with Engelbert Humperdinck

Engelbert Humperdinck was one of the biggest-selling artists of the 1960s who has, along with Tom Jones, defined the affable ballad-singing Las Vegas lover man for decades. By the time fame arrived he’d more than paid his dues. Before the massive breakthrough hit, ‘Release Me’, the biggest selling single of 1967, Humperdinck had spent the previous decade chipping away unsuccessfully at a showbiz career under the name Gerry Dorsey. He was born Arnold George Dorsey to a large army family based in India. The family moved to Leicester when he was a child and by the early ‘50s he’d started performing in clubs. Over a decade later, a decade that included a spell of National Service and a battle with tuberculosis, Dorsey hooked up with Tom Jones’ manager Gordon Mills, became Engelbert and had a run of massive hits. Since those days Humperdinck has maintained a heavy touring schedule that’s made him a rich man with homes in Britain and California. He releases an album every few years – his latest is ‘The Winding Road’, out now on Golden Tunes Records.

What was the last meal you ate?
Terry, London, UK

Engelbert Humperdinck: “I had swordfish last night with asparagus and a spoon of mashed potatoes. I don’t eat too many carbohydrates. I had a nice glass of [ultra-expensive Californian wine] Opus One with that.”

Do you ever listen to music by your classical namesake?
Linden Fairfax, Melbourne, Australia

EH: “I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t even know he was the composer of ‘Hansel And Gretel’ until I got the name. The funny thing is that people come up to me and say, ‘You did a very good job with that opera,’ and the guy died in 1920 [1921, actually – classical pedant ed.]. Gordon Mills, my manager at the time, thought it a great idea for me to take the name over. It worked but I do have to say I have a title he didn’t – Doctor of Music from Leicester University.”

You and [English football player turned TV personality] Gary Lineker both come from Leicester – have your paths ever crossed?
Gary Paulson, Leicester, UK

EH: “They haven’t although he’s certainly a Leicester success story. He’s all over the television. I still go back to Leicester every three weeks. It’s my home, where I came from and I love going back. I live in the country and I have my little haunts where I go and eat. People are respectful, they come and ask for autographs but like me to have my privacy.”

You used to play the saxophone – who’s your favourite saxophonist?
Flynn O’Connor, Edinburgh, UK

EH: “It used to be Charlie Parker.”

What was your most memorable experience doing National Service?
Christopher Green, Berkhamstead, UK

EH: “Making friends with people from all parts of the British Isles. You bonded so that if anything happened in wartime you suck together like glue. As a matter of fact one of my army buddies who’s been in touch since 1954 only just passed away two days ago. I used to talk to him on a daily basis on Skype.”

Is the music industry a better or worse place than when you started?
Pedro Celos, Peniscola, Spain

EH: We have to accept changes as they come along. When I first started melodies and songs had a more lasting power. In today’s world, because it’s saturated with all kinds of music, it’s difficult to stand out. The Beatles songs are still strong today, Rod Stewart’s still around. People recording today have songs that last two weeks then you never hear of them again.”

You met the Beatles, didn’t you?
Thomas H, Beatmag

EH: “Yes. As a matter of fact I bumped into Paul seven or eight months ago at the Beverley Hills Hotel. As for rivalry between us, there wasn’t any. I’m sure they didn’t mind this Leicester lad stealing their thirteenth No.1 position for ‘Penny Lane’ [with ‘Release Me’].”

If you had a time machine, where would you go?
George Charalambous, Nicosia, Cyprus

EH: “Oh dear, what a question. I do see some wonderful movies. I’d like to spend time in the era of ‘Gone With The Wind’ [1860s] when they dressed for everything, to be a bit of a dandy maybe (laughs loudly).”

When you perform, do you still play your medley from the musical ‘Hair’? It’s a favourite of mine…
Thomas H, Beatmag

EH: “No, I’ve moved on. It’s very hard, when you’ve recorded 77 albums, to choose for a show so you have to go with what people are totally familiar with.”

I still play it at parties and it still makes people dance…
Thomas H, Beatmag

EH: “Do they? Do they really? Well, I’ll have to think about that.”

How did you come to sing the song ‘Lesbian Seagull’ for the Beavis & Butthead movie?
Paul Shandon, Philadelphia, USA

EH: “The producers came to see my show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and they enjoyed my sense of humour onstage. I tell a couple of jokes to give my throat a rest. They said they had a song they’d like me to record and played me this Beavis & Butthead number about a lesbian seagull. I thought it had a nice lyric and a nice melody and they said, ‘Would you do it in a serious fashion?’ I said, ‘Of course I will’. It turned platinum – how mad is that?”

Where’s your favourite place in the World?
Jose Parinia, Puente Alto, Chile

EH: “Besides home, I like Hawaii. Everywhere you go you hear that lovely romantic music that fills peoples’ hearts, and I got to see the Elvis Presley Special in Hawaii. It hits home for me, touches my heart.”

Did you tour with Jimi Hendrix?
Michael Clarke, Margate, UK

EH: “With Jimi he was starting his career in Europe and they wanted a name person he could be with so the tour would be a success. He opened the show. Little did we know he’d become the giant rock star he did. He was a wonderful person, just like Elvis, sad losses but wonderful talents.”

What’s your favourite biscuit?
Tim Gomersall, Beatmag

EH: “Digestive. I love dunking them in my coffee. I only drink decaf. tea and coffee on doctors’ orders but I used to love my cuppa tea at one time.”

What’s your favourite TV show?
Will Massan, Portland, USA

EH: “I do like watching new talent coming up so I watch the ‘Pop Idol’ shows. I like watching ‘Come Dancing’ because it gives people a chance to show another side to themselves. Those are great shows. As far as soaps and things, I don’t have enough time to catch up with them.”

You must have been to some great rock’n’roll parties in your time. Tell us a memory.
Khalid Mallassi, Beatmag

EH: “When I went to Night Of A Thousand Stars with Stewart Granger there were faces from all over the industry, every major name of the time – Cary Grant, James Stewart, Lucille Ball. We walked up the stairs and Stewart Granger said, ‘Engelbert, I know that you and I are stars but who are all these other fucking people?’.”

Are you familiar with Eddie Izzard’s stand-up routine about your name?
Len Cantello, Birmingham, UK

EH: “He’s a funny guy. I’ve seen it several times. He still makes me laugh with it. He talks about me being dead, more or less, but as long as he’s mentioning my name, it doesn’t matter.”

Would you record a song with 50 Cent?
Des Furlough, Los Angeles, USA

EH: “Well sure, I’ll have a go at anything. I love a challenge. Having said that, if my car breaks down on the M1, I don’t get someone to repair it, I sell the car.”

Are moustaches sexy?
Suzanna Carlton, London, UK

EH: “The biggest mistake I ever made in my whole life was putting a moustache on my face. 1. You’ve got to keep food out of it. 2. You’ve got to trim it in the proper fashion. When you’ve got a clean face you can just shave without worrying if you’re going to cut it off. You taste your last meal every five minutes.”

What’s your favourite musical?
Ken Loten, Ipswich, UK

EH: “I like ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ but I don’t get a chance to see them, I’m always busy performing rather than watching.”

Have you ever arm-wrestled?
Blackbeltjonez, Beatmag

EH: “Yes, with my father, God rest his soul. Nobody ever beat my dad, he was the strongest man I ever saw.”

Anyone you wish you’d met?
Kelly Garland, Peterborough, UK

EH: “Yes, the one person who wasn’t at The Night Of A Thousand Stars was John Wayne. I wish I could’ve met him. I met everybody else – Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, a mass of stars, some presidents… but I’d like to have met John Wayne as he really touched me.”

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