Engelbert Humperdinck

Iconic careers don’t come any bigger than Engelbert Humperdinck’s. One would be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with his multi-platinum selling hits such as “Release Me”, “The Last Waltz” or “After the Lovin’”. These and many other of his hits have contributed greatly to 150 million worldwide album sales by the “King of Romance”, as Engelbert is lovingly nicknamed by his legion of fans.

Not content with being a legacy artist, Engelbert Humperdinck demonstrates effortlessly that he is very much a relevant artist for today’s audiences with his extensive touring schedule taking him to sold-out audiences worldwide.

Having just entered a new decade of his life, the very youthful Humperdinck has celebrated 50 years in showbiz by releasing a number of albums with OK!Good Records including his first ever duets album Engelbert Calling (2014), the introspective The Man I Want to Be (2017) and the festive, Warmest Christmas Wishes (2018).

Most recently he’s released a pair of EPs, Reflections (2019) and Sentiments (2020) compiling some of his latest fan-favorites like “You”, “Don’t Let the Old Man In” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” featuring label-mate Janet Devlin.

Humperdinck has recorded everything from the most romantic ballads to the platinum-selling theme song “Lesbian Seagull” for the latest Beavis and Butthead movie. His remarkable voice and extraordinary talent has endeared him to millions of fans around the globe with the MTV generation having just “discovered” what a magnificent musician the rest of the world has celebrated for decades.

Few people realize that several of the major forces in the world of rock n’ roll, including Jimi Hendrix and The Carpenters, started out as opening acts for Humperdinck in the late’60’s, 70’s and ’80’s. Lets not forget Humperdinck taking a #1 away form the Beatles, as well.

With four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe for “Entertainer of the Year” (1988), 63 gold and 24 platinum records and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Humperdinck might rest easy on his laurels. Hardly. In the past few years, he has joined in elite group of musical artists, such as Tony Bennett and Burt Bacharach, who have crossed over successfully to strike a new chord with a younger generation in addition to their core audiences. The Humper has appeared on several MTV programs, including two appearances on “MTV Beach House”, “Chilling with the Weaze” and “Oddville.”

When he was seventeen, Engelbert found himself playing at a pub that sponsored a singing contest. Goaded by his friends to enter, he put down his sax and for the first time revealed another vocal talent: impersonations. Arnold George Dorsey gave the world’s finest impersonation of Jerry Lewis- Jerry Lewis still thinks so-and was quickly dubbed Gerry Dorsey by his fans. It became his professional stage name. Furthermore, he never picked up the sax again.

Gerry Dorsey was very popular on the UK music circuit until he contracted tuberculosis, which silenced him for six months and nearly snuffed out his rising star. Many people assumed his career was finished. Upon regaining his health, Gerry Dorsey knew he had to bury his old, somewhat tainted image to make a comeback as a strong, dynamic performer, still tall, dark handsome and somewhat mysterious. His manager suggested the new name Engelbert Humperdinck. It was just outrageous enough to be memorable. It would take a man with a secure self-image and sense of humor to pull it off. And thus was born the soon-to-be legend, Engelbert Humperdinck.

Rather than a fitting bookend for his career, Engelbert sees his recent songs as a tool of creative rejuvenation, allowing him to re-invent himself as an artist for the many years to come he plans to entertain the world with his music. Long Live the King of Romance!