humperdinck said. “I couldn’t wait to caw like a seagull for the movie version of the incredibly popular TV show. (Director) Mike Judge was a fan and such a creative visionary. It had a nice long run, which is appropriate as the meaning behind the song is about life’s nice long run with the same love.”

He also might have attracted new fans in the 21st century when Damon Albarn of Gorillaz wanted Humperdinck to contribute to the 2010 album “Plastic Beach,” but his manager declined the proposal without telling him.

“Mismanagement is really the beginning and end of that story,” Humperdinck said. “I was sick to learn the project was turned down without my even knowing of the offer. It has been years now, but you can bet it was a lesson learned and a management changed.”

Humperdinck released his latest album, “The Man I Want To Be,” in 2017, which features his version of Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are.”

He recorded the song as a tribute to his wife, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and because he met Mars at a young age and knew he was destined for the big time.

“I met him when he was 5,” Humperdinck said. “He was hired to perform at a fan club party for me in Hawaii. He blew us away with his Elvis costume and moves and command of his young voice. He was charming and cute and exploding with the X factor. To record his song is to pay homage to his life of struggle and persistence and sort of an ‘I told you so.’ I did tell him as a young lad that he would be a megastar.

“The song I ended up including in my show,” he said, “is dedicated to my wife and the changing life and cards we have been dealt in our golden years. The cruelty of Alzheimer’s is only overcome by the love of a lifetime.”

Humperdinck isn’t thinking about retiring anytime soon. He still enjoys what he does.

“I have a huge band and crew who work so well with me, and we all get to see the world together though this gift of music,” he said. “I think of myself as a young musician and how good steady work felt with people who made the job even more fun and I just carry on. Plus, I get uneasy in my easy chair after about three weeks of watching telly and doing down time.”

https://www.heraldpalladium.com/features/engelbert-humperdinck-is-a-true-bull/article_d8cd99bf-2526-5f04-a8a0-acc68d82c351.html