NEWS

By JONATHAN FRAHM 10 Sep 2019 Pop Matters

For over 50 years, Engelbert Humperdinck has been one of the foremost faces of easy listening music. His sonorous, velvet vocals have been the driving force behind timeless traditional pop ballads, and he is still singing to this day at 83. Released in May as an ode to motherhood, Humperdinck impressed with the richness and warmth of his newest single, "You". His live performance of the song has become a flagship of his recent tours, leaving ample room for the singer to pull heartstrings with its resonant chorus and crisp, full-bodied instrumentation.

In his decades of recording, Humperdinck has never done a proper music video until now. There have been live videos taken from his live performances. But his official video for "You" is the first time that he is performing in a conceptualized piece. The class and finesse that have pervaded so many of his performances prior is just as palpable here, just with the added twist of it being the long-standing artist's first performance of this nature. The audiovisual presentation of "You" is a romantic gift to his wife, Patricia Healey, on her birthday, 10 September.

Humperdinck tells PopMatters, "I'm really loving introspective songs now that reflect on my life's experience and put in meaningful words how I feel about myself and the ones I love most–my wife, my family, and my fans. A perfect example is my latest song 'You', written for me by renowned British songwriters Jon Allen and Jake Fields."

"'You' has become a fan favorite and is now a powerful signature song for me, much like 'My Way' was for Frank Sinatra or 'Yesterday When I Was Young' for Charles Aznavour. It was very exciting for me to do my first proper music video for a single release, even more so for a song that's so special to me. It's a rare event for me but making this one has sparked the desire to do more. The location (the Houdini Estate) was spectacular and stirred up just the right magic to set this beautiful song to screen. I'm happy this performance won't disappear. I hope the fans will enjoy it as much as I did filming it."

https://www.popmatters.com/engelbert-humperdinck-you-premiere-2640279767.html?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2

By LuAnn M Thibodeau

Posted May 17, 2019 at 12:58 PM, Wicked Local Medford

Magical, majestic, almost mythical...

From the first note of “Crazy,” to the last note of “For The Good Times,” Engelbert Humperdinck didn’t fail to please his fans at the sold-out Chevalier Theatre Friday, May 10.

Starting promptly at 8 p.m., The King of Romance, clad in a dark gray tux and pants, accented by a signature red shirt, had the crowd in his hands as #thevoicethatmeltsbutter sang a mixture of his older song standards as well as many of his new ones.

Such fan favorites, many of which are gold or platinum records, such as “Am I That Easy to Forget” (“my lucky song,” Humperdinck said), to “Il Mondo,” “The Way It Used To Be” and “Blue Spanish Eyes,” Humperdinck kept the audience glued to his performance. Along the way, Humperdinck paid homage to his longtime friend and songwriter extraordinaire, Les Reed, who recently passed away. He broke down as he sang the triple platinum song that Reed wrote for him, “The Last Waltz.”

Humperdinck also sang some of his newest hits, such as “Angel On My Shoulder” (which is also the title of the current tour) and “I’m Glad I Danced With You,” a song written by his daughter and her partner, and through the wonders of modern technology, he was accompanied by his granddaughter Olivia, as she appeared on the giant screen and sang his wife Patricia’s part.

Humperdinck again was emotional as he sang this song to his wife, who has been battling Alzheimer’s Disease for more than a decade. He also introduced his new single, “I Need You,” which began streaming (“what does that mean, streaming?” he quipped), a song he dedicated to the audience because “without you, I wouldn’t be here.”

More than just a great singer, the thespian of music also entertained his fans with jokes and stories along the way. At one point, the band broke into a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday,” as the crowd sang along and sent wishes to the recently turned 83 years young Humperdinck (May 2). He thanked the audience and said he felt 53 – and looks the younger age as he has lost 31 pounds and looks slim and trim as he moves and dances around the entire stage.

The man – the legend that myths are made of – performed for almost two hours without a break. Backed by an excellent band and two female singer/dancers, Humperdinck had complete command of the stage throughout the night.

And always wanting to acknowledge the love of his fans, he thanked them as he said “applause is the food of an artist, and thank you for not starving me or my band tonight.”

He ended his last song by shaking hands with all of the fans that had gathered around the stage, then donned a bright red boxer’s robe with gold wings and “Engel” printed at the top and “Bert” at the bottom, and received the last of many standing ovations as he mimicked a prize fighter and showed some good boxing and martial arts poses, then exited stage left, until he returns for what his fans hope will be many, many more concerts.

Humperdinck is definitely not ready to retire from a career that was catapulted by his blockbuster hit song “Release Me,” which knocked the Beatles from number one when it came out on Jan. 13, 1967, and which he sang with his rich baritone voice that has a range of three and a half octaves, something that most singers can only dream of. And the man and the legend live on and on.

https://medford.wickedlocal.com/news/20190517/engelbert-humperdinck-shines-in-two-hour-chevalier-theatre-show

By Markos Papadatos     May 11, 2019 Digital Journal

On May 10, Englishman Engelbert Humperdinck surprised mothers everywhere by releasing his brand new Mother's Day song, "You."

Even at the ripe age of 83, his voice is rich and powerful as ever. "You" will definitely resonate well with his fans and listeners, especially the mothers.

"You" was written for Humperdinck by acclaimed British songwriters Jon Allen and Jake Fields. It starts off in a haunting fashion and it morphs into an anthem of grace and appreciation. Humperdinck's resonant vocals are smooth as silk.

His career has surpassed five decades and he is regarded as one of the greatest traditional pop vocalists in the music industry.

On November 23, Humperdinck will be performing at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Long Island.

"You" is available on iTunes and on Amazon.

The Verdict

With his song "You," Humperdinck proves that he still is the reigning "King of Romance." "You" garners an A rating.

For more information on Engelbert Humperdinck, his tour dates and "You," check out his official Facebook page.

Read more:  http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/music/review-engelbert-humperdinck-releases-you-ode-to-mother-s-day/article/549564#ixzz5nqdzgHjM

Vents Magazine May 10, 2019

Much has been written and said about ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK, the King of Romance. His fans love the romantic and heartfelt love songs that he has been releasing for them with great regularity over the years. And as a surprise to mothers everywhere, Engelbert is releasing his special tribute to moms around the world with the new song “You” which is released to DSPs everywhere today in advance of Mother’s Day which is this Sunday, May 12th.

Everyone admires the spry octogenarian for his stamina and showmanship live for over 50 years and is captivated by the undeniable charisma, charm, and warmth he displays in abundance onstage. He has earned his iconic status as one of  the great traditional pop singers of the last fifty years.

Having performed the song around the world in recent months,“You” has become one of the fans’ favorites and is now a powerful signature song for Engelbert, much in the way “My Way” did for Frank Sinatra or “Yesterday When I Was Young” for Charles Aznavour.

Rather than a fitting bookend for his career, Engelbert sees his recent songs as a tool of creative  rejuvenation, allowing him to re-invent himself as an artist for the many years to come he plans to entertain the world with his music.  Long Live the King of Romance!

“You” is now available at the following digital platforms:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DZmdsW

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Ja0rH3

iTunes: https://apple.co/2Hop7IL

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2VTWaxy

https://ventsmagazine.com/2019/05/10/engelbert-humperdinck-surprises-moms-everywhere-with-mothers-day-song-you/

By Richard Burnett • On April 4, 2019 Curtainsup.TV

A candid Q&A with pop icon Engelbert Humperdinck

When I first interviewed Engelbert Humperdinck a decade ago, he was riding another wave of popularity after recording the song Lesbian Seagull for MTV’s 1996 adult cartoon film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.

The filmmakers liked that Engelbert – or ‘Enge, as in Stonehenge’ – has a sense of humour, a character trait much on display when he performs live in concert.

But about Lesbian Seagull, Mr. Humperdinck told me, “They asked me to sing a serious ballad and I listened to the song and it was quite beautiful. So if being gay can happen in humans, it can happen to birds. And I support that. We should all have freedom of life.”

It’s no surprise that, in addition to his big voice, Mr. Humperdinck has a big heart.

Born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, British India, the ninth of 10 children, in 1936 (he shall turn 83 on May 2, but looks much, much younger), Humperdinck shot to fame in 1967:  His massive hit Release Me prevented The Beatles from scoring their 13th U.K. Number One hit (with their double A-side Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane), and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for selling the most singles in that era.

Humperdinck became the toast of Swinging London and would conquer the world, selling more than 140 million records worldwide.

Today, the ever-popular Humperdinck is riding yet another wave of popularity following the recent airing of his PBS TV concert special Engelbert Humperdinck in Hawaii recorded live at the historic Hawai‘i Theatre in Honolulu in August 2018.

Humperdinck brings his Angel on My Shoulder World Tour to Montreal for three nights at Place des Arts, from April 10 to 12, and recently sat down for a candid Q&A about his life and career.

Curtains Up: I read that you like to visit a local church when you perform in a new city. You have been performing in Montreal for many years. Have you visited a church in Montreal?

Engelbert Humperdinck: I probably have, because I do everywhere I go. This time for sure because I’ll be in Montreal for quite a length of time. They say that if you pop into a church in another country and ask for a favour, it will be granted.

What do you ask for?

I pray for my family, I pray for my wife because she is not in very good health at the moment (his wife Patricia has Alzheimers) and I am hoping it will improve very soon.

I think you also like to visit hospitals?

I sometimes do visit, if I have time.

Could you talk to me about healing? You have a gift.

I guess God has been good to me, has given me a few things in life, he gave me my voice and some people say they find peace and calmness from listening to it, and I think that is a form of healing that I am glad that I have.

My mom and I recently watched your Engelbert Humperdinck in Hawaii TV special on PBS. Your voice sounds amazing. What do you do to keep your voice in shape?

I’m just lucky. I don’t do anything specific to keep in it shape. I never get nodes on my throat which you get from singing incorrectly. I haven’t had a voice lesson in my life so I don’t really know how to sing properly. But I think I’ve been given a gift, and I sing properly anyway!

You haven’t lost any of your vocal power.

No I haven’t, but I have come down a semi-tone.

You also look great. What’s your secret?

When I started to do that special in Hawaii, I hadn’t done a special in a while and I thought to myself, “If this is going to be around for a long time, then I want to look like I looked many years ago.” So I went on a serious diet, a serious exercise regimen and I dropped 31 pounds.

Your Hawaii TV special also reminded me of another great TV special filmed in Hawaii, Elvis Presley’s Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite in 1973.

Yeaaaah! That was one of the reasons I wanted to do a special there, because of the connection I had with Elvis. I wanted to do something that he also did.

Do you miss your old friend?

I do miss him very much.

I always thought Elvis started the sideburns craze. But it was really you!

It was me! I brought it to America, I brought it to Canada, I brought it to the world. I started it in 1965. Elvis didn’t start his until around 1970-71.

I was trying to create an image. So I told my manager at the time, Gordon Mills, “I have to create an image. Everyone starts at the head!” Like The Beatles all had one hairstyle (here Engelbert sings a Beatles-esque “Woooo!”)

Even Yul Brynner started his own look.

It all starts with the head. No one looks at your feet when you walk onstage. So I dyed my hair black and grew sideburns and created a style for my first television show. My manager even told me, “You better shave them off, they look ridiculous!” I said no. Soon the Beatles and Elvis also grew sideburns. Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, you name the name, they all put on sideburns after me.

Back in the day visiting performers used to stay at your home in Vegas. I’m thinking Dean Martin?

Dean was a very good friend of mine. As a matter of fact, Dean took a shine to me because I played at his hotel, The Riviera, the first high rise on the strip. Dean was a co-owner. It was a classic hotel. He used to put his name on the marquee: “Dean Martin presents Engelbert Humperdinck.” He never did that for any other artist. I was the only one. I used to dine a lot with him in L.A.

Vegas has changed incredibly over the decades. What do you think of the city Vegas has become?

It’s more than a city, it’s a small country! Even Lake Mead, which was a familiar place for performers to go sunbathe and water ski, the water level is way down low now because they can’t cope with all the people who have moved into the city. When I went there, there was about eight hotels, now there’s a hundred hotels.

I once visited the Liberace Museum in a Vegas shopping mall off the strip. Sadly, the museum is now closed.

Lee was a very good friend of mine.

When Liberace played in Montreal back in 1944, a publicist at the Mount Royal Hotel changed his name from Walter Liberace – pronounced Lib-ber-ayse – to the more showbiz Liberace with a hard-c Italian pronunciation. Liberace was being paid $350 a week to play at the hotel’s Normandie Roof ballroom and left Montreal a star.

Lee was an incredible performer. As a matter of fact, I used to visit his home over here in Los Angeles, and also in Vegas. He had beautiful houses. He certainly knew how to decorate them!

Jimi Hendrix played guitar for you. What was that like?

He didn’t play for me. He was in the show. They wanted somebody known to introduce him to Europe, so they used my name. He did the first half of the show. Then one day my guitarist didn’t show up and Jimi told me, “Don’t worry, man, I’ll play for you.” I said, “You can’t come onstage and play, Jimi.” And he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll play behind the curtain!” And people were wondering where this fantastic guitar sound was coming from! It was quite an experience, no pun intended. He sounded like three guitars!

Do you still have a collection of motorcycles?

I still have one motorcycle. I used to have five Harleys but you can only ride one at a time. So I sold four of them because they were crowding my garage. Now I have two cars and a motorcycle, and that’s enough.

You used to ride your Harley from concert to concert, no?

I didn’t do that. That’s a bit difficult! But I still like to ride.

When was the last time you rode your Harley?

Right here recently in the hills! I don’t like to go on the main roads very much, so I like to stay on the Pacific Highway. It’s an open road. It helps me get the wind in my face.

People must be surprised to see Engelbert Humperdinck pull over and take off his helmet.

It’s always a surprise! (Laughs)

You’ve been to Montreal a million times. What would you like to do in Montreal when you return?

I don’t know what the weather is going to be like, but if it’s nice I’d like to play some golf. The last time I was up there during nice weather, I played on Céline Dion’s golf course. Montreal is a wonderful city and my fans there have supported my career from the very beginning. I always enjoy returning to Montreal.

Engelbert Humperdinck headlines Théatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts on April 10, 11 and 12. For tickets, visit placedesarts.com.

http://curtainsup.tv/an-audience-with-engelbert-humperdinck/

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times, April 6, 2019

The singer whose career has flourished for more than a half-century is Engelbert Humperdinck, who will be bringing his “The Angel on My Shoulder Tour” to the American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-0 648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) on April 7.

In a career spanning 50 years, Humperdinck has earned 64 gold and 35 platinum albums, four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe, and stars on the Hollywood and Las Vegas Walks of Fame.

He has recorded everything from the most romantic ballads to movie theme songs, disco, rock, and even gospel.  Some of the evergreen hits that belong to Engelbert include “After the Lovin’,” “The Last Waltz,” “Spanish Eyes,” “Quando, Quando, Quando,” and the unforgettable “Release Me,” which spent 56 consecutive weeks on the charts.

“The longevity of your career depends on how hard you work,” said Humperdinck, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from his home in Los Angeles.

“I’ve always wanted to be in show business, and I’ve maintained it by giving people what they want to hear – going all the way back to songs such as ‘Release Me’ and ‘A Man Without Love.’ I continue to play shows around the world. I just came back from a tour of Australia, Tahiti, New Zealand, Malaysia and Indonesia.”

Ironically, Humperdinck wanted a career in music but never wanted to be a singer.

The youngest boy of a family of 10 children originally from Leicester, England, he grew up in Madras (Chennai), India, where his father was stationed during World War II. He knew he could sing harmonies, but the power of his own voice came as a surprise to him and other people.

According to Humperdinck, “It’s just so loud, but I discovered I can be tender with it at the same time. My mother’s side of the family had the singing voice so I must have inherited that from her. My father was a man’s man – strong, athletic, charismatic. And I like to do all kind of men things. I love sports, golf, tennis martial arts, soccer, skiing, but, at the same time, yes I do appreciate women.”

Humperdinck’s appeal is more than just his voice. It includes his endearing sense of humor and self-deprecating jokes – and his ability to connect with audiences.

At the age of 11, Humperdinck, whose birth name is Arnold George Dorsey, started studying music and playing the saxophone. When he was 17, he was playing at a pub that sponsored a singing contest. Goaded by his friends to enter, he put down his sax and for the first time revealed another vocal talent — impersonations. He gave an incredible impersonation of comedian Jerry Lewis and was quickly dubbed Gerry Dorsey by his fans. It soon became his professional stage name.

Gerry Dorsey was very popular on the UK music circuit and in 1959 he released a single called, “Crazybells/ Mister Music Man” on Decca Records. However, he contracted tuberculosis, which silenced him for six months and nearly ended his rising music career. Upon regaining his health, Gerry Dorsey knew he had to end his former image to make a comeback as a strong, dynamic performer. A former manager suggested the new moniker.

The name Engelbert Humperdinck was taken from the Austrian composer who wrote “Hansel and Gretel.” It was outrageous enough to be memorable.

Humperdinck exploded onto the music scene in the 1960s in England along with The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The shy handsome boy catapulted almost instantly to world icon. He became great friends with Elvis Presley and the two legends often performed each other’s songs.

His first single in the charts was “Release Me,” which went into the Guinness Book of Records for achieving 56 consecutive weeks on the charts. It was No. 1 in 11 countries.

“Making a set list for my shows is difficult,” said Humperdinck. “My show has been tried-and-tested. But it’s hard work putting it together.

“I don’t want to sit at home and put my feet up. I’m always doing something. If I’m not riding my motorcycle, I’m playing golf, writing songs or working on the house.

“I used to write songs a lot but not now. I am responsible for my musical arrangements. I make a big judgment on what is going to appeal to the masses. My audience is an unbelievable cross-section – people of all ages from very young to very old. For me, that’s really nice to see.”

Humperdinck’s life has been filled with highlights. One of the most recent had nothing to do with music.

A native of Leicester, England, he has been a life-long fan of Leicester City F.C., a football team in England’s Premier League. In the 2015-2016 season, the Foxes won their first-ever Premiership title. It was a remarkable event considering British bookmakers thought Leicester’s victory was so unlikely that Ladbrokes and William Hill offered odds of 5,000-1 for it at the start of the season.

“That was so great when Leicester won the Premiership,” said Humperdinck. “Being such a fan, it really meant a lot to me. I even had the opportunity to hold the (championship) Cup.”

Video link for Engelbert Humperdinck — https://youtu.be/G6G3L3jOSpU.

The show at the American Music Theatre will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $69.

https://www.unionvilletimes.com/?p=42574

By Jane Rocca, March 3, 2019 The Sydney Morning Herald

Occupation Singer. Age 82. Relationship status Married. Best known for His 1967 hit Release Me. Currently Touring Australia.

My mother, Olive, had a wonderful operatic voice and used to make the chandeliers shake when she sang. I am sure I got my powerful singing voice from her. She always said I was the only one of her 10 children – I was the ninth, born in Madras, British India – who took after her, and would always refer to me as "my son, my son" and say it twice. I felt we shared a bond she may not have had with the others – at least that's how it felt to me growing up.

My father, Mervyn Dorsey, was an officer in the British Army and travelled a lot for his work. I knew very early on that I didn't want to follow in his footsteps.

I had seven sisters growing up. Two, Celine and Olga, have now passed, but the rest of us are all still very close. My parents raised us to be loving and supportive of one another, a valuable tradition that we hold on to. We are as close-knit as it gets.

Olga gave me a saxophone when I was 11. I quickly started playing it and bought lessons after doing paper rounds each week. I was very shy but loved to sing with my family.

My career as a singer happened accidentally. It was only after getting a standing ovation after being on stage at a working-man's club as a 17-year-old that I thought maybe this could be a career path for me.

The first song I released, Release Me, stopped the Beatles from having their 13th number one and it is also in the Guinness Book of World Records for selling the most singles in that era. It gave me world recognition.

My sisters were really supportive of me as their brother who reached the pop charts. My family was very proud of my achievement. I have since sold more than 150 million albums.

I have had the honour of working with some incredible women over the years, from Dionne Warwick to Olivia Newton-John. Olivia duets with me on a Shirley Bassey cover, Never, Never, Never, we recorded in 2014. She is a beautiful woman who I have a lot of time for.

I always adored Dusty Springfield. She sang Ain't No Mountain High Enough on my TV show in 1970 – that was lots of fun. I knew her family before she got into the business and invited her to sing with me. I stand by the fact she is one of the best singers I have ever met. Karen Carpenter is another favourite.

My first kiss was actually with my wife, Patricia. It happened before we married, of course. I met her when she was 17 at a dancehall and we've been together ever since.

I never had to worry about female fans getting in the way of my private life because I have been happily married to Patricia since 1964. Being a global star means you do get lots of recognition, but I got married before I became famous and Patricia stood by me through all the years while I was trying to make it.

It's not that hard to ignore the attention of women these days. It was in the beginning, but not any more! Audiences now don't care if I'm married, but when I started out they did care. Women want you to be single and available.

My marriage works because it comes down to a little word called "love". Patricia has been a great asset to me, a great wife and a wonderful mother to our four children.

Our daughter, Louise, is the firstborn child and I'd go as far to say she is the one who leads the family. She is instrumental in keeping my family together and is the matriarch. She's a songwriter who lives in the USA. We also have three sons – Bradley, Scott and Jason.

My latest album, The Man I Want to Be, is a love letter to my wife. It's really about reminiscing about the history between us.

There is a song on the album written by my daughter Louise and her husband called I'm Glad I Danced with You. Their child Olivia, my nine-year-old granddaughter, sings it with me – it's the only duet on the album. It's wonderful to have a grandchild who's drawn to the stage like me. It brings me to tears.

Engelbert Humperdinck is performing at the State Theatre, Sydney, on March 8 and the Palais Theatre, Melbourne, on March 9.

https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/engelbert-humperdinck-my-latest-album-is-a-love-letter-to-my-wife-20190228-p510sn.html

Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey) will turn 83 on May 2. He's sold more than 140 million records worldwide.He is coming to New Zealand for a three date tour ('The Man I Want To Be' tour); playing Auckland (Bruce Mason Centre) on February 28, CHCH (Theatre Royal) on March 2 and Wellington (Opera House) on March 4The Man I Want To Be tour takes its name from his latest album, released at the end of 2017, marking his 50th anniversary in music. The album, which is made up of original tracks and covers of contemporary songs including Ed Sheeran's 'Photograph' and Bruno Mars' 'Just the Way You Are', has received rave reviews. He talks about his extraordinary career and why he's still touring in his 80s.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018682865/engelburt-humperdinck-on-touring-and-singing-at-83

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love and romance. ♥ What better way is there to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with a giveaway from the King Of Romance himself – Engelbert Humperdinck! ♥

We are giving away a very special prize package to 30 lucky random winners.

The Valentine’s Day Prize Package includes:

♥ An autographed Engelbert Humperdinck Note Card.

♥ A heart shaped limited edition commemorative magnet featuring Engelbert and his granddaughter Olivia singing “I’m Glad I Danced With You”.

♥ A limited edition commemorative “Happy Valentine’s Day” sticker.

http://www.okgoodrecords.com/blog/2019/02/13/engelbert-humperdinck-valentines-day-giveaway/

By Rosanna Greenstreet 9 Feb 2019 The Guardian

The singer on manners, record stores and being an easy sob

Born in India, Engelbert Humperdinck, 82, moved to Leicester as a child. He had his first hit in 1967 with Release Me; his other multi-platinum-selling songs include The Last Waltz. In 2017 he celebrated his 50th year in show business with the album The Man I Want To Be, and he continues to tour the world. Ten years ago, his wife, Patricia, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The couple have four children and live in California and Leicester.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Splitting my pants on stage. It happened a lot in the early days, because I used to wear very tight pants. I was always asked, “How does one get into those?” and I’d say, “You start off with a kiss!”

What is top of your bucket list?

If my wife recovers somewhat, I will be delighted to take my entire family to Barbados. We’re working very hard to bring her back to normality, with western and eastern medicine.

What is your most treasured possession?

My passport.

What would your super power be?

Healing.

What makes you unhappy?

Other people’s incompetence, because I feel I do things to the best of my ability.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

I just did it. I wanted to lose weight and respect my body more, and I’ve lost 31 pounds in three months.

What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?

After an early show, my then manager told me, “You were shit. You only just got by on bullshit and charm.”

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?

Record stores.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Ageing.

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

My wife. I made mistakes in my early life and hurt her. Everybody thinks the grass is greener, but it’s not. To say sorry to her when she understands will be one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Me – if they can make you old, they can make you young again.

When did you last cry, and why?

I have to say I am an easy sob. I don’t mind, because there’s no harm in having a big man cry.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin and Elvis – I knew them all.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A saxophonist, but destiny chose another path for me, and I’m glad it happened that way.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“Sorry, can you say that again – I’m a bit mutton Jeff?”

What has been your biggest disappointment?

Not understanding the business side of my career enough. I could have probably been much wealthier than I am.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

I don’t like to think about that.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Manners.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

I’ve had only one love, and that is my wife. I asked her to dance when she was 17 and we’ve been dancing together ever since.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/feb/09/engelbert-humperdinck-sammy-davis-jr-dean-martin-elvis