Engelbert Humperdinck isn’t afraid to claim he is one of the very few kings of the music world.
Along side the king of rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley, and the king of pop, Michael Jackson, Humperdinck claims the enduring title of king of romance.
“That title has stuck for all these years,” he says. At 74, Humperdinck – born Arnold Dorsey – is still one of the most recognisable faces of his era.
His hits include The Last Waltz, Release Me and After The Lovin’.
“My journey in this business has been extraordinary,” he says.
My very first song, Release Me, was a massive hit. It stopped the Beatles going to number one and immediately gave me a global career.
“I’m still traveling the world, and people all know my songs.” Humperdinck will play the State Theatre on November 12 and 13.
It’s more than four decades since he played his first show in Sydney, at the now demolished Chevron Hotel.
Humperdinck’s advice for coming generations of singers is to “steal form the greats”.
“I learned from watching big stars like Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Elvis Presley,” he says.
“I even stole ideas from Michael Jackson. You have to steal from the best and make it your own.”
Humperdinck says Patricia Healey, his wife of 36 years, has long got over any feelings of jealousy about the conduct of his female fans.
He used to collect the underwear women threw on stage, but says: “It’s not so much knickers these days as hotel keys.”