Americans discovered Engelbert Humperdinck in 1967 when Parrot Records released “Release Me,” a bittersweet request from the singer to someone he no longer loves to “please release me, let me go.” The song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts and was the start of a career that is continuing more than 50 years later.
The possibility that Hurricane Lane might devastate Honolulu didn’t keep Humperdinck, 82, from appearing as promised for two shows at the Hawaii Theatre in August. The shows were filmed for a PBS holiday special, “Engelbert Humperdinck in Hawaii,” which premieres at 7 p.m. Saturday on PBS Hawaii.
Going back to the beginning, did you expect “Release Me” was going to be a hit?
You expect things to happen, but (“Release Me”) sat down for three months on a shelf and it didn’t move. Then all of a sudden my manager got a phone call to say, “Is he available to do (TV show) ‘Sunday Night at the London Palladium?’ ” I sang “Release Me,” and the next day — bingo! Can you believe what that song did for me? It gave me a global career.
How did you meet Elvis Presley?
He came to see my show at the Riviera (in Las Vegas) and he came in done up to the nines — he was wearing his cape and everything. Of course I found out he was in (the room) and I was very nervous. I introduced him, he stood up on the table and opened his cape, and the audience went berserk for 10 minutes. I’m not joking. He stopped the show for 10 minutes! But afterward we became great friends. He taught me stagecraft, humility and not to take yourself too seriously.
What can you tell me about the show we’re going to see on PBS Hawaii?
I’ll be singing the standards that people expect me to sing and songs from my new pop album, “The Man I Want to Be.” There’s a song (on the album) written by Bruno Mars, “Just the Way You Are.” I’ve given it a different treatment altogether than he does — nobody can sing it like he does — but I’ve given it a different format, it’s more romantic and a little bit slower.
It is true that Bruno performed for you when he was the world’s youngest Elvis?
Yes it is. Many years ago my fan club had a party here for me and the entertainment was a little 5-year-old boy — Bruno. I said to him then, “Young man, you are going to be a big star” — well, he’s not a big star, he’s a megastar.
You mentioned learning some stagecraft from Elvis. Are there other entertainers who influenced you?
I learned a lot from watching Ray Charles, and Dean Martin. Dean was one of my favorite entertainers. He was another guy who never took himself too seriously.
What else are you doing these days?
I’m making albums — I’m very proud of my new Christmas album, “Warmest Christmas Wishes.” It’s a good album. And I try to stay with my wife as much as possible. She’s not well but she’s making some progress.
Have you ever met any descendants of the other Engelbert Humperdinck — the 19th–century German composer?
No, but I was asked the other day if I wrote (the 19th-century Humperdinck opera) “Hansel und Gretel.” I said, “Are you crazy? You’re talking about something that was written in 1893.”
