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| ‘Quando,
quando’, he’ll finally be here! His record speaks for itself: more than 150 million records sold worldwide including 64 gold and 23 platinum, four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And now, it's Colombo's turn to savour this extraordinary phenomenon! Yes, Engelbert is finally making it to town, with his 10-piece band and two back-up singers. His one-off concert, presented by International Creative Management - a powerhouse in the industry - and heavyweight London-based promoter, Colin Davie will be on June 11 at Water's Edge. Colombo has had its share of superstars visiting our shores in recent years from Shaggy to Bryan Adams, the bands Air Supply and Michael Learns to Rock and Bollywood's biggest heart-throb Shahrukh Khan. So how will the 69-year-old star dazzle audiences? Engelbert's titillating two-hour song and dance routine - a typical Las Vegas-styled show - is brilliantly choreographed and delivered to smooth perfection, despite him being a little restrained by a back ailment he's carried for quite awhile. Yet, there's no hint of that unique voice showing any loss of quality or timbre, as he artfully works his way through the hits that have made him a household name across this world. Engelbert also loves putting his own touch to contemporary hits from the likes of Robbie Williams, Bryan Adams and Celine Dion, to name a few. Engelbert's latest month-long Asian tour takes in three concerts in India (New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore), two each in Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai, and one in Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Hong Kong, Tokyo and, of course, Colombo. Born Arnold George Dorsey in Chennai/Madras, Enge, as he is affectionately known among his millions of fans, didn't envision earning a living as a singer. "I've always enjoyed singing, like all of us, but to be considered among names like (Nat) King Cole, (Frank) Sinatra, Perry Como and the likes is a totally different situation . . . far beyond comprehension,'' I remember him telling me before he hit the stage at Sydney's Star City casino, just before Christmas last year. With science and engineering his focus of attention, the young man and his saxophone were also inseparable. And, it was his sax thattook him to the various clubs and pubs spread across Northern England until a bout of tuberculosis changed his life forever. Dorsey then tried out his vocal cords and met with moderate success until he ran into an astute agent, named Gordon Mills. Mills, who also happened to have the relatively unknown Tom Jones and Gilbert O' Sullivan in his stable, suggested a name-change; the outrageously long name of Engelbert Humperdinck, A German composer, known for his opera Hansel & Gretel. Mills it was who also egged Engelbert to have a go at an old, forgotten country song from the '50s. The rest, as they say, is history. Few of his fans are aware that within a week of its release, Release Me knocked the Beatles' Penny Lane from the top of the charts in April 1967. And not many are also aware that it was Engelbert and not Presley, who made the leather jumpsuit a fashionable item on stage."He stole my costume!" complained Engelbert jokingly at the time; the two often sang one another's songs and enjoyed a very close friendship until Presley's untimely demise in August 1977. A prolific traveller, he fits in more than 130 concerts around the world each year. This weekend fans in the Canadian cities of Montreal and Ontario will see him in three concerts. Engelbert constantly changes his show to suit the audiences, often bringing in songs from a variety of genres. It's far too early to know his repertoire for the night of June 11 but, he never fails to include his signature tune with his other major hits strung into a tight, but lively and memorable medley. Another highlight of an Engelbert performance is his impersonations of some of his peers_ his long-time friend Tom Jones, along with some amore for Julio Iglesias and Dean Martin. Jerry Lee Lewis, too, gets a dose of the Engelbert magic, depending on the night, with the piano man on record as having said that Engelbert's mimics are the best he's ever seen.Under the guidance of his eldest son, Scott, who also doubled up as his manager until a few weeks ago, Engelbert has also ventured into the worlds of country, disco and latin and even Gospel. The album Vie Dance Album, released by the red-hot dance label Interhit Records, featured newly recorded dance versions of six of his greatest hits, along with five original songs. Favourites such as Quando, Quando, Quando and Release Me were set to an infectious dance beat and enjoyed tremendous success, with Release Me hitting the Top Ten in the Billboard Dance charts! Engelbert who dominated the airwaves of Sri Lanka's only radio station, in the late '60s, '70s and '80s, isn't put off by the lack of chart success over the past 30 years. "I take a great delight in putting together a few of my favourite songs on an album. I then put it out on the market and what happens thereafter is anyone's guess. No artiste has ever had any control of what happens after the release of an album," he confided, as we enjoyed a cuppa that day in Sydney. "If it works, it's fine, and if it doesn't, you just move on to the next project!. But I've been a very lucky man, and this opportunity to travel the world as regularly as I do, is still a dream for me,” he said. According to Ms Tina Hirsh, chief executive at Humperdinck headquarters, Engelbert's 38-year career has taken him to more than 60 countries, and now it's Colombo's turn. An evening with Engelbert Humperdinck is simply an enchanting experience. I know it, because I've been there! |
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