SALLY MORRIS: A ROCKY TRUE LOVE STORY
It’s Valentine’s Day today. I hope everyone will celebrate it in some way with someone they love. I suggested to a friend whose mom stays in most of the time these days to take her out to a beautiful garden center, look at the flowers, listen to the birds, hear the soft sounds of a fountain or waterfall. I’ve done this for my granny years ago. It was Mothers’ Day that time, but it was like a breath of blessed summer! And I said to buy her a plant. Even when you don’t want to go out to dinner you can go out just to look at something beautiful. So don’t miss an opportunity for some happiness.
Today my thoughts are with the great singing sensation of the 60’s and 70’s - the famous Arnold George Dorsey. Don’t know him? Sorry - Engelbert Humperdinck. Engelbert shot to “overnight” stardom in 1967 with two back-to-back hits: “Release Me” and “The Last Waltz”. Of course there is no such thing as “overnight” success. Engelbert’s story begins in Madras, India,, where he was born, the son of a British officer, in 1936. His family left India and returned to their native Leicester, England, which young Arnold had never seen before, in 1947, upon India’s independence. His memories are of the brilliant colors and the luxurious life of the British in India. He was eleven when he left India. After his father’s death he made a return trip to the land of his birth. His father claimed Welsh ancestry, so Arnold’s singing talent is entirely logical.
He began showing an acute interest in music very early, his first ambition was to be a bandleader - his ideal was Tommy Dorsey (no relation). His sister bought him a saxophone and he learned to play, eventually became a member of a band. He also had a talent for doing impressions and his Jerry Lewis take-off earned him the nickname “Gerry Dorsey”, which, for a time, was his stage name. One night there was a singing contest and he was persuaded to enter. The rest should have been history but it wasn’t. First he was drafted into the British army. He served in Germany in the mid-fifties. When he was discharged in 1958 he recorded “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” with Decca. It wasn’t a great success on the market. He continued performing in nightclubs - many of them fairly rowdy working men’s clubs.
Then, on the verge of career opportunities he had long worked for, he became gravely ill. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis (interestingly, rival Tom Jones also had a bad bout with TB). He did not even realize how sick he was until later, after he recovered. His family had been told he would not survive and had summoned a priest to give him last rites. (Engelbert was raised and remains a devout Catholic). It was a difficult road back to where he had left off. He recalled fearing he would have a relapse on one occasion. John Barry (later known as a composer of film scores) had a rock group and Engelbert was to audition. Barry told him to get some arrangements of what he wanted to sing. He went to the best arranger he knew and paid him to arrange some songs and when Barry saw who had done the work he threw them - scattering them all over the floor. There had been a feud between the two of them, unknown to Engelbert. As he scrambled around picking up the scattered pages of music he felt on the verge of relapse. His illness had already cost him almost tw a years.
In 1965 he made two fateful decisions - he married the love of his life, Patricia Healey and he teamed up with his former roommate, Gordon Mills. Mills was already managing the sensation Tom Jones. Mills suggested he change his name from Gerry Dorsey to Engelbert Humperdinck (after the 19th Century German composer of the opera Hansel and Gretel). In 1966 he represented Britain in an international competition. His entry, “Dommage, Dommage” was a hit in Europe, although it made little dent in the British market.
He visited Bert Kaempfert in Spain, who offered him several songs - “Spanish Eyes”, and “Strangers in the Night” among them. He requested to record “Strangers in the Night” but was turned down because Sinatra had requested it also. Then he heard “Release Me” as an instrumental and fell in love with the melody. He managed to get the lyrics and recorded it in 1967. It was a sensational hit - Number One in Britain and in the Top Ten in America. His soaring, powerful, rich baritone was entrancing, exciting.
He struggled to catch up to the sudden fame. He and Patricia and their baby daughter were living in a flat above a furniture store. They had no furniture. Suddenly the media wanted to interview the new “overnight” star in his home. Engelbert was at first alarmed. He couldn’t allow the world to see where and how he lived! It would ruin his image before he got started. Then he got creative. He negotiated with the furniture store downstairs to rent him some furniture just for the day. It had to be returned by 6:00 pm. And the world got to know Engelbert Humperdinck.
Hit followed hit. He was offered a weekly television show (this is where I first became acquainted with his music). He was a hit in Las Vegas where he met one of his own idols, Elvis Presley. Elvis suggested to him that he work on his “moves”. Engelbert was a little “wooden” on stage. He took the suggestion to heart. Elvis, he said, “stole” the sideburns. (This is somewhat in dispute!) The two singers became friends and admirers of each other’s work.
Over the next few years he rode the crest of fame. In 1976, as his star began to slightly fade another hit came along: “After the Lovin’”. His career was recharged once more. Through the years of constant touring, with Patricia at home raising their children (now there were four), he began to cheat on her. Young women were throwing their hotel keys at him. He often weakened. Years later he repented his faithlessness during those years. He realized he had often broken Patricia’s heart. She remained his one true love and he was remorseful.
In recent years, Patricia had suffered from Alzheimers. She became the focus of his life; he curtailed his tours, although he has continued to perform and record all along. He is now 84. He procured professional help to care for her at home and began searching for cures for this tragic condition, taking heart on those occasions when she spoke his name and recognized him. He spoke candidly about their struggles publicly to encourage others who were challenged with this. Sadly, earlier this month Patricia died. They had both been diagnosed with COVID. Engelbert posted a heartbreakingly desperate call for prayers and any help he might find for her. Very soon after this she passed away surrounded by her family - Engelbert and three of their children in person and one on Skype - given the last rites by a nephew, Father Paul, anointed with holy water from Lourdes.
Engelbert now begins a new chapter. What it will bring no one knows. So far his life has been full of failure and success, love and heartbreak. His fans have remained totally loyal to Engelbert and his family over the decades. He has cultivated his fan clubs, showing interest in his fans as well. Every week he has been posting “covid-era” videos from his home in Leicester.
He posted this message to fans regarding the loss of his wife:
It has been a story of true love, with all of the rocky pathways, the incredible highs, the tragic lows, but an undercurrent of undying love and renewed commitment over the years. Their love lasted over 50 years. So this Valentine’s Day post is a tribute to Patricia Healey Dorsey and Engelbert Humperdinck, their adventures, their family, their love through it all.
Here is Engelbert last New Years’, recounting cherished memories of family celebrations in Austria: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=engelbert+humperdinck+new+years+eve&docid=608046286052461378&mid=EB3F6C492DF857AB8BB7EB3F6C492DF857AB8BB7&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Some great moments in Englebert’s career:
Spanish Eyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X0U9ssKvRs
Quando Quando, Quando?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=128LI6_4L-s
A famous trio - back when we and they were all very young: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yw6ma3fjaU
Il Mondo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdJnOug8iZc
A medley of Engelbert’s hits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlJbHQ8lhgc
I Know That We Have Loved Before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nqvEz-H3sc
I hope that if you are a fan that this has brought back some good memories. If you are too young or somehow missed out, I hope you enjoy the discovery of an immensely talented performer and musician. And I hope your prayers go out to Engelbert and his family this Valentine’s Day.
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