Columnist Joe Delaney: Humperdink overcame the odds to play Las Vegas

Joe Delaney

Friday, Nov. 5, 1999 | 9:34 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@m

Engelbert Humperdinck, the composer, was born in 1854. ... He is best known for composing the music to the opera, "Hansel and Gretel," which, in his native Germany, is as popular a Christmas production as "The Nutcracker" is in the United States. ... Humperdinck also composed the music for the play, "The Miracle," which was popular in the U.S. as well.

Engelbert Humperdinck, the singer, is appearing through Saturday in the Monte Carlo's Lance Burton Theatre. ... He was born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, India, in 1936. ... Enge, as he is known to his friends, made his LV debut in 1968 at the Riviera hotel. ... His first interview was in the Sun that week; we've been friends ever since.

The Dorsey family originated in Ireland and Enge was raised in Leicester, England. ... At the time we discussed the strong possibility he was related to the band leaders, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

The beginning

At age 11, Arnold took the stage name Gerry Dorsey and was playing saxophone in local clubs. ... At age 17, playing in a working man's club, he noticed that patrons took turns singing. ... He tried singing, liked it and the sax became secondary. ... As a singer, his new popularity earned him a contract to record with British Decca; then he was diagnosed as having tuberculosis.

Unable to work, he lost everything, his car, the home he was purchasing for his parents. ... The recovery was slow but complete. ... In his early 30s, he took on Gordon Mills, now deceased, as his personal manager. ... It was Mills who re-christened him as Engelbert Humperdinck, just as he rechristened Thomas Woodward as Tom Jones, because of the book and the film, "Tom Jones."

"Release Me" was his first recording hit. ... Enge was a last-minute substitute on London's "Sunday Night at the Palladium" TV show, sang the song, and, a year later, was headlining in Las Vegas.

And presently

That was 130 million album sales, 64 gold records and 23 platinum records ago. ... There is now an Engelbert Humperdinck fan club with more than 3 million members worldwide. ... Some fan club members come to Las Vegas when he is appearing here and see every performance. ... Enge is more than just a romantic balladeer; he is a master impressionist with a well-developed sense of humor that includes the ability to do satire.

His take-off on Julio Iglesias is classic, ask Julio. ... "The Dance Album" is a recent release with six Humperdinck standards, arranged for and sung to contemporary dance rhythms, plus six original songs, combining old and new material on CD and cassette.

Enge: "There's Tony Bennett, Tom Jones and myself, with Paul Anka and Wayne Newton not far behind us, but who will be our replacements?".. Good question. ... Lance Burton will reappear in his theater Tuesday.

Humperdinck was present Wednesday at the unveiling of his wax portrait in Madame Tussaud's Celebrity Encounter at the Venetian hotel. ... Thursday afternoon he was inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame at the Tropicana.

My two cents worth

This columnist has been a fight fan all his life. ... We were part of Joe Glaser's brain trust when Sugar Ray Robinson made his comeback in 1955, regaining his middleweight crown, knocking out Carl "Bobo" Olson. ... Dr. James Nave and the Delaneys have been friends for more than three decades. ... His dedication to boxing was total and his 12 years on the boxing commission, exemplary. ... He deserved to be continued as a commissioner.

While we're on the subject, Mike Tyson, in the ring, is a time bomb; it's all on the record. ... LV narrowly escaped a tragedy in the aftermath of the second Holyfield fight. ... Tyson admitted he tried to break Francois Botha's arm. ... There were no redeeming features, no entertainment value, in the Norris debacle.

Must we wait until there is a real catastrophe? ... No amount of money can justify taking another chance on Tyson in Las Vegas. ... Or anywhere else, for that matter.

Friday addenda

Reports on female impressionist Christopher Peterson's Flamingo Hilton showcase Tuesday were all positive. ... Peterson's famous ladies are an eclectic mix of current divas and great stars of the past, with rapid onstage changes, and always his own voice. ... He opened Wednesday at the Top Hat Playhouse in Palm Springs and will next reopen L.A.'s The Factory.

The 15th annual 76 plus 4 Trombones Benefit Concert is Sunday at 2 p.m., UNLV's Ham Hall. ... Book signing: Keely Smith and the authors of "Fabulous Las Vegas in the '50s: Glitz, Glamour & Games" will be on hand Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Tropicana's Casino Legends Hall of Fame. ... See you there and back here on Thursday.