ENGELBERT - THE
SON OF LEICESTER | | Engelbert still loves recording,
but he really comes alive onstage |
He's released a total
of 256 CDs, LPs, videos and DVDs since the sixties. He divides his
time between Los Angeles, Las Vegas and, not surprisingly, Leicestershire.
This son of Leicester is no other than Engelbert Humperdinck. His name demands a certain tongue control and his romantic
hits have stood the test of time, over and over again. Now he's releasing
his autobiography in October. Engelbert Humperdinck was born Arnold George Dorsey and
he grew up on Highfield Street in Leicester. Some 60 years later, Engelbert is living the life he
deserves. From Arnold to Gerry to EngelbertHe started his career as a saxophone player in local
pubs, but put his sax down one night for some on-stage impersonations.
 | | Engelbert
in the early days |
He did Jerry Lewis and was such a success, he never picked
up the saxophone again. His impersonation also gave him his first professional
stage name, Gerry Dorsey. Gerry Dorsey had a successful music career until tuberculosis
silenced him for six months. The illness almost snubbed the rising star of a career,
but after a name-change to show the new-born resilience, Gerry Dorsey
became Engelbert Humperdinck. The name was a suggestion from Engelbert's manager, who
though it would be outrageous enough to be memorable. Wasn't he right!  | | Tony Blackburn remembers practicing
the correct pronounciation |
The first Engelbert Humperdinck was an Austrian composer,
who in 1911 wrote the fairy-tale opera "Hansel and Gretel".
Tony Blackburn remembers when Engelbert's debut single
first made an appearance on the newly launched Radio 1. "No-one knew how to pronounce his name but once
we got the hang of it, it stayed and he's been around ever since." Lucky breakEngelbert got his chance to shine when Dicky Valentine
had to cancel a performance on a TV show at the London Palladium. This was in 1967. At the start of the year, Engelbert
was un-known. By the end of it, he had sold more records than the Beatles,
staying in the charts for 46 weeks. Some fans have loved Engelbert, or Enge as his fans call
him, for as long as he's been around.  | | Enge,
as his fans call him, may have a big house, but spends most time touring |
Tony Blackburn is certain that Engelbert's success lies
in his appeal to all of the family. Young and old, people adore him. Engelbert is certainly the King of Romance. "I still really love 'Release me', it represents
an exciting time in my life and I'm always reminded of that." Engelbert did what the likes of Cliff Richard failed
to do, and that was cracking the American market. Tony Blackburn reckons Engelbert is more known in America
than he is in the UK. Engelbert has had time to reflect on his long career
as he's been writing his autobiography. "I've had a very eventful life. I've met all kinds
of people from the big stars to people in the mafia, they really like
show people." Engelbert has been playing the Las Vegas circuit since
he first moved to the US. Las Vegas was one of the reasons Engelbert's
manager suggested a move overseas. Elvis stole his looksEngelbert launched the seventies look in the sixties. He wanted to create a look that people would remember,
a look that was different. Having gone grey-haired in his twenties, Engelbert decided
to dye his hair black. | "I said 'you stole my look' to
Elvis, - he said 'hell, if it looks good on you it's gonna to look
good on me'." | | Engelbert on his look |
"I also grew these long sideburns and that was the
whole image. People started to recognise me and some used to go to the
hairdressers and have an Engelbert look. "Everyone thinks now because Elvis made it his look
that I copied him - but I didn't." The son of Leicester | | Los Angeles - there's
no place like home |
Even if Engelbert now spends most of his time in America,
he enjoys returning to where it all began. "I'm very proud that the people of the Leicester
deem me as the son of Leicester." The music he has created over
the years is instantly recognisable, and even if he likes being in the
recording studio, it's on stage he gets the most appreciation. "Applause is the food of an artist and I say, thank
you for not starving me. If you want to make sure Engelbert isn't starving, he
will be touring the UK from February 2005. | 
