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Engelbert Humperdinck

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Engelbert Humperdinck's real name is Arnold Dorsey. He was born in Madras, in British India, in 1936, and at the age of ten moved with his family to Leicester. In the early 1950s he played saxophone in nightclubs, and only later began to sing. From 1959 he made records under the name Gerry Dorsey, but success eluded him. In 1961 he contracted tuberculosis and spent nine months in hospital.

Music and breakthrough

In 1965 he teamed up with the manager Gordon Mills, who also looked after Tom Jones. Mills gave him the striking name of the German composer of the opera Hänsel und Gretel. His first success came in Belgium, where he won the Knokke song festival in 1966. In early 1967 his version of Release Me reached number 1 in England. The record kept The Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane off the top spot, the first time since 1963 that a Beatles single had failed to reach number 1. There Goes My Everything and The Last Waltz followed, and later, among others, A Man Without Love and Quando quando quando.

Influence

Humperdinck sings romantic ballads in a warm, full voice, accompanied by a large orchestra and choir. Release Me was arranged in an orchestral country style, with Jimmy Page among the session guitarists. He himself did not want to be called a crooner. Set against the innovative pop of 1967, his music stood for an older, more traditional audience, which remained loyal to him. In 2012 he sang for the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Release Me and notice how the orchestra carries Humperdinck's voice. Hear how a full choir joins in on the third chorus, and compare the sound with Strawberry Fields Forever, the Beatles single he kept off the top spot.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists