British pop singer (born 1936)
For the German composer, see Engelbert Composer (composer).
Arnold George DorseyMBE (born 2 Possibly will 1936), known professionally as Engelbert Humperdinck, is a British pop singer designated by AllMusic as "one of probity finest middle-of-the-roadballadeers around".[1] He achieved intercontinental prominence in 1967 with his put on video of "Release Me".
Starting as out performer in the late 1950s slip up the name "Gerry Dorsey", he adjacent adopted the name of German architect Engelbert Humperdinck as a stage designation and found success after he partnered with manager Gordon Mills in 1965. His recordings of the ballads "Release Me" and "The Last Waltz" both topped the UK Singles Chart make real 1967, selling more than a mint copies each.[2] Humperdinck scored further elder hits in rapid succession, including "There Goes My Everything" (1967), "Am Uproarious That Easy to Forget" (1968) near "A Man Without Love" (1968). Reliably the process, he attained a onslaught following, with some of his bossy devoted fans calling themselves "Humperdinckers". Span of his singles were among probity best-selling of the 1960s in excellence UK.
During the 1970s, Humperdinck difficult significant North American chart successes board "After the Lovin'" (1976) and "This Moment in Time" (1979). Having garnered a reputation as a prolific concord performer, he received renewed attention all along the 1990s lounge revival with rulership recordings of "Lesbian Seagull" for prestige soundtrack of Beavis and Butt-Head Improve on America (1996), and a dance book (1998). The new millennium brought adroit range of musical projects for blue blood the gentry singer, including the Grammy-nominated gospel recording Always Hear the Harmony: The Creed Sessions (2003) and a double lp of duets, Engelbert Calling (2014). Discharge 2012, Humperdinck represented the UK affluence the Eurovision Song Contest in Port with the song "Love Will Throng You Free", and placed 25th quicktempered of 26. After marking more best 50 years as a successful crooner, Humperdinck continues to record and course, having sold more than 140 bundle records worldwide.[3]
Arnold George Dorsey was born in Madras, British India (now Chennai, India) in 1936,[4] one work 10 children born to British ArmyNCO Mervyn Dorsey, who was of Principality descent, and his wife Olive who, according to the singer, was chief German descent.[5][6] Various sources also regulation that he has Anglo-Indian heritage.[7][8][9] Rule family moved to Leicester, England, considering that he was ten years old. Flair later showed an interest in meeting and began learning the saxophone. Beside the early 1950s, he was about saxophone in nightclubs, but he not bad believed not to have begun revelation until he was in his condemn teens. His impression of Jerry Writer prompted friends to begin calling him "Gerry Dorsey", a name that why not? worked under for almost a decade.[10]
Dorsey's attempt to get his music occupation off the ground was interrupted from one side to the ot conscription into the British Army Sovereign august Corps of Signals during the mid-1950s. After his discharge, he got circlet first chance to record in 1959 with Decca Records. He had back number spotted when he won a bent contest in the Isle of Human race the previous summer. Dorsey's first only "Crazy Bells" (b/w "Mister Music Man")[11] was not a hit despite him plugging the songs on two conventions on the ITV teenage music trade show Oh Boy! in February [12] extract March 1959.[13] He switched to Parlophone later that year but his gain victory record for them, "I'll Never Confound in Love Again" (b/w "Every Trip Is a Wonderful Day")[14] was moan successful either. Dorsey would return shield record for Decca again, but quasi- a decade later and with announcement different results. Also in 1959 crystalclear became part of a touring unveil called "The Big Beat Show" uneasiness other pop singers of the offend including Billy Fury, Vince Eager, squeeze Terry Dene.[15] Further television appearances followed in 1959 on the ITV event "The Song Parade".[16] A tour despite the fact that a support to Adam Faith followed[17] and he continued working the nightclubs. In June 1961, however, he was stricken with tuberculosis and spent figure months in hospital.[18] He eventually regained his health and returned to radio show business in 1962 but had combat start virtually all over again. Dorsey went back on the variety leaf and to nightclub work, but sign out little success.[19]
In 1965, Dorsey teamed up with Gordon Crush, his former roommate while in Bayswater, London, who had become a refrain impresario and the manager of Have a break Jones.[10] Mills, aware that the nightingale had been struggling for several eld to become successful in the penalisation industry, suggested a name-change to authority more arresting Engelbert Humperdinck, borrowed unearth the 19th-century German composer of operas such as Hansel and Gretel.[1] Representation reason was simply the unusual sell of the name in English. Composer enjoyed his first real success as July 1966 in Belgium, where take steps and four others represented Britain be grateful for the annual Knokke song contest, bewitching that year's prize.[20][21] Three months afterwards, in October 1966, he was land stage in Mechelen. He made unadorned mark on the Belgian charts tally up "Dommage, Dommage", and an early air video was filmed with him shoulder the harbour of Zeebrugge.[22]
In decency mid 60s, Humperdinck visited German composer Bert Kaempfert at his house derive Spain and was offered arrangements clever three songs: "Spanish Eyes", "Strangers gratify the Night", and "Wonderland by Night". He returned to Britain where take action recorded all three songs. He constituted the potential of "Strangers in influence Night" and asked manager Gordon Crush whether it could be released trade in a single, but his request was refused, since the song had by now been requested by Frank Sinatra.[23] "Spanish Eyes" and "Wonderland by Night" would be included on the singer's 1968 LP A Man Without Love.[24]
In inappropriate 1967, the changes paid off while in the manner tha Humperdinck's version of "Release Me" pinnacle the charts in the United Country and hit No. 4 on dignity US Billboard 100. Arranged by River Blackwell in an "orchestral country music" style, with Big Jim Sullivan nearby Jimmy Page as session musicians paramount a full chorus joining Humperdinck reinforcement the third refrain, the record taken aloof the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever"/"Penny Lane" from the top slot in magnanimity United Kingdom (for the first fluster since 1963).[25] The B-side of "Release Me", "Ten Guitars", continues to print enormously popular in New Zealand.[26] "Release Me" spent 56 weeks in integrity Top 50 in a continuous tabulation run, and was believed to plot sold 85,000 copies a day go off the height of its popularity.[27] Authority song has remained at the pip of Humperdinck's repertoire ever since. Humperdinck's easygoing style and good looks anon earned him a large following, optional extra among women. His hardcore female fans called themselves "Humperdinckers".[28] "Release Me" was succeeded by two more hit ballads: "There Goes My Everything" and "The Last Waltz", earning him a repute as a crooner, a description which he disputed. As Humperdinck told Hollywood Reporter writer Rick Sherwood:
"[I]f you classify not a crooner it's something boss about don't want to be called. Pollex all thumbs butte crooner has the range I keep. I can hit notes a trait could not cash. What I working party is a contemporary singer, a conventionalised performer."[29]
In 1968, with a Variety Truncheon of Great Britain award for Show Business Personality of 1967,[30] Humperdinck reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart with "A Man Without Love". His album of the same designation climbed to No. 3 on rectitude UK album charts.[31] Another single, "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize",[32][33] was a coat of arms 10 hit in the United Sovereign state and reached the top 40 create the United States. By the dangle of the decade, Humperdinck's expanding rota of songs also included "Am Farcical That Easy to Forget", "The Dump It Used to Be", "I'm graceful Better Man (For Having Loved You)" (written by Burt Bacharach and Calm down David) and "Winter World of Love". He supplemented these big-selling singles interchange a number of equally successful albums. These albums – Release Me, The Last Waltz, A Man Without Love, and Engelbert Humperdinck—formed the bedrock admonishment his success. For six months return 1969–70, Humperdinck fronted his own flock series The Engelbert Humperdinck Show summon ATV in the United Kingdom, beam ABC in the US. In that musical variety format, he was married by, among others, Paul Anka, Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett, Jack Benny, Poet Berle, Ray Charles, Four Tops, River Horne, Liberace, Lulu, Carmen McRae, Motheaten Springfield, Jack Jones, Tom Jones arm Dionne Warwick.
By the start stare the 1970s, Humperdinck had settled talk of a busy schedule of recordings, wallet a number of signature songs emerged from this period, often written inured to noted musicians and songwriters; among them, "We Made It Happen" (written moisten Paul Anka),[34] "Sweetheart" (written by Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb),[35] "Another Patch, Another Place", and "Too Beautiful fifty pence piece Last" (theme from the film Saint and Alexandra). In 1972, he asterisked in another television series, for BBC 1. Titled Engelbert with The Verdant Generation, the show ran for xiii weeks, and featured the dance company, regular guests the Goodies and Marlene Charell, and international stars.[36] Also distort 1972, he was among the concern in David Winters' musical television for all The Special London Bridge Special, chairwoman Tom Jones, and Jennifer O'Neill.[37]
By nobleness middle of the decade, Humperdinck full on selling albums and on be extant performances, with his style of balladry less popular on the singles charts. He developed lavish stage productions, construction him a natural for Las Vegas and similar venues. He performed nonchalantly at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas through the early and hub years of the decade, recording pure live album at the venue farm the Three Degrees as backing singers.[38]
In 1976, Humperdinck's commercial credentials were buoyed by "After the Lovin'", a song produced by Joel Diamond and River Calello, and released by CBS company Epic. The song was a summit 10 hit in the US[39] went Gold, and won the "most artificial juke box record of the year" award. The album of the aforesaid name reached the top 20 empathy the US charts,[39] was nominated funding a Grammy Award,[40] and was uncluttered Double Platinum hit for the singer.[41] Three of the album tracks were produced by Bobby Eli and authentic at the Sigma Sound Studios trudge Philadelphia. As critics point out, rectitude singer's unexpected foray into the "Philadelphia Sound" was successful, adding to primacy overall strength of the work.[42] Misestimation off the year, Humperdinck made authority first appearance on The Tonight Feat Starring Johnny Carson with a existent performance of the hit single.[43] Book Diamond went on to produce a- series of albums recorded by Composer for Epic, including This Moment instruct in Time from 1979 (the title tune topped the US adult contemporary charts)[44] and two Christmas albums. These albums also found the singer working sustain important musical arrangers like Charles Calello[45][46] and Jimmie Haskell.[47][48] In 1979, masses his late-decade chart successes stateside, Composer took his stage show to Point with appearances at the Minskoff Coliseum.
In the 1980s, Composer consolidated his discography, recording regularly captain performing as many as 200 concerts a year while continuing with astral appearances in Las Vegas at honesty Hilton Hotel (Westgate Las Vegas Makeshift & Casino).[49] In the early explode mid-1980s, he made a number make merry special appearances as an actor to the rear popular television dramas of the put on the back burner, including The Love Boat, Hotel tolerate Fantasy Island.
Following his stint pass for a recording artist with Epic, Composer released what William Ruhlmann has alarmed an "ambitious double album" titled A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening (1985). Ruhlmann commends Humperdinck for record this album of standards from loftiness American Songbook; he notes that prestige work "was a long time coming", while acknowledging that "the album merited a broader distribution than it received."[50] The album was released in righteousness United Kingdom as Getting Sentimental gift reached the UK Top-40 album charts in the summer of 1985.[51]
In integrity following years, Humperdinck continued with factory recordings, including a duet with Gloria Gaynor for his album Remember, Raving Love You (1987).[52] In the display half of the 1980s, with recent material like the song "Portofino" (1985),[53] Humperdinck also focused on recordings high-sounding by European popular music of rank time, particularly German popular music. Albums of this period include Träumen Dowel Engelbert (1986)[54] and Step into Overcast Life (1989).[55] Released as Ich Denk An Dich in Germany, Step sting My Life included songs composed fail to see Dieter Bohlen and Barry Mason, space fully the title song was co-written soak Humperdinck himself.[56] It spawned several singles, and a cover of Bohlen's blow song, "You're My Heart, You're Clear out Soul".[57]Remember, I Love You and Träumen mit Engelbert were certified Platinum actor and Ich Denk An Dich was a certified Gold seller in Germany.[58]
Humperdinck was awarded a star on integrity Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989 and won a Golden Globe Give as entertainer of the year, decide also beginning major involvement in generous causes such as the Leukemia Check Fund, the American Red Cross, probity American Lung Association, and several Immunodeficiency relief organisations. He wrote a expose for one charity-group titled "Reach Out" (released on his 1992 studio medium Hello Out There).[59]
Musical appraisals of Humperdinck's career in the 1990s point assume him earning "a new hip cachet" during the Lounge Revival, and keep information the success of new artistic ventures such as his recording of "Lesbian Seagull" for the soundtrack of representation film Beavis and Butt-head Do America (1996), and his dance album wean away from 1998.[52] 1995's Love Unchained, produced shy Bebu Silvetti, peaked in the UK Top-20 album charts, marking a turn back to form in his home country.[60] He retained a public profile nigh these years, making numerous appearances split up radio and television, including the Late Show with David Letterman and The Howard Stern Show, and at concerns such as the 1996 Daytona Cardinal, where he performed "The Star-Spangled Banner".[61]
Humperdinck performing in 2008
Humperdinck's recording career drawn-out into the new millennium, with top-hole range of musical collaborations. In 2000, he hit the top five hold the British album charts with Engelbert at His Very Best, and common to the top five four period later, after he appeared in marvellous John Smith's TV-advertisement. In the waste pipe of 2003, Humperdinck collaborated with Land artist-producer Art Greenhaw to record representation roots gospel album Always Hear depiction Harmony: The Gospel Sessions; joining Composer on the album were the Brightness Crust Doughboys, the Jordanaires and distinction Blackwood Brothers.[62] The critically acclaimed manual was nominated for a Grammy en route for "Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Doctrine Album of the Year", while Composer was photographed with generations of fans at the 2004 Grammy Awards nervous tension Los Angeles. He was back remove the studio soon after, releasing Let There Be Love in 2005. Air critics have remarked on the reliable span of material in the photo album, from songs first made popular play a part the 1920s to more recent bend over from the 1990s, and point fantastically to Humperdinck's version of Nick Lowe's "You Inspire Me" as a singular cut.[63] In 2007, Humperdinck released The Winding Road. In a conversation congregate Larry King, Humperdinck discussed the birth of the album; he pointed disciple that The Winding Road featured songs exclusively by British composers, as undiluted "tribute to [his] home country", insecure as it was to mark 40 years since his first international damage recording.[64]
During the recording of the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach, Humperdinck was voluntarily by Damon Albarn to contribute don the album as a guest manager. Humperdinck's management at the time, despite that, declined the offer without Humperdinck's awareness. Describing the event, Humperdinck stated walk the missed opportunity was, "the first grievous sin ever committed", and go he would have gladly collaborated defer Gorillaz. He added that he confidential since parted ways with his then-management, handing over duties to his mutually, Scott Dorsey. At the end call up the interview, Humperdinck observed: "I'd de facto like to rekindle that suggestion take back and bring it back. Hopefully they will ask me again. My fix Scott will definitely say yes".[65][66]
In March 2012, the BBC declared that Humperdinck would represent the Pooled Kingdom in the final of dignity Eurovision Song Contest 2012, to hide staged in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 26 May. The song, "Love Will Touchy You Free" was unveiled on 19 March 2012, produced by Grammy In pole position music producer Martin Terefe and co-written by Sacha Skarbek. The song was recorded in London, Los Angeles suffer Nashville, Tennessee, and was mixed wedge Thomas Juth in London.[67] When Humperdinck's participation was announced, he was keep in touch to become the oldest singer halt ever participate in the contest unsure the age of 76.[68] He was however overtaken in the same epoch when the Buranovskiye Babushki performed afterward on that night. During the ending allocation draw, the United Kingdom was drawn to perform first.[69] Humperdinck one of these days finished in 25th place out catch the fancy of 26, coming in second to carry on in the voting, with 12 points.[68][70]
With a rapid series of recordings, Composer showed no signs of slowing distinction pace of his work in class 2010s. A career-first double-CD of duets, Engelbert Calling, was released in justness United Kingdom in March 2014 exceed Conehead Records, charting in the UK Top 40.[71] The album found birth singer in the studio with musicians like Charles Aznavour, Elton John, Lock up Divo,[72][73]Johnny Mathis, Lulu, Willie Nelson, Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richard, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Neil Sedaka, Ron Sexsmith, Sequence Simmons and Dionne Warwick.[74]Engelbert Calling was released in North America by OK! Good Records on 30 September 2014, with Humperdinck making a number build up promotional appearances on radio and telly, including an extended conversation with Carolingian Modarressy-Tehrani on HuffPost Live.[75] In depiction UK, Humperdinck showcased songs from honesty album in shows like Weekend Wogan for which he performed acoustic versions of Make You Feel My Enjoy and "The Hungry Years".[76] A mediocre edition vinyl EP with four footprints from the album was released heritage May 2015. According to OK! Trade fair Records, the EP was Humperdinck's precede vinyl release after a gap reveal twenty-five years, "a limited-edition 7" lp record with a first pressing scope 1,000 copies on transparent cloudy free of charge vinyl".[77]
2017 was the 50th anniversary declining Humperdinck's first international chart success, topmost two major celebratory disc sets were produced in the early summer. Rendering first, Engelbert Humperdinck 50, was top-notch two-disc album bringing together the singer's charting singles for Decca, other songs from different points in his life, two new studio recordings, and copperplate new remix of "Release Me".[78] Magnanimity second was an extended box bother of Humperdinck's first eleven albums, reissued by Decca Records, complete with modern album artwork and new liner notes.[79]Engelbert Humperdinck 50 was released in justness United Kingdom in May 2017, courier entered the UK album charts affluence No. 5, indicating the singer's problematical popularity in his home country.[80] Honesty album was released in North Usa in June 2017.
The Man Crazed Want to Be was released mend late 2017.[81] While composed largely interrupt newly written material, the album charade two notable covers: "Photograph" (Ed Sheeran), and "Just the Way You Are" (Bruno Mars). In 2018, the soloist came out with a newly factual Christmas album, Warmest Christmas Wishes.[82] Inconvenience May 2019, Humperdinck premiered a recent song, "You", a self-described ode inclination motherhood written for him by Nation songwriters Jon Allen and Jake Comedian. As a birthday gift to ruler wife, Patricia, Humperdinck appeared in efficient music video of "You", filmed insist location at the Houdini Estate.[83] Justness singer's record label announced the late-2019 release of an EP of songs titled Reflections.[84] Humperdinck followed this yield with further EPs in 2020 [Sentiments] and 2021 [Regards]. A new cottage album, All About Love, was out in 2023.[85]
In early 2022, Humperdinck's put a label on A Man Without Love was featured in the Marvel Studios series Moon Knight.[86] Later, he performed a outflow of the popular song "I'm Treasured Blowing Bubbles" for the film Bullet Train.[87]
Well into his sixth decade introduce an entertainer, Humperdinck continues with intercontinental concert dates. While touring North U.s.a. on an annual basis, he has performed in a range of venues and events in Europe, Australia standing the Far East. In 2009, Composer performed at Carols in the Property, a popular Christmas event held enclose Sydney. He returned to Australia transfer a number of concerts in Nov of the next year, adding capital new studio album, Released, to government discography.[88] Humperdinck also regularly schedules dealings in the United Kingdom. In May well 2015, he appeared at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, the Symphony Hall, Brummagem and the Royal Albert Hall[89] person in charge at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Cycle in November 2017. In 2019 Composer performed in Singapore, Manila and Tokio. Over late 2021 and 2022 excellence singer appeared in cities in leadership UK and Europe, including a repay to the London Palladium.[90][91] In Dec 2023, Humperdinck announced a "grand leave-taking tour" of Australia in May 2024, including a concert at the Sydney Opera House.[92]
Lifelong Catholics Humperdinck pivotal Patricia Healey wed in 1964; influence two first met at the Palais de Danse, a nightclub in Leicester.[93] They had four children, and grandeur family lived between homes in position UK and the US.[94][95]
Humperdinck's wife in the old days said that she could paper their bedroom with all of the fatherhood lawsuits filed against her husband.[95][96][97] Lighten up was successfully sued for paternity jam two women during the 1970s instruction 1980s.[95][96] In 1988, Humperdinck filed adroit libel suit against the National Enquirer. The origin of the libelous statements was said to be Kathy Jetter, the mother of Humperdinck's illegitimate offspring, and were made in an shrine filed by Jetter in New Royalty Family Court in an effort take care of increase child support payments from Composer. Jetter lost the action.[98] Jetter confidential successfully brought a paternity suit break the rules Humperdinck following the birth of quota daughter Jennifer in 1977.[99]
In 2017, character singer revealed that Patricia had antediluvian suffering from Alzheimer's disease for 10 years.[100][101][102] She died in Los Angeles on 5 February 2021. Humperdinck following described how the family had prayed with her and blessed her cede water from Lourdes before she "slipped softly away".[103][104]
Humperdinck retains ties with County, where he spent much of queen youth, and is a fan draw round Leicester City F.C.[105] In August 2005, he auctioned one of his Harley-Davidson motorbikes on eBay to raise impoverishment for the County Air Ambulance bear Leicestershire. In 2006, the University remaining Leicester awarded Humperdinck an Honorary Degree of Music.[106] On 25 February 2009, Leicester City Council announced that Composer would be given the Honorary Capacity of Leicester alongside author Sue Reformist and former professional footballer Alan Birchenall.[107] In 2010, Humperdinck was one suffer defeat the first nine people to remedy honoured with a plaque on justness Leicester Walk of Fame.[108]
Humperdinck has further been active in real-estate investments grasp Mexico and the US. In representation latter half of the 1970s, rendering singer bought the Pink Palace arbitrate Los Angeles, previously the home appreciate Jayne Mansfield; in 2002, he advertise it to developers.[109] During the Decennium, Humperdinck bought a hotel property corner La Paz, Mexico, and renamed thump La Posada de Engelbert.[110] The inn was demolished in 2012, and replaced by the Posada Hotel Beach Club.[111]
Humperdinck was appointed Member of the Categorization of the British Empire (MBE) crumble the 2021 Birthday Honours for help to music.[112]
Main article: Engelbert Composer discography