What you should know about Humperdinck

Did you know that Engelbert Humperdinck never wanted to be a singer...that his real name, Arnold George Dorsey (born in Leicester, England), was deemed "too drab" by his manager so he changed it to the tongue-twister name that is now legendary... that Humperdinck, though uninhibited and oozing with sex appeal on stage, is really shy and self-effacing, embarrassed by the "sexy" adjective forever attached to his name...and that since the ’50s when he broke into the music scene, he has generated sales in excess of 130 million records, including 64 gold albums and 24 platinum albums; and won four Grammys and a Golden Globe award; and gotten a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Find out more interesting facts about Humperdinck in the following exclusive 30-minute phone interview, the second for Funfare after last year’s also exclusive phone interview for his concert at the Araneta Coliseum where he’s scheduled to do a repeat show entitled The Romance is Back: Engelbert Live in Manila! on June 27.

Brace yourselves for another night of reminiscing as Humperdinck once again sings his classic hits like Release Me; Quando, Quando, Quando; The Way It Used To Be; Strangers in the Night; After the Lovin’; Dance the Night Away; Spanish Eyes; There Goes My Everything; Am I That Easy to Forget; and many more.

You did a successful concert in Manila in June last year. What can we expect from your concert on June 27?

"Well, I’ll have more songs in it because I’m bringing in some fresh music. My concert tour is called Totally Amazing and I’m marketing a DVD also called Totally Amazing which is a show I recorded in Canada."

You haven’t recorded a new album since Let There Be Love but you haven’t stopped doing concerts all over the world.

"Right. I’m a world person. Ha, ha, ha!"

So what keeps you going?

"I just love what I’m doing; I love singing and I love entertaining...It’s a very creative business. I’ve been all over. I’ve just finished a Florida tour and it was absolutely sold out. And I’m going to Las Vegas for four days day after tomorrow and then I’m going to England. I’ll be there for 10 days, not to work but for vacation because I have a home there as well. I’m in L.A. right now."

You have such a busy schedule. How do you cope with it? What sort of diet do you follow? What sort of workout do you do?

"I’ve been doing it for so many years and it doesn’t really bother me anymore. It’s a way of life for me – to travel and work and do shows everywhere, all over the world and not just in America or England. I go to countries that don’t speak my language, such as Korea and Japan. It’s amazing how many people know my music; it’s an easier task than I thought because people sing along with me and that’s wonderful."

How do you stay so young-looking?

"I don’t know. I think I was just born with great genes. It’s just amazing."

Will you sing songs from your album Let There Be Love during your concert here in Manila?

"Yeah. But you see, I’ve recorded so many albums, more than 76 of them, and I have to sing hits from most of them."

You’ve been called The King of Romance. I suppose you are a romantic person.

"I was given that title in 1967 by the press and it has traveled with me all over the world and it stuck with me and I’m very honored by it."

Is it a title that you have to live up to?

"It is quite a title to live up to, really. I think you have to be on your toes all the time and prepare yourself for every wonderful occasion. I’m just flattered that they call me The King of Romance."

Which of your songs do you consider the most romantic?

"Most of them are romantic, except the soundtrack I did for the movie Beavis and Butthead. Have you heard it?"

I guess I did. But I prefer listening to your old songs.

"So do I. I think they are as fresh today as they were when I recorded them."

Exactly. Timeless. I wonder, do you listen to songs by other singers? Which do you consider the most romantic?

"I don’t know. I can’t specify which one because if I don’t mention somebody and he reads the article he might say, ‘Oh, he missed me out!’ Oh, by the way, I think among my songs, one of the most romantic is After The Lovin’."

What makes it so special, so significant to you?

(Laughs) "Oh, because it was a double platinum."

Aside from that?

"It has great lyrics. It was an amazing album and it sold millions and millions. I have another album called Love Unchained and it’s probably one of the greatest albums I’ve ever made."

Your autobiography is entitled Engelbert Humperdinck: What’s In a Name? Why that title? What’s the story behind your name?

"Well, my first manager chose the name Engelbert Humperdinck for me. My real name is Arnold George Dorsey. It didn’t really quite hit the entertainment industry the way it should have. But when my manager chose the name Engelbert Humperdinck, I had a hit record immediately which was called Release Me. It stopped The Beatles song called Penny Lane from going to No. 1. Release Me was No. 1 around the world and it gave me a career immediately. That’s one of the reasons why I always include that song in my repertoire."

Your wife, Patricia, wrote a chapter in the book, relating how it is to be married to a "living legend."

"Oh, you read the book, didn’t you?"

Partly, yes.

"You should read all of it. I should say that it’s an interesting book. It tells everything. Otherwise, if you don’t tell the truth, it’s no longer a biography but just a piece of fiction that you do to make money. I’m going to do a sequel soon."

Oh, what’s the title of that follow-up book?

"I don’t know yet. I might call it Mad Dogs and Englishman."

How are you as a husband?

"I’m a very good husband. And a very good father. We have four children."

How long have you and Patricia been married?

"Forty-one years. We’re happily married."

Any of your children following in your footsteps?

"Their ages range from early 30s and late 30s. My youngest son, Bradley, is trying to get on in the business. He’s trying to make it as a singer but it’s quite difficult for him because his father is known all over the world."

How would you rate yourself as a husband on a scale of 1 to 10?

"I would say... nine."

And as a father?

"Same thing... nine. I know I haven’t spent a lot of time with my children because my job takes me all over the world and takes me away from my children but I’ve given them a good education and security. If anything happens to me, my children’s future is well-secured. So I think I’ve done well as a father."

Away from work, how do you spend time with your family?

"Actually, my son, who lives in Australia, just came over today and we spent a lovely hour on the veranda. We had lunch at the veranda with a bottle of wine and we celebrated his homecoming. He’s going to Las Vegas with me and he’s watching my show."

How does it feel being called sexy up to now? Do you think you’re sexy?

"Sexy, huh? Do I think I’m sexy? Oh yes, I think I am. A man can be as sexy as he wants to be. He can either let it go or just carry it on – and I’ve been carrying it on."

There’s a story that you bring along 150 shirts on your concert tour because female fans would rip your shirt off your back. Do you still do it?

"No, no, no. I bring along quite a few but not as many as I used to. But sometimes, one or two women would jump on the stage and take my clothes off, so I have to be prepared all the time."

If you were to court Patricia again with a song, what would it be?

"When I Fall In Love."

What’s your favorite line from that song?

"When I fall in love, it will be forever..."

(Note: The Romance is Back: Engelbert Live in Manila! is produced by Viva Concerts & Events. Tickets are priced at P6,000 for patron, P5,000 for lower box, P3,000 for upper box A, P1,500 for upper box B and P500 for general admission. For inquiries, call Ticketnet at SM outlets and the Araneta Coliseum at 911-5555; or the Viva Concerts & Events office at 687-6181 locals 620 and 715.)

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