He’s one of the most enduring figures in pop music. With a voice and suaveness as memorable as his stage name, Engelbert Humperdinck has been entrancing audiences for more than half a century.

Born Arnold George Dorsey, he joined forces with manager Gordon Mills (who also launched the career of Tom Jones) in 1965. Mills suggested using the monicker Engelbert Humperdinck, the name of the 19th century composer of the “Hansel and Gretel” opera. Soon the crooner was gaining attention.

In 1967, Humperdinck shot to stardom with “Release Me.” Many more hits followed, including “The Last Waltz,” “There Goes My Everything,” “Am I That Easy to Forget,” “I’m a Better Man (For Having Loved You),” “Winter World of Love” and “After The Lovin’”.

He also enjoyed great popularity on television variety shows. In addition, Humperdinck acted on episodes of such series as “The Love Boat,” “Hotel,” “Fantasy Island” and “The Jeffersons.”

Humperdinck and his wife Patricia have been married since 1964. They have four children. In 2017, the singer revealed that his wife had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for a decade.

In 2018, at age 81, Humperdinck continues to tour. His smooth vocals still delight, as on his latest album, “The Man I Want to Be.”

Below is our 1993 interview with Humperdinck, focusing on his relationship with his legion of loyal fans.

POP CULTURE CLASSICS:
When people see you in concert for the first time, are they surprised by what a consummate entertainer you are — yodeling, dancing, doing impressions?

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK:
[Chuckles] I just do that for kicks, not to be a trademark of mine. My real business, of course, is singing. The other, I just do for a bit of fun.

PCC:
And the fans that come back show after show, are you surprised by their devotion? There’s a real passion about their commitment.

HUMPERDINCK:
Yeah, well, you know I have a very big following, about 250 chapters of our fan clubs. And everywhere I go, they decorate my dressing rooms and they meet me at the airports and all kinds of things. And they’re very, very devoted to me. They support me a great deal.

PCC:
Is that purely a positive thing? Or does the fervent attention ever get to be an annoyance?

HUMPERDINCK:
No, it is never an annoyance. It’s always positive. I think it’s great to have a battalion of people who support you to that extent. And if anybody says anything derogatory about me [laughs], they go after them.

PCC:
How did this tradition of decorating the dressing rooms start?

HUMPERDINCK:
It started when I first came to America, way back in ’67. And then it just escalated round the world. It even happens in Europe now. In Germany, Belgium, France, Australia — everywhere we go.

PCC:
And is it different each time? What sorts of things have they done?

HUMPERDINCK:
Well, they make it look like it’s lived in. It’s full of flowers, number one. And then they put banners up on the walls. And the name of the club. And pictures that were taken or them in past performances — they duplicate them and put them on the walls, so that I can remember whatever happened. It’s very nice.

PCC:
So does that kind of make you feel at home, wherever you go?

HUMPERDINCK:
Yeah, I guess that’s their idea.

PCC:
Have you ever gotten to be on a really friendly basis with any of the fans? I’m sure they can never get close enough, as far as they’re concerned.

HUMPERDINCK:
No, but I know them and I recognize them by name. I think this is what keeps it on such a loyal basis, because I do recognize them.

PCC:
As far as the reaction from those in the audience, do you still get lingerie thrown to the stage, that sort of extreme behavior?

HUMPERDINCK:
[Laughs] Yeah, those things happen now and again.

PCC:
Is that sort of reaction a source of amusement for you? Or do you wish that didn’t happen.

HUMPERDINCK:
Well, it’s fine. Sometimes, when they throw the panties at me, it used to upset me, because it’s such a waste — none of them fit [laughs]. But no, it doesn’t bother me. I get the flowers and the hotel keys and all that business.

PCC:
The whole “King of Romance” image, is that something you can cultivate and accentuate? Or is it a thing that naturally evolved for you?

HUMPERDINCK:
It just naturally evolved, I think. And the people who gave me that title were the fans themselves. It wasn’t done by my PR or anything like that. It was done by the fans. They created the whole thing. I mean, there’s only been two sort of — there’s been the King of Rock ’n’ Roll and the King of Romance. I’ve never heard of anyone else being called a king in the business. So it’s quite an honor.

PCC:
Isn’t it difficult to live up to? Don’t you find yourself constantly trying to project that image?

HUMPERDINCK:
No, I don’t think so. The way I am is the way they accept me. And they accept anything I do. Like, for instance, I used to have those long sideburns… and when I cut them off, they went crazy. Then I grew a mustache, they went crazy. But then they get to like it after a while. Now I’ve got a beard. I grew the beard mainly to do that movie in Russia. I played a part in a movie in Russia. That was about a month ago.

PCC:
What do you play in the film?

HUMPERDINCK:
I played a sultan. It’s an all-musical movie with the Bolshoi Ballet. And I played a sultan in it. I sang in it, obviously. And your daughter, is she one of the leads in it?

HUMPERDINCK:
Yes, she plays Scheherazade.

PCC:
Was it difficult filming in Russia? Any surprises there?

HUMPERDINCK:
Quite a lot of surprises. We were out in a place called Samarkand. And well, it was out there. It’s not like Moscow or Leningrad or Kiev, the beautiful places. It was way out. It was really a bit primitive in a lot of ways.

PCC:
Were you known there?

HUMPERDINCK:
Oh, yeah, I’m known in Russia. I think that, even earlier, my records were available on some sort of pirate label.

PCC:
Would you like to veer more in the direction of films?

HUMPERDINCK:
Movies are definitely something I want to get into, yeah. But not playing cameo roles, as I have been. I want to do something serious, which I probably will be doing very shortly.

PCC:
So are you studying to that end?

HUMPERDINCK:
Oh, I have studied acting, yeah. I have. I don’t think I need to study every day for it, because I think, when a part comes along, you just get a coach and you work with him every day. That’s what I do — whenever I get a part, I just get a coach and work with him, on set.

PCC:
And some of the things you’ve learned as a stage performer, will they stand you in good stead as a film actor, do you think?

HUMPERDINCK:
Oh, without a doubt. I don’t think many actors enjoy people in the music world entering their world, because it is a threat to them, obviously. But people have found out that we’re not just performers on stage. We have proved ourselves as actors and actresses, like Cher has. She really has proven herself to be a brilliant actress. Not many singers break through that field, but when they do, they take over.

I know I can act. I’m not being conceited. I’m just confident that I can make a go of it.

PCC:
Any particular kind of roles you see yourself in? Do you want to capitalize on the romantic image?

HUMPERDINCK:
Not really. Anything. I wouldn’t mind playing a villain [laughs], if the part is right.

PCC:
As far as records and radio, have tastes changed to the degree where it’s difficult to get new product to succeed?

HUMPERDINCK:
My last three albums went to number one in Europe. One of them, “Remember I Love You,” will be released in the U.S. I think, my past management didn’t allow my recording career to be kept up in this country as much as it should have been. And so I remained silent for a few years. But doesn’t stop my business. I’ve still been a box office person, you know?

Radio still plays the stuff from the past. I’m grateful that they’re playing it, but I wish we could get something new in.

PCC:
It seems like, when you broke through in the 60s, there was much more diversity on the charts — almost any type of music could become a hit.

HUMPERDINCK:
Yeah, well, my music today is very contemporary. My act is very high energy and very, very contemporary. I record very up-to-date, contemporary music. I record the songs of the best songwriters in the world.

PCC:
Do you sit down and analyze the contemporary music scene, see what’s working and what’s isn’t, and try to figure out what’s going to work for you?

HUMPERDINCK:
Yeah, that’s we do. I think my next album in this country will feature several songs that I’ve written. I’ve been working on that very persistently lately.

PCC:
Is songwriting new for you?

HUMPERDINCK:
It is new. I didn’t bother with it before, because I always let my music be written by other people. But I’ve just gotten a bit inspired and I started to write again. So I’m going to use some of my stuff this time.

PCC:
Did you just find yourself with free time and let the muse come through?

HUMPERDINCK:
My free time comes when I’ve finished work at night and I’m sitting up in the suite. Actually I’m in Vegas right now. I’m up in the Hilton Hotel, in the Elvis Suite. And I have a grand piano over here. And after the show sometimes, I sit down by myself and compose.

PCC:
I would think, if anything were to be inspiring, it would be the Elvis Suite.

HUMPERDINCK:
[Laughs] Yeah.

PCC:
You have four children?

HUMPERDINCK:
Yes, their ages go from 24, 23, 21 and 15.

PCC:
How many are involved in show business at this point?

HUMPERDINCK:
At this point, two. My daughter [Louise Dorsey, who provided the voice of Jetta on the 80s animated rock music series “Jem”] is an actress, as you know. She’s in this movie. And my son who’s 21, Scott, he’s singing now. He’s dueting with her, as well, on an album. [In 2010, Scott took over the handling of Humperdinck’s international touring.] And Jason hasn’t made up his mind yet, what he wants to do. And the other son’s in school. [That’s Bradley, who recently sang a duet of Cat Stevens’ “Father and Son” with his dad, on the 2014 “Engelbert Calling” album. Louise duets with her father on “Better,” from the same album.]

PCC:
Did you have much advice for them, as far as performing goes?

HUMPERDINCK:
Well, they’re doing it mostly themselves. I do advise them to a certain extent, but I think they just want to do it themselves, not be guided by daddy.

PCC:
Do you have any trepidation about them going into it?

HUMPERDINCK:
Not at all. No. It is a rough field. But I’ve had a lot of satisfaction out of my career. It’s been very rewarding in many ways — personally, as well as financially. And so I say, “Go ahead.”

PCC:
You’ve spoken before about predestination — how much do you attribute your success to that? Did you ever doubt that this was going to happen, to some degree, at some point?

HUMPERDINCK:
Well, I always dreamed about it. When I was a kid, I always dreamed about being somebody, a recognized person in the world. And I always said that my dreams were the blueprints of reality. I think, if you don’t dream about something, or daydream or whatever, your ideas are not placed into your heart into your head strong enough. But when you daydream about something, I think it can come true.

PCC:
And yet so many people leave it in the daydreaming state. What’s the key to pushing it into reality?

HUMPERDINCK:
Well, to be ambitious, I guess. I was very ambitious. I knocked on a lot of doors, when I was first beginning in my career. And I have a saying — “The first condition of communication is a willingness to take rejection.” And I’ve been rejected many times. But I’ve always just kept on going, being persistent. And eventually a door opened.

PCC:
You’re working on your autobiography? [“Engelbert — What’s in a Name: The Autobiography” was published in 2005]

HUMPERDINCK:
Yeah. It’s going to be done with taste, with humor and fact. I’m going to speak my mind… but I won’t hurt anybody… other than my wife and myself.

PCC:
How will it hurt your wife and yourself?

HUMPERDINCK:
I’ve been written up with adverse publicity. And I aim to straighten all this out. It will hurt a little bit… but we’re still together.

PCC:
And what has made that endure? Is it an unconventional approach to marriage?

HUMPERDINCK:
Everybody has turbulence in their lives. I’ve had it. And all you have to do is work it out. You take the rough with the smooth. No ocean is smooth all the time.

PCC:
How has your wife managed to accept all the attention from the female fans?

HUMPERDINCK:
Oh, she’s grown up with it. She’s used to it. It doesn’t really bother her. And the fans are very respectful to her, whenever they see her.

PCC:
Have you set any long-range goals? Or are you taking it one project at a time now?

HUMPERDINCK:
Well, my year is jammed full of dates. I have very little time to do anything else. If a movie comes along, then we have clauses in contracts to drop out of live shows. But in the meantime, I’m booked up. I finish here in Vegas, then do “The Pat Sajak Show” and then after that I go out on one-night stands. I’d like to do one movie a year, but still carrying on doing what I dearly love to do — and that’s to give a live performance.

For the latest news and concert dates, visit www.engelbert.com