The Humpstory

He's one of popular music's most successful survivors with over 130 million record sales to his name, four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe for Entertainer of the Year (1988) and his own star on Hollywood Boulevard.

The arrival of The Beatles in the early 1960's virtually killed off the career of Gerry Dorsey. But, with the guiding influence of Tom Jones' manager, Gordon Mills, he changed his name to that of the 19th century Austrian composer, Engelbert Humperdinck and success finally arrived. At the age of 31, a last minute appearance (owing to the indisposition of Dickie Valentine) on TV's biggest show, Sunday Night At The London Palladium, made him an overnight sensation.

As the Melody Maker chart here shows, his first UK No.1, Release Me, kept The Beatles' double A-side Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields from the top spot (breaking their run of consecutive chart-toppers) and reached No. 2 in the USA.

Amazingly, at the height of the psychedelic Summer Of Love era, it was Engelbert who emerged as the biggest selling artist of 1967. It was at one of his shows that year where a certain Mr James Hendrix's guitar 'accidentally' caught fire!

"Jimi was an incredible performer" says Engelbert. "He saved my bacon once when my guitarist fell ill just before the show was due to start, by playing behind the curtain. It sounded as though I had three guitarists instead of one that night."

Jimi, Cat Stevens, Gary Walker & Engelbert are pictured here, backstage at the Finsbury Park Astoria on April 1967.

Engelbert's fond recollection of the period was reflected in his choice of Desert Island Discs (BBC Radio 4) - which included both Jimi's Purple Haze and the Beatles' single he beat.

Six consecutive Top 5 hits followed, including another number one - The Last Waltz - and There Goes My Everything. In America, Humperdinck's vocal range and songs of love and longing were noticed by none other than Elvis Presley - who nicked the Humpster's mutton chop sideburns and penchant for leather jumpsuits!

By the Seventies, Humperdinck had relocated to the USA - concentrating on the lucrative Las Vegas cabaret circuit. More recently a mickey-taking appearance, alongside roly-poly British comedian, Peter Kay, in a brilliant TV beer advertisement did much to raise his current profile and his surreal contribution to the Beavis And Butthead Do America soundtrack went double platinum in the USA.

The Humpster's 1999 Dance Album, was his first in the dance genre. Released by the red-hot dance label Interhit Records, it features newly recorded dance versions of six of Engelbert's greatest hits, along with five original songs.

His latest double album You Belong to My Heart features some of Engelbert's favourite songs, performed in his own inimitable style, including The Beatles' Penny Lane which he beat to the No.1 spot back in 1967.

For full details of Engelbert's recordings and live work, you can visit him online at: www.engelbert.com

» The Engelbert Interview