Introduction:
Engelbert Humperdinck Reflects on Stardom, Sinatra, and Still Singing from the Heart
July 2025 — Legendary crooner Engelbert Humperdinck, now in his late 80s, recently sat down for an unforgettable conversation that blended humor, humility, and hard-earned wisdom from a career spanning more than six decades. Known worldwide for hits like “Release Me”, which famously kept The Beatles from a 13th No. 1 in 1967, Engelbert remains a magnetic storyteller—and a performer still searching for the perfect song.
Dubbed “The Hump” by fans (a nickname he wears with a smile), Engelbert shared laughs about his early fame—including tales of women ripping shirts off his back and a bus mix-up that left him nearly naked. “I used to travel with 147 shirts,” he quipped. “That’s how wild it got.”
But beneath the jokes lies a deep reverence for music and performance. From his friendly rivalry with Elvis Presley—who once said, “If it looks good on you, it’ll look good on me”—to losing “Strangers in the Night” to Frank Sinatra, Engelbert’s stories are steeped in music history. Yet after all these years, he still finds joy in recording. Just last night, he re-recorded “Strangers in the Night” in his own arrangement, finally claiming the song that slipped away decades ago.
Engelbert also spoke candidly about grief, recalling the time he performed while his mother rested in the chapel. “It was the hardest moment of my career,” he admitted, eyes glistening. His mother, a gifted singer and violinist, inspired his musical journey. “I wanted to be a musician like her… and I found my instrument in my throat.”
When asked what he looks for in a song today, his answer was simple yet profound: “A good story. A melody that stays with you. And an intro that makes people say—‘Oh, that one.’”
Through decades of stardom, heartbreak, and reinvention, Engelbert Humperdinck remains what he’s always been: a romantic, a showman, and a singer who still has something to say.
“I’m always searching,” he said. “And when I find the right song, I feel it in my soul.”