Engelbert Humperdinck (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Engelbert Humperdinck
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Humperdinck performing in Las Vegas, 2009
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| Born |
Arnold George Dorsey
2 May 1936 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Spouse(s) |
Patricia Healey
(m. 1964; died 2021) |
| Children | 4 |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Leicester, England |
| Genres | |
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| Years active | 1956–present |
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Engelbert Humperdinck is a famous British pop singer. His real name is Arnold George Dorsey. He was born on May 2, 1936. People know him as a great singer of ballads. He became very famous in 1967 with his song "Release Me".
He started performing in the late 1950s as "Gerry Dorsey". Later, he chose the stage name Engelbert Humperdinck. This name came from a German composer from the 1800s. In 1965, he teamed up with manager Gordon Mills. His songs "Release Me" and "The Last Waltz" both reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1967. Each song sold over a million copies!
Humperdinck had many more hits quickly. These included "There Goes My Everything" (1967) and "A Man Without Love" (1968). His fans loved him so much, some even called themselves "Humperdinckers". He has sold over 140 million records worldwide. In 2012, he represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. He continues to record music and perform concerts today.
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Early Life and First Steps in Music
Arnold George Dorsey was born in Madras, British India (now Chennai, India) in 1936. He was one of ten children. His family moved to Leicester, England, when he was ten years old. He became interested in music and learned to play the saxophone.
By the early 1950s, he played saxophone in nightclubs. He started singing in his late teens. Friends began calling him "Gerry Dorsey" because of his impression of Jerry Lewis. He used this name for almost ten years.
His music career was paused when he joined the British Army in the mid-1950s. After leaving the army, he got his first chance to record in 1959. He won a talent contest in the Isle of Man. His first single, "Crazy Bells," was not a hit. He also appeared on TV shows like Oh Boy!.
In 1961, he became very ill with tuberculosis and spent nine months in the hospital. He got better and returned to music in 1962. He worked in nightclubs again but didn't find much success at first.
Music Career Highlights
New Name and Big Success
In 1965, Arnold Dorsey met up with Gordon Mills again. Gordon was now a music manager for Tom Jones. Gordon suggested a new, unique name: Engelbert Humperdinck. This name came from a famous 19th-century German opera composer. The unusual name helped him stand out.
Humperdinck had his first real success in July 1966 in Belgium. He represented Britain in a song contest and won. He also had a hit song in Belgium called "Dommage, Dommage".
In early 1967, everything changed. His song "Release Me" became a huge hit. It went to number one in the United Kingdom. It even stopped the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever"/"Penny Lane" from reaching the top spot! "Release Me" stayed on the charts for 56 weeks. It sold 85,000 copies a day at its peak. This song is still a very important part of his shows.
Humperdinck's smooth style and good looks made him very popular. He gained many fans, especially women. After "Release Me," he had two more big hits: "There Goes My Everything" and "The Last Waltz".
In 1968, he won an award for Show Business Personality of 1967. His song "A Man Without Love" reached number two in the UK. His album of the same name also did very well. Other hits included "Am I That Easy to Forget" and "Winter World of Love". From 1969 to 1970, he even had his own TV show called The Engelbert Humperdinck Show. Many famous singers and actors appeared on his show.
The 1970s and Beyond
In the 1970s, Humperdinck kept recording many songs. Some of his well-known songs from this time include "We Made It Happen" and "Sweetheart". In 1972, he had another TV series called Engelbert with The Young Generation.
By the mid-1970s, he focused more on selling albums and performing live concerts. His singing style was perfect for places like Las Vegas. He performed often at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.
In 1976, his song "After the Lovin'" became a top 10 hit in the US. It sold very well and was nominated for a Grammy Award. This song helped him become even more popular in America. He also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He continued to release successful albums throughout the 1970s. In 1979, he performed on Broadway.
Later Career and New Projects
In the 1980s, Humperdinck continued to record music and perform many concerts. He often performed in Las Vegas. He also made special appearances as an actor on TV shows like The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.
He released an album of classic American songs called A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening in 1985. He also recorded songs influenced by European pop music. He even sang a duet with Gloria Gaynor.
In 1989, Humperdinck received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also won a Golden Globe Award as entertainer of the year. He started helping many charities, like the Leukemia Research Fund and the American Red Cross.
In the 1990s, his music gained new fans. He recorded "Lesbian Seagull" for the movie Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996). He also released a dance album in 1998. He appeared on many TV and radio shows, keeping his public profile high.
The 2000s and Beyond
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Humperdinck continued his music career into the 2000s. In 2003, he recorded a gospel album called Always Hear the Harmony: The Gospel Sessions. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award. He released Let There Be Love in 2005, which included songs from different time periods. In 2007, he released The Winding Road, an album with songs only by British composers.
He almost worked with the band Gorillaz on their album Plastic Beach. However, his managers at the time turned down the offer without telling him. Humperdinck later said this was a big missed chance. He hoped they would ask him again.
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In 2012, the BBC announced that Humperdinck would represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. He sang the song "Love Will Set You Free". At 76, he was set to be the oldest singer in the contest. He finished 25th out of 26.
He released a double album of duets called Engelbert Calling in 2014. He sang with many famous musicians like Elton John, Willie Nelson, and Olivia Newton-John. This album was his first vinyl release in 25 years!
In 2017, he celebrated 50 years since his first international hit. He released two special albums: Engelbert Humperdinck 50 and a box set of his first eleven albums. Engelbert Humperdinck 50 reached number 5 on the UK album charts. He released a new album, The Man I Want to Be, in late 2017. It included covers of songs by Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars. He also released a Christmas album in 2018. He continues to release new music and perform concerts around the world.
In 2022, his song A Man Without Love was featured in the Marvel Studios series Moon Knight. He also sang a cover of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" for the film Bullet Train.
Engelbert Humperdinck still tours internationally. He performs in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. In 2023, he announced a "grand farewell tour" of Australia for May 2024. This will include a concert at the Sydney Opera House.
Personal Life
Engelbert Humperdinck and Patricia Healey were married in 1964. They met at a nightclub in Leicester. They had four children. The family lived in both the UK and the US.
In 2017, Humperdinck shared that his wife, Patricia, had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for ten years. She passed away on February 5, 2021.
Humperdinck still has strong connections to Leicestershire, where he grew up. He is a fan of Leicester City F.C.. In 2005, he auctioned his Harley-Davidson motorbike to raise money for a local air ambulance service. In 2006, the University of Leicester gave him an Honorary Doctorate of Music. In 2009, he was given the Honorary Freedom of Leicester. In 2010, he was one of the first people to get a plaque on the Leicester Walk of Fame.
He has also invested in real estate. In the 1970s, he bought the Pink Palace in Los Angeles, which used to belong to actress Jayne Mansfield. He sold it in 2002. He also bought a hotel in Mexico in the 1980s.
In 2021, Humperdinck was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his contributions to music.
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See also
In Spanish: Engelbert Humperdinck (cantante) para niños
