The Shy Boy Who Became a Pop Star: An Untold Story of Engelbert Humperdinck
Before the world knew him as Engelbert Humperdinck – the velvet-voiced balladeer behind “Release Me” and “The Last Waltz” – he was Arnold George Dorsey, a quiet, soft-spoken boy raised in a large family in Leicester, England.
Born in Madras (now Chennai), India, in 1936 to a British Army officer and his wife, Arnold’s early life was marked by movement, modesty, and music. One of ten children, he found himself lost in the crowd – the “quiet one” with a stammer that made school and socializing difficult.
But music, especially the saxophone, gave him a voice when words failed. It wasn’t until his late teens – and with the encouragement of friends in a pub – that he dared to sing publicly. That single performance changed his life.
Despite a slow and often discouraging start in the music industry under his real name, Arnold’s career took a dramatic turn in the mid-1960s when he adopted the stage name Engelbert Humperdinck – borrowed from the 19th-century German composer. What seemed a strange choice at the time became a memorable identity.
In 1967, his breakthrough came with “Release Me”, which famously kept The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” off the number one spot on the UK charts. From there, the shy boy had officially become an international sensation.
Engelbert’s story is not just one of fame – it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the quiet strength that turns introversion into artistry. His elegance on stage and tenderness in song masked a man who had once struggled simply to speak in class.
For fans who have followed his journey through decades of music, this chapter – the one before the spotlight – may be the most inspiring of all.