Engelbert to perform at Genting
TArena Of Stars, Genting Highlands, welcomes back British song legend Engelbert Humperdinck on March 16. Humperdinck, 83, has had a successful musical career spanning almost five decades and his albums have sold more than 140 million copies, including 64 gold and 35 platinum-certified ones. He has had four Grammy nominations and a Golden Globe Award for Entertainer Of The Year. Humperdinck was also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989.
The veteran crooner has performed for Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom four times. Humperdinck has recorded everything from the most romantic ballads to movie theme songs, disco, rock, and even gospel music. His voice has charmed millions of fans around the globe.
However, it is not just his voice but the man himself who is also loved, with his endearing sense of humour and self-deprecating jokes.
He was born Arnold George Dorsey in Chennai, India, and when he was 11, he learnt to sing and play the saxophone. When he was 17, Humperdinck 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. He wowed the contest’s judges with his incredible impersonation of legendary comedian Jerry Lewis — and this single event set him on the road to a successful recording career.
Adopting the name of a famous German composer, Humperdinck enjoyed his first musical success in July 1966 in Belgium, where he represented Britain in the annual Knokke Song Contest. He sang Release Me, his most famous song ever, and a year later, this song made it to the top 10 of pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
In 1968, Humperdinck reached number two on the UK Singles Chart with A Man Without Love. By the end of the decade,
Humperdinck’s expanding roster of songs included Am I That Easy to Forget, The Way It Used To Be, I’m A Better Man ( For Having Loved You) and Winter World Of Love.
From 1969 to 1970, Humperdinck had his own television series The Engelbert Humperdinck Show for ATV in the United Kingdom, and ABC in the United States. In this musical variety show, the singer was joined by some of the most popular figures then active in entertainment, including Paul Anka, Shirley Bassey and Tony Bennett.
Humperdinck’s recording career has continued into the new century. Humperdinck has managed to strike a new chord with a younger generation after appearing on MTV several times over the last two decades. In 2000, he hit the top five of the British album charts with Engelbert At His Very Best and released Let There Be Love in 2005.
Humperdinck’s latest studio album, The Man I Want To Be, was launched on Nov 24, 2017. In this album, he included two notable covers, Photograph by Ed Sheeran and Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars.
His music has transcended time and his voice continues to move people — serving to transport inspire, embrace, ingredients that are the essence of his long-lasting success.
His involvement in charitable causes includes the Leukaemia Research Fund, American Red Cross, American Lung Association, and several AIDS relief organisations. He also wrote a song for a charity group titled Reach Out in 1992.