Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)

1.1. Childhood and background

Arnold George Dorsey was born on May 2, 1936, in Madras, British India, which is now known as Chennai, India. He was one of ten children born to Mervyn Dorsey, a British Army NCO of Welsh descent, and his wife Olive, who was of German descent. Some sources also indicate that he has Anglo-Indian heritage. When he was ten years old, his family relocated to Leicester, England, where he would spend much of his youth.

1.2. Gerry Dorsey era and early activities

After moving to England, Dorsey developed an interest in music, beginning with learning the saxophone. By the early 1950s, he was playing the saxophone in nightclubs, though he is believed to have started singing only in his late teens. His impression of American comedian Jerry Lewis led friends to call him "Gerry Dorsey," a name he used professionally for nearly a decade. During his high school years, he formed a school band and performed as a vocalist. After graduating, he initially worked in a technical field but eventually returned to performing in clubs due to his passion for music.

His efforts to launch a music career were interrupted in the mid-1950s by conscription into the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals. Following his discharge, he secured his first recording opportunity in 1959 with Decca Records, having been discovered after winning a talent contest in the Isle of Man the previous summer. His debut single, "Crazy Bells," with "Mister Music Man" as its B-side, did not achieve success despite two promotional appearances on the ITV teenage music show Oh Boy! in February and March 1959. Later that year, he signed with Parlophone, but his first record for them, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (b/w "Every Day Is a Wonderful Day"), also failed to gain traction. He would return to record for Decca years later with significantly different results.

In 1959, he joined "The Big Beat Show," a touring production featuring other contemporary pop singers such as Billy Fury, Vince Eager, and Terry Dene. Further television appearances followed, including on the ITV show "The Song Parade." He also toured as a supporting act for Adam Faith and continued to perform in nightclubs. However, in June 1961, his career was put on hold when he contracted tuberculosis and spent nine months in the hospital. After recovering his health, he returned to show business in 1962, but found little success, having to restart his career almost from scratch by returning to variety stages and nightclub work.

2.1. Transition and breakthrough

In 1965, Arnold George Dorsey joined forces with Gordon Mills, a former roommate from his time in Bayswater, London, who had become a successful music impresario and manager for artists like Tom Jones. Recognizing Dorsey's years of struggle in the music industry, Mills suggested a more distinctive stage name: Engelbert Humperdinck, borrowed from the 19th-century German composer of operas such as Hansel and Gretel. The name was chosen for its unusual and memorable sound in English.

His first significant success came in July 1966 in Belgium, where he and four other artists represented Britain in the annual Knokke song contest, winning the prize that year. Three months later, in October 1966, he was performing in Mechelen. He made a mark on the Belgian charts with "Dommage, Dommage," and an early music video was filmed featuring him in the harbor of Zeebrugge.

In the mid-1960s, Humperdinck visited German songwriter Bert Kaempfert at his home in Spain, where he was offered arrangements for three songs: "Spanish Eyes", "Strangers in the Night", and "Wonderland by Night". Upon returning to Britain, he recorded all three. He recognized the potential of "Strangers in the Night" and asked Mills if it could be released as a single, but his request was denied as the song had already been earmarked for Frank Sinatra. "Spanish Eyes" and "Wonderland by Night" were later included on his 1968 LP, A Man Without Love.

The strategic changes paid off significantly in early 1967 when Humperdinck's version of "Release Me" soared to the top of the charts in the United Kingdom and reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song, originally a hit for American singers Kitty Wells and Ray Price, was arranged by Charles Blackwell in an "orchestral country music" style, featured session musicians Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page and a full chorus joining Humperdinck on the third refrain. Notably, this record prevented The Beatles' double A-side "Strawberry Fields Forever"/"Penny Lane" from reaching the top spot in the United Kingdom, marking the first time since 1963 that a Beatles single was kept from No. 1. The B-side of "Release Me," titled "Ten Guitars", became enormously popular in New Zealand. "Release Me" spent an impressive 56 consecutive weeks in the UK Top 50 and was estimated to have sold 85,000 copies a day at the peak of its popularity. The song has remained a cornerstone of Humperdinck's repertoire ever since.

Humperdinck's easygoing style and good looks quickly garnered him a substantial following, particularly among women, with his most devoted female fans affectionately calling themselves "Humperdinckers." "Release Me" was swiftly followed by two more hit ballads: "There Goes My Everything" and "The Last Waltz". These successes earned him a reputation as a "crooner," a description he often disputed. As Humperdinck explained to The Hollywood Reporter writer Rick Sherwood, he considered himself a "contemporary singer, a stylised performer" rather than a crooner, emphasizing his vocal range.

In 1968, after receiving the Variety Club of Great Britain award for Show Business Personality of 1967, Humperdinck achieved further chart success with "A Man Without Love," which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying album of the same name climbed to No. 3 on the UK album charts. Another single, "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize", became a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom and entered the top 40 in the United States. By the close of the decade, Humperdinck's expanding catalog of songs included "Am I That Easy to Forget", "The Way It Used to Be", "I'm a Better Man (For Having Loved You)" (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David), and "Winter World of Love". These popular singles were complemented by a series of equally successful albums, including Release Me, The Last Waltz, A Man Without Love, and Engelbert Humperdinck, which collectively formed the foundation of his success. From 1969 to 1970, Humperdinck hosted his own television series, The Engelbert Humperdinck Show, which aired on ATV in the United Kingdom and ABC in the United States. This musical variety show featured a diverse array of guest stars, including Paul Anka, Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Ray Charles, Four Tops, Lena Horne, Liberace, Lulu, Carmen McRae, Dusty Springfield, Jack Jones, Tom Jones, and Dionne Warwick.

2.2. 1970s activities

By the early 1970s, Humperdinck had settled into a busy schedule of recordings and live performances. This period saw the emergence of several signature songs, often penned by renowned musicians and songwriters. Notable tracks included "We Made It Happen" (written by Paul Anka), "Sweetheart" (composed by Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb), "Another Time, Another Place", and "Too Beautiful to Last" (the theme song from the film Nicholas and Alexandra). In 1972, he starred in another television series for BBC One, titled Engelbert with The Young Generation. The show ran for thirteen weeks and featured the dance troupe The Young Generation, regular guests The Goodies and Marlene Charell, and various international stars. Also in 1972, he made a guest appearance in David Winters' musical television special The Special London Bridge Special, which starred Tom Jones and Jennifer O'Neill.

By the mid-1970s, Humperdinck shifted his focus towards album sales and live performances, as his ballad style became less prevalent on the singles charts. He developed elaborate stage productions, making him a natural fit for Las Vegas and similar entertainment venues. He performed regularly at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas throughout the early and middle years of the decade, even recording a live album at the venue with The Three Degrees serving as backing vocalists. In 1975, he held concerts in Japan, performing at venues such as Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Fukuoka City Kyuden Memorial Gymnasium, Festival Hall, and Nagoya City Public Hall.

In 1976, Humperdinck's commercial success received a significant boost with "After the Lovin'", a ballad produced by Joel Diamond and Charles Calello and released by CBS subsidiary Epic Records. The song became a top 10 hit in the United States, earning a Gold certification, and was honored with the "most played jukebox record of the year" award. The album of the same name reached the top 20 on the US charts, received a Grammy Award nomination, and achieved Double Platinum status. Three of the album's tracks were produced by Bobby Eli and recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. Critics noted that the singer's unexpected venture into the "Philadelphia Sound" proved successful, enhancing the overall strength of the work. Concluding the year, Humperdinck made his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, performing the hit single live.

Joel Diamond continued to produce a series of albums for Humperdinck under Epic, including This Moment in Time from 1979, whose title song topped the US adult contemporary charts. This period also saw the release of two Christmas albums. These projects featured Humperdinck collaborating with important musical arrangers such as Charles Calello and Jimmie Haskell. In 1979, following his late-decade chart successes in the United States, Humperdinck brought his stage show to Broadway, performing at the Minskoff Theatre.

2.3. 1980s and 1990s activities

In the 1980s, Engelbert Humperdinck continued to expand his discography, recording regularly and maintaining a rigorous touring schedule of up to 200 concerts annually. He remained a headlining act in Las Vegas, frequently performing at the Hilton Hotel (now the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino). In the early and mid-1980s, he made several special appearances as an actor in popular television dramas of the era, including The Love Boat, Hotel, and Fantasy Island. His filmography also includes roles in You'll Never Get Rich (1985), Chambre à part (1990), Even Angels Fall (1990), and a starring role in Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991). He also appeared in and co-directed the documentary film Engelbert Humperdinck: Live at Birmingham Hippodrome (1990) and later directed Engelbert Live (1999).

Following his tenure as a recording artist with Epic, Humperdinck released what music critic William Ruhlmann described as an "ambitious double album" titled A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening (1985). Ruhlmann lauded Humperdinck for recording this collection of standards from the Great American Songbook, noting that while the work "was a long time coming," it "deserved a broader distribution than it received." The album was released in the United Kingdom as Getting Sentimental and reached the UK Top-40 album charts in the summer of 1985.

In subsequent years, Humperdinck continued with studio recordings, including a duet with Gloria Gaynor for his 1987 album Remember, I Love You. In the latter half of the 1980s, with new material like the song "Portofino" (1985), Humperdinck also focused on recordings influenced by contemporary European popular music, particularly German pop. Albums from this period include Träumen Mit Engelbert (1986) and Step into My Life (1989). Released as Ich Denk An Dich in Germany, Step into My Life featured songs composed by Dieter Bohlen and Barry Mason, while the title track was co-written by Humperdinck himself. The album produced several singles and included a cover of Bohlen's hit song, "You're My Heart, You're My Soul". Both Remember, I Love You and Träumen mit Engelbert were certified Platinum sellers, and Ich Denk An Dich achieved Gold certification in Germany.

Humperdinck was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989 and received a Golden Globe Award as entertainer of the year. During this period, he also became significantly involved in various charitable causes, supporting organizations such as the Leukemia Research Fund, the American Red Cross, the American Lung Association, and several AIDS relief initiatives. He composed a song titled "Reach Out" specifically for a charity group, which was released on his 1992 studio album Hello Out There.

Musical assessments of Humperdinck's career in the 1990s highlight his acquisition of "a new hip cachet" during the Lounge Revival. This era saw the success of new artistic ventures, including his recording of "Lesbian Seagull" for the soundtrack of the film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996) and his 1998 dance album. He maintained a strong public profile during these years, making numerous appearances on radio and television, including the Late Show with David Letterman and The Howard Stern Show. He also performed at major events, such as the 1996 Daytona 500, where he sang "The Star-Spangled Banner".

2.4. 2000s activities

Engelbert Humperdinck's recording career continued robustly into the new millennium, featuring a variety of musical collaborations. In 2000, his album Engelbert at His Very Best reached the top five of the British album charts. Four years later, he returned to the top five after appearing in a television advertisement for John Smith's. In the spring of 2003, Humperdinck collaborated with American artist-producer Art Greenhaw to record the roots gospel album Always Hear the Harmony: The Gospel Sessions. The album featured Humperdinck alongside the Light Crust Doughboys, The Jordanaires, and The Blackwood Brothers. This critically acclaimed album received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year." Humperdinck was photographed with generations of fans at the 2004 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

In 2004, Humperdinck published his autobiography, which candidly discussed his past relationships. He quickly returned to the studio, releasing Let There Be Love in 2005. Music critics noted the historical breadth of the album's material, which included songs popularized from the 1920s to more recent ones from the 1990s, particularly highlighting Humperdinck's rendition of Nick Lowe's "You Inspire Me" as a noteworthy track. In 2005, he held a concert at the Tokyo International Forum, marking his first performance in Japan in 11 years. In 2007, Humperdinck released The Winding Road. In an interview with Larry King, Humperdinck explained that The Winding Road exclusively featured songs by British composers, serving as a "tribute to [his] home country," and was released to commemorate 40 years since his first international hit recording.

During the production of the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach, Damon Albarn invited Humperdinck to contribute as a guest artist. However, Humperdinck's management at the time declined the offer without his knowledge. Describing the incident, Humperdinck later expressed that the missed opportunity was "the most grievous sin ever committed" and affirmed he would have gladly collaborated with Gorillaz. He added that he had since parted ways with that management, entrusting his son, Scott Dorsey, with his management duties. Humperdinck concluded the interview by stating, "I'd really like to rekindle that suggestion again and bring it back. Hopefully they will ask me again. My son Scott will definitely say yes."

2.5. 2010s and 2020s activities

In March 2012, the BBC announced that Engelbert Humperdinck would represent the United Kingdom in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 26. The song, "Love Will Set You Free", was unveiled on March 19, 2012. It was produced by Grammy Award-winning music producer Martin Terefe and co-written by Sacha Skarbek, with recording sessions taking place in London, Los Angeles, and Nashville, Tennessee, and mixing by Thomas Juth in London. At the time of the announcement, Humperdinck, at 76 years old, was set to become the oldest singer to ever participate in the contest. However, his record was surpassed later that same night by the Buranovskiye Babushki from Russia. In the final allocation draw, the United Kingdom was drawn to perform first. Humperdinck ultimately finished in 25th place out of 26, receiving 12 points.

Demonstrating no signs of slowing down, Humperdinck released a rapid series of recordings in the 2010s. A career-first double-CD of duets, Engelbert Calling, was released in the United Kingdom in March 2014 by Conehead Records, charting in the UK Top 40. The album featured Humperdinck collaborating with a diverse array of musicians, including Charles Aznavour, Elton John, Il Divo, Johnny Mathis, Lulu, Willie Nelson, Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richard, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Neil Sedaka, Ron Sexsmith, Gene Simmons, and Dionne Warwick. Engelbert Calling was released in North America by OK! Good Records on September 30, 2014, accompanied by numerous promotional appearances on radio and television, including an extended conversation with Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani on HuffPost Live. In the UK, Humperdinck showcased songs from the album on shows like Weekend Wogan, where he performed acoustic versions of "Make You Feel My Love" and "The Hungry Years." A special edition vinyl EP with four tracks from the album was released in May 2015. According to OK! Good Records, this EP was Humperdinck's first vinyl release in twenty-five years, a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl record with a first pressing of 1,000 copies on transparent cloudy clear vinyl.

The year 2017 marked the 50th anniversary of Humperdinck's first international chart success, leading to the release of two major celebratory disc sets in early summer. The first, Engelbert Humperdinck 50, was a two-disc album compiling the singer's charting singles for Decca, other songs from various points in his career, two new studio recordings, and a new remix of "Release Me." The second was an extensive box set of Humperdinck's first eleven albums, reissued by Decca Records, complete with original album artwork and new liner notes. Engelbert Humperdinck 50 was released in the United Kingdom in May 2017, entering the UK album charts at No. 5, which underscored the singer's enduring popularity in his home country. The album was subsequently released in North America in June 2017.

The Man I Want to Be was released in late 2017. While primarily composed of newly written material, the album included two notable covers: "Photograph" by Ed Sheeran and "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars. In 2018, the singer released a newly recorded Christmas album, Warmest Christmas Wishes. In May 2019, Humperdinck premiered a new song titled "You," a self-described ode to motherhood written for him by British songwriters Jon Allen and Jake Fields. As a birthday gift to his wife, Patricia, Humperdinck appeared in a music video for "You," filmed on location at the Houdini Estate. His record label announced the late-2019 release of an EP of songs titled Reflections. Humperdinck followed this with further EPs: Sentiments in 2020 and Regards in 2021. A new studio album, All About Love, was released in 2023.

In early 2022, Humperdinck's song "A Man Without Love" was featured in the Marvel Studios series Moon Knight. Later, he performed a cover of the popular song "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" for the film Bullet Train.

Well into his sixth decade as an entertainer, Humperdinck continues to perform international concert dates. While touring North America annually, he has also performed in various venues and events across Europe, Australia, and the Far East. In 2009, Humperdinck performed at Carols in the Domain, a popular Christmas event held in Sydney, Australia. He returned to Australia for a series of concerts in November of the following year, adding a new studio album, Released, to his discography. Humperdinck also regularly schedules performances in the United Kingdom. In May 2015, he appeared at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, and the Royal Albert Hall in London. He also performed at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in November 2017. In 2019, Humperdinck performed in Singapore, Manila, and Tokyo. Over late 2021 and 2022, the singer appeared in cities across the UK and Europe, including a return to the London Palladium. In December 2023, Humperdinck announced a "grand farewell tour" of Australia for May 2024, which is slated to include a concert at the Sydney Opera House.

3.1. Musical characteristics

Humperdinck is widely recognized for his signature musical style, often described as that of a "middle-of-the-road balladeer." His repertoire primarily consists of sentimental ballads, which he delivers with a smooth, powerful vocal approach. His ability to convey emotion through his singing has been a hallmark of his career, making him a prominent figure in popular music for over half a century. His hit songs also include "Quando, Quando, Quando" and a cover of Ray Charles's "The Sun Is Burning" (太陽は燃えている_{Taiyō wa Moete Iru}^Japanese).

3.2. Critical reception and popularity

Throughout his career, Humperdinck's music has been received by both critics and the public with varying degrees of enthusiasm, but his popularity, especially among female audiences, has remained consistently strong. His dedicated fanbase, affectionately known as "Humperdinckers," underscores the deep connection he has forged with his listeners. Despite being labeled a "crooner" by some, a description he has disputed, his consistent commercial success and enduring appeal, including over 140 million records sold worldwide, attest to his widespread popularity and significant impact on the music industry.

3.3. Awards and honors

Engelbert Humperdinck has received numerous significant awards and honors throughout his illustrious career, recognizing his contributions to music and entertainment.

• In 1989, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a permanent tribute to his achievements in the entertainment industry.
• He also won a Golden Globe Award as entertainer of the year, further solidifying his status as a leading performer.
• In August 2005, he auctioned one of his Harley-Davidson motorbikes on eBay to raise money for the County Air Ambulance in Leicestershire, demonstrating his commitment to charitable causes.
• In 2006, the University of Leicester awarded Humperdinck an Honorary Doctorate of Music, acknowledging his artistic contributions.
• On February 25, 2009, Leicester City Council announced that Humperdinck would be granted the Honorary Freedom of Leicester, alongside author Sue Townsend and former professional footballer Alan Birchenall, recognizing him as one of the city's finest "ambassadors."
• In 2010, Humperdinck was among the first nine individuals to be honored with a plaque on the Leicester Walk of Fame, celebrating his connection to the city.
• He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for his services to music, a prestigious recognition from the British Crown.

5.1. Marriage and family

Engelbert Humperdinck, a lifelong Catholic, married Patricia Healey in 1964. The couple first met at the Palais de Danse, a nightclub located in Leicester. They had four children together and maintained homes in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He is known to have a long-standing friendship with singer Tom Jones.

In 2017, Humperdinck publicly revealed that Patricia had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for ten years. She passed away in Los Angeles on February 5, 2021, at the age of 85. Humperdinck later shared that his family had prayed with her and blessed her with water from Lourdes before she "slipped softly away."

5.2. Paternity and legal issues

Humperdinck faced several legal challenges regarding paternity during his career. His wife once humorously remarked that she could "paper their bedroom with all of the paternity lawsuits filed against her husband." He was successfully sued for paternity by two different women during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2004, Humperdinck published an autobiography in which he candidly discussed his past female relationships.

In 1988, Humperdinck filed a libel suit against the National Enquirer. The defamatory statements were reportedly made by Kathy Jetter, the mother of Humperdinck's illegitimate child, in an affidavit filed in New York Family Court. Jetter's affidavit was an attempt to increase child support payments from Humperdinck. Jetter had previously brought a successful paternity suit against Humperdinck following the birth of their daughter, Jennifer, in 1977. However, Jetter ultimately lost the libel action brought by Humperdinck against the National Enquirer.