NEWS

Elvis Presley impersonators might just really be imitating Engelbert Humperdinck instead. Engelbert had the jump suit and sideburns first.

"I had them in 1965 and Elvis put his on in 1972,” Engelbert tells undercover.fm. “The true story is this ... he had a lady sketching him to find an outfit for him to go on his world tour. That’s where the white jump suit came in. She designed this white jumpsuit with the high collar and the long black side-burns. She presented it to him and he went (in Elvis voice) “Hell, that’s not me, that’s Engelbert Humperdinck”. So therefore you know who had it first”.

Elvis and Engelbert were great friends. “I loved the man,” he said. “The first time I met him he had come to meet me. He came to see my show first before I went to see him. Believe me, it took me a good 10 minutes to quieten the audience down once I introduced him. He stood up and he had a cape on and he opened the cape as he stood in the booth in Las Vegas with the cape open like Batman. The audience went absolutely berserk and I said “shhhh, this is my show”. No, I couldn’t quieten then down. So I brought out some of my big gun songs to try and quieten then down which I did in the end. He came backstage and he said “thank you very much, what a great show”. This is how humble he was. He said “thank you for introducing me”. Elvis! I said “Elvis, I can’t thank you enough for being at my show”. He was such a nice guy, a very nice guy.

We've started to count em, yes we have… Were counting handkerchiefs! Anyone who’s been to a concert of Engelberts knows he tosses them out like candy, well its about time we started to count. It all started in 1966 and continues today.

The red handkerchief is a signature item every fan wants. Stay tuned to find out our count. Feel free to toss in your handkerchief story in our blog. I know everyone wants to know!

James Blunt says it is an honour that the legendary Engelbert Humperdinck has covered his song ‘Goodbye My Lover’.

Engelbert’s version appears on his new studio album ‘Released’.

James found out a while back that Engelbert was performing the song and says it is a “massive honour” to have the song covered by such an icon. “For me, when I saw he was covering a song I was absolutely bowled over because he is an icon, he is a living legend,” James tells Undercover.fm. “To know that he would like and cover my song is such a massive honour. I was really touched by that. I’ll have to go and get writing”.

Engelbert is already gathering songs for his next record with contributions coming from Yusuf (Cat Stevens) and Bryan Adams. When I spoke with Engelbert a few week’s back, he raved about James Blunt saying he was a huge fan of his work and would love for James to write him a song. “We are hoping to get a James Blunt song. We have one from Bryan Adams and Yusuf (Cat Stevens),” Engelbert said.

To date, James has not written for anyone else but does not rule that out from happening in the future. “Most of the artists that I know out there write their own songs,” he says. “Of course I have been approached along the way. Often my focus has been on my own albums to this stage. I’ve done some collaborations after I’ve recorded them. I have just been a little bit to busy to churn out from other people’s perspectives but I’m sure it will be interesting to try that soon”.

Engelbert Humperdinck will receive the coveted ASYM Music Legend Award later this month in Los Angeles, the day before he leaves for his next Australian tour.

The ASYMs (American Society of Young Musicians) recognise the artists who built the foundations of the music industry.

In accepting the award Engelbert will join an elite group including Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Brian Wilson, Liza Minnelli and Madonna.

The Honorary Executive Committee for ASYM includes Christina Aguilera, James Taylor, B.B. King and Tina Turner.