Engelbert Humperdinck: Heavy workload hasn’t aged or slowed ‘King of Romance’

By Jerry Fink

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Engelbert Humperdinck may be a little vain about his good looks and his vocal cords, which seem to be as soothing today as they were when he burst to international stardom in 1967 with the release of “Release Me.”

But when you’ve got it, flaunt it.

“I think I came from good genes,” he said recently from his home in Los Angeles. “My skin hasn’t changed. I haven’t been under the knife. I found out I was putting on a little weight and critics have given me a bit of a bad time, saying ‘Humperdinck is getting a little paunchy.’ So I took 33 pounds off and now I have a personal trainer. I’m down from a 43-inch waist to a 34.”

At 73, the former Arnold George Dorsey of Madras, India, still merits the title “King of Romance.”

In his lengthy career Humperdinck has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, including 64 gold and 24 platinum albums, among them such memorable tunes as “There Goes My Everything” (1967), “The Last Waltz” (1967), “Am I That Easy to Forget” (1968), “A Man Without Love (Quando M’Innamoro)” (1968) and “After the Lovin’ ” (1976).

He will perform Thursday through Sunday at the Orleans.

Do you still tour a lot?

The first part of this year I’ve kept kind of free because I’ve been doing a lot of recording. I just finished an album called “Legacy of Love,” which is all my greatest hits. I challenged myself by going back into the studio to record all the hits I’ve recorded from 40-odd years back. I went to Prague and, with a big symphony orchestra, recorded all my hits and classic songs again. It’s just turned out amazing. People with professional ears say it’s even better than it was 40 years ago. I’m thrilled about that. It’s on my Web site — nowadays that’s the only way to sell records.

Have you adapted to the changes that have taken place in the recording business?

This is the way of life in this day and age, and it’s fine with me. Whatever works, I go along with. I recorded quite recently with a guy that produced my big hit “After the Lovin’ ” (1976). He did so many others. His name is Charlie Calello. We call him Platinum Charlie. I hope his name is going to work with this next album, “Endlessly.” On July 1 I’m releasing a single from the album which is also called “Endlessly.” It was written by Paul Anka and David Foster. Now I have three albums in the can, “Legacy of Love,” “A Taste of Country” and “Endlessly.”

It doesn’t sound like you’re slowing down.

I’m doing quite an extensive tour for the rest of the year. I’m going to do a British tour — I haven’t been there for a while. And of course Germany, Belgium, France, Holland, Russia, Ukraine and all over the United States and Canada.

That’s a lot of work. Do you ever think about ...

No, no — before you ask. I never think of quitting.

When you started your musical career you played saxophone. Do you still play?

I don’t play it anymore. It was an instrument to start with but I wound up with my instrument being in my throat. It was even better for me. My first hit, “Release Me,” (1967) stopped the Beatles from going to No. 1 (in Great Britain) with their 13th single in a row (“Strawberry Fields Forever). “Release Me” went around the world and gave me a global career. I just keep traveling around the world now. People all over the world know my music.

You’ve had an amazing career in the past almost 50 years.

Forty-two, only 42 years.

And you’re still at the top of your game, vocally.

Thank God for that.

What do you see as your legacy?

My music is my legacy. With the amount of albums I’ve recorded over the years, nearly 80 albums and according to the count about 150 million units sold around the world, which is not bad. I’m very thrilled with that sort of number.