Dedicated Fans Follow Their Hearts to Engelbert Humperdinck’s 50th Anniversary Tour
International music legend Engelbert Humperdinck is currently on his 50th Anniversary Tour, which has made stops in New York, California, Canada, and many more locations. New Jersey Stage attended the King of Romance’s performance at the BergenPAC last month. New Jersey Stage caught up with Engelbert Humperdinck’s extremely loyal fans and gave a great review on the show. Read some of New Jersey Stage’s article below, but be sure to visit NewJerseyStage.com for more!
It’s Friday, April 7, 2017, and excitement is in the air as we, along with so many others, traverse bustling North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, NJ. We reach address #30 and join the throng of people filing into the lobby of the Bergen Performing Arts Center (BergenPAC), anxious to experience tonight’s special event — Engelbert Humperdinck’s 50th anniversary concert celebrating the release of his 1967 hit, “Please Release Me.”
As we make our way inside, we meet Annette from Hamilton, NJ who tells us she’s been a devoted fan of Engelbert’s since the 1960s. Noting that her mother was also a fan, Annette discloses, “This is my annual ‘spring’ pilgrimage. I’ve seen Engelbert about 30 times — two times every year — once every spring and once every fall.”
Annette shows us a “50th anniversary gift” she’s brought for Engelbert — a box of Godiva chocolates and a card — telling us about the accompanying message she wrote him which reads, “‘Dear Engelbert, All those singers out there today think they’re performers? They’re not. You are.”
On a large screen overhead, we’re treated to a classic TV clip of singer Dean Martin doing a comedy sketch where he mispronounces Engelbert Humperdinck’s name each time he tries to introduce Humperdinck to his television audience. As the BergenPAC crowd chuckles, the clip finishes and a sign flashes, “The Legend Continues…” At this point, Humperdinck’s talented band begins to play a medley of 50 years of Engelbert Humperdinck hits.
Soon, the stage glows red, and the audience can hear — emanating from off-stage— that famous full-sounding baritone voice of Engelbert Humperdinck, never sounding better. Within moments, Engelbert enters, singing the lyrics, “I’m crazy for loving you,” from Willie Nelson’s “Crazy,” to which an enthusiastic fan screams, “Oh my God, I love you!”
After moving on to a memorable rendition of “Am I That Easy to Forget?” the crowd cheers and Humperdinck uses one hand to acknowledge his music director, David Arana, while with his other hand, he blows a kiss to his adoring fans. “I’m celebrating my 50th anniversary,” Humperdinck explains to the audience, “so I’m going to do everything like I’m 50!”
Going on to introduce his next number, Humperdinck says, “This next song says everything a performer wants to say to an audience.” Launching into Gladys Knight’s “You’re the Best Thing that Ever Happened To Me,” Humperdinck points directly to his fans in the audience and warmly sings directly to them.
For more from this article, visit: NewJerseyStage.com
Engelbert Humperdinck’s duets album Engelbert Calling is available for purchase at music retailers nationwide and online from our webstore, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Bandcamp, and Spotify. Humperdinck’s limited edition vinyl, Duets EP, is available for purchase our web-store.
