Engelbert Humperdinck (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Engelbert Humperdinck MBE
Humperdinck performing in Las Vegas, 2009
Born	Arnold George Dorsey (1936-05-02) 2 May 1936 (age 89) Madras, Madras Presidency, British India
Nationality	British
Occupation	Singer
Spouse(s)	Patricia Healey ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 2021)​
Children	4
Musical career
Origin	Leicester, England
Genres	Traditional pop easy listening schlager
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1956–present
Labels	Decca Parrot Epic White Ariola OK! Good Records

Arnold George Dorsey (born 2 May 1936), known professionally as Engelbert Humperdinck, is a British pop singer. He is famous for his smooth voice and romantic songs. He became very well-known in 1967 with his hit song "Release Me".

Humperdinck started performing in the late 1950s using the name "Gerry Dorsey." He found great success after 1965 when he teamed up with manager Gordon Mills. Mills suggested he change his stage name to Engelbert Humperdinck, which was the name of a German composer. His songs "Release Me" and "The Last Waltz" both reached the top of the UK music charts in 1967, selling over a million copies each. He had many more hits, like "There Goes My Everything" (1967) and "A Man Without Love" (1968). His dedicated fans even called themselves "Humperdinckers."

In the 1970s, Humperdinck had more success in the United States with songs like "After the Lovin'" (1976). He became known for his live concerts. In the 1990s, he gained new fans with his dance music. He continued to release new music in the 2000s, including a gospel album that was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2012, he represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. Engelbert Humperdinck has sold over 140 million records worldwide and continues to record and perform today.

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 soon became interested in music and started learning to play the saxophone. By the early 1950s, he was playing saxophone in nightclubs. He began singing in his late teens. Friends started calling him "Gerry Dorsey" because of his funny impression of comedian Jerry Lewis. He used this name for almost ten years.

His early efforts to start a music career were paused when he joined the British Army in the mid-1950s. After leaving the army, he got his first chance to record music in 1959 with Decca Records. He had won a talent contest in the Isle of Man the previous summer. His first song, "Crazy Bells," was not a hit. He tried with another record company, Parlophone, but that song also wasn't successful. He would later return to Decca Records with much better results. In 1959, he also toured with other pop singers. However, in 1961, he became very ill and spent nine months in the hospital. He got better and returned to performing in 1962, but he had to start almost from scratch.

Music Career Highlights

A New Name and Big Hits

In 1965, Gerry Dorsey teamed up with Gordon Mills, who was now a music manager for Tom Jones. Mills knew that Dorsey had been trying to become a successful singer for years. He suggested a new, more memorable name: Engelbert Humperdinck. This name came from a 19th-century German composer who wrote operas like Hansel and Gretel. The unusual sound of the name in English was the main reason for the change.

Humperdinck had his first real success in July 1966 in Belgium. He and four others represented Britain in a song contest and won. A few months later, he had a hit song in Belgium called "Dommage, Dommage."

In early 1967, the name change and hard work paid off. Humperdinck's version of "Release Me" became a number one hit in the United Kingdom. It also reached number four on the US Billboard 100 chart. This song was so popular that it kept the Beatles' famous song "Strawberry Fields Forever"/"Penny Lane" from reaching the top spot in the UK. "Release Me" stayed in the Top 50 for 56 weeks and sold an incredible 85,000 copies a day at its peak. This song has been a key part of Humperdinck's performances ever since.

Engelbert Humperdinck's relaxed style and good looks quickly made him very popular, especially with women. His most dedicated female fans called themselves "Humperdinckers." After "Release Me," he had two more big hits: "There Goes My Everything" and "The Last Waltz." These songs gave him a reputation as a "crooner," which is a singer who sings soft, romantic songs. However, he preferred to be called a "contemporary singer" because he felt his vocal range was much wider than a typical crooner.

In 1968, Humperdinck's song "A Man Without Love" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. His album with the same name also did very well. Another song, "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize", was a top 10 hit in the UK. By the end of the 1960s, his popular songs also included "Am I That Easy to Forget" and "Winter World of Love." He released several successful albums during this time, which formed the foundation of his career. From 1969 to 1970, Humperdinck even had his own TV show called The Engelbert Humperdinck Show in both the UK and the US. Many famous guests appeared on his show, including Paul Anka, Shirley Bassey, and Tom Jones.

Success in the 1970s

Humperdinck (right) and Oliver on The Engelbert Humperdinck Show in 1970

By the early 1970s, Humperdinck was busy recording new music. Many of his songs from this time were written by famous musicians. Some of these hits included "We Made It Happen" and "Sweetheart." In 1972, he starred in another TV series for BBC 1 called Engelbert with The Young Generation.

As the 1970s continued, Humperdinck focused more on selling albums and performing live concerts. His style of romantic songs was very popular in places like Las Vegas. He performed regularly at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas and even recorded a live album there.

In 1976, his song "After the Lovin'" became a top 10 hit in the US. It sold very well and won an award for being the "most played juke box record of the year." The album with the same name also reached the top 20 in the US and was nominated for a Grammy Award. This album was a huge success for him. Humperdinck also made his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to perform his hit song. He continued to release successful albums throughout the 1970s. In 1979, he performed his stage show on Broadway in New York City.

The 1980s and 1990s

In the 1980s, Humperdinck continued to record music and perform many concerts each year. He often performed as a headliner in Las Vegas. In the early and mid-1980s, he also made special appearances as an actor on popular TV shows like The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.

After his time with Epic Records, Humperdinck released a double album called A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening (1985). This album featured classic American songs. It was also released in the UK as Getting Sentimental and reached the UK Top-40 album charts.

In the following years, Humperdinck recorded more studio albums, including a duet with Gloria Gaynor. He also focused on songs influenced by European pop music. Some of these albums were very successful in Germany.

Humperdinck received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989. He also won a Golden Globe Award as entertainer of the year. He started getting involved in many charity causes, helping organizations like the Leukemia Research Fund and the American Red Cross. He even wrote a song called "Reach Out" for a charity group.

In the 1990s, Humperdinck gained new fans. His recording for the movie Beavis and Butt-Head Do America and his dance album from 1998 were popular. His 1995 album Love Unchained also did well in the UK. He appeared on many radio and TV shows, including Late Show with David Letterman.

The 2000s and Beyond

Humperdinck performing in 2008

Humperdinck continued his recording career into the new millennium. In 2000, his album Engelbert at His Very Best reached the top five in the British album charts. In 2003, he worked with American artist Art Greenhaw to record 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 featuring songs only by British composers as a tribute to his home country.

In 2012, the BBC announced that Humperdinck would represent the United Kingdom in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. His song was "Love Will Set You Free". At 76 years old, he was set to be the oldest singer to ever participate in the contest. He finished in 25th place out of 26.

Humperdinck performing in 2022 at the London Palladium

Humperdinck continued to record new music in the 2010s. In 2014, he released Engelbert Calling, a double-CD album of duets with many famous musicians like Elton John, Johnny Mathis, Willie Nelson, and Olivia Newton-John. This album also charted in the UK Top 40. In 2017, to celebrate 50 years since his first international hit, two major album sets were released. One of them, Engelbert Humperdinck 50, reached number 5 on the UK album charts, showing his lasting popularity.

His album The Man I Want to Be was released in late 2017. In 2018, he released a Christmas album. In 2019, he premiered a new song called "You," which he wrote for his wife. He has continued to release new music, including EPs in 2020 and 2021, and a new studio album, All About Love, in 2023.

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

Engelbert Humperdinck continues to perform concerts around the world. He regularly tours North America and has performed in Europe, Australia, and Asia. In December 2023, he announced a "grand farewell tour" of Australia for May 2024, including a concert at the Sydney Opera House.

Personal Life and Interests

Engelbert Humperdinck and Patricia Healey were married in 1964. They met at a nightclub in Leicester. They had four children and lived in both the UK and the US. Patricia Healey passed away in Los Angeles on 5 February 2021, after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for ten years.

Humperdinck still has strong connections to Leicestershire, where he grew up. He is a fan of the local football team, Leicester City F.C.. In 2005, he auctioned one of his motorbikes to raise money for an air ambulance service in Leicestershire. In 2006, the University of Leicester gave him an honorary music degree. In 2009, he was given the Honorary Freedom of Leicester, a special award from the city. In 2010, he was one of the first people to receive a plaque on the Leicester Walk of Fame.

Humperdinck has also invested in real estate. In the 1970s, he bought a famous house in Los Angeles called the Pink Palace. He later sold it in 2002. In the 1980s, he bought a hotel in Mexico and renamed it La Posada de Engelbert.

In 2021, Humperdinck was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his contributions to music.

Selected Music Albums

See also

In Spanish: Engelbert Humperdinck (cantante) para niños