Humperdinck says fans still throw panties at him

Singer Englebert Humperdinck. Picture / Paul Estcourt

LOS ANGELES - British crooner Engelbert Humperdinck says he was inspired by Elvis, lucky to have a wife who did not mind women throwing panties at him, and once fired a manager who made him second fiddle to rival Tom Jones.

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of Humperdinck's first hit international single, Release Me, and the Indian-born British singer is about to issue a new live CD and DVD titled "Totally Amazing" and an autobiography, "What's in a Name."

But despite selling about 150 million records and performing to sell-out audiences for nearly four decades, Humperdinck, 70, still sits uneasy with his popularity.

"I have dreams where everything will disappear or go away, so I'm always working harder each year," he told Reuters in a recent interview.

For while Humperdinck has continued to work his usual audiences, he hasn't managed to reinvent himself like Welsh singer Jones, who has collaborated with a younger generation of musicians to win over a new group of fans. Jones' 1999 "Reload" album became the biggest hit of his career.

It is hard not to compare the two singers.

Both are known for a smooth, pop style and largely female audiences who have a tendency to throw their underwear on stage during live performances.

The two men even shared the same manager, Gordon Mills, for a short time, until Humperdinck dumped him, fearing he was being given second place to Jones.

"I left Gordon in 1976 because I felt he was partial to Tom and thus holding me back. I believe Tom Jones is one of the world's greatest singers and performers, but I know he wouldn't want to be No. 2 in his management firm if the positions were reversed!" he said.

Working on his 77th album

Sitting in his Beverly Hills home in a room with enough gold records to fill the teeth of all Johnny Depp's gang of pirates, the super-fit-looking crooner doesn't hesitate to reflect on his lengthy success.

"The reason I haven't been released from this musical career is I'm always doing new things creatively. This year I performed two sold-out concerts in Moscow even though few people in the audience appeared to speak English.

"I've always believed applause is food for an artist. My fans have supported me in concerts around the world regardless of how well my current album was selling."

He said he was now recording in his own house his 77th album, a tribute to British songwriters that features songs written by Sting, John Lennon, Elton John, Paul McCartney and James Blunt, among others.

"In my concerts I'm always doing new songs so someone seeing me for the first time or many times before will be pleasantly surprised and hopefully entertained," he said.

Humperdinck has been married for 42 years to Patricia, the mother of their four children who prefers to spend most of her time tending to her garden in their home in England.

"She's bright and extremely forgiving. My wife knows I still have women give me their underwear at my concerts," he said. "Name me another singer performing today besides Tom Jones who has four generations of women in his audience."

He said Elvis Presley was one of his biggest musical influences. They met many times when both were performing in Las Vegas and became good friends.

"Elvis was a true and generous gentleman, who always was warm and embraced people that he was close to. I was always impressed that Elvis would look you right in the eye when he talked to you. He was sincere in everything he asked you.

"I learned about humility, charm and how to work an audience from watching Elvis in concert. If you're going to steal - and every performer does it from someone at some time - then steal from the best, which Elvis was," he said.

- REUTERS/VNU