Bill Strasburg – The Man Behind the Curtain and Engelbert’s Emotional Goodbye
This past Sunday in Los Angeles felt like the right moment to say farewell to someone few fans saw, but everyone behind the scenes cherished: Bill Strasburg, Engelbert Humperdinck’s longtime assistant and friend.
On Friday the 12th, Bill passed away just one day before what would have been his 75th birthday. His death left a silence that echoed louder than applause. In Engelbert’s own words: “God called to Heaven one of the most beloved members of the EHO family.”
More Than a Road Manager
Bill wasn’t just a backstage assistant — he was a true partner in every step of Engelbert’s career. For over 45 years, he was the man who carried the weight of tours, handled all the chaos, and still found time to make others laugh.
Often dressed in black and wearing the same pair of shoes — perhaps more for sentiment than style — Bill had a way of making every relationship matter. Engelbert recalled how Bill kept the same shoes just so he could keep visiting his shoemaker friend, someone who had become part of his life story.
From hotel clerks to dry cleaners, stagehands to fans — Bill formed bonds. Not digital ones marked by “likes,” but personal ones that lingered long after the curtain dropped.
Always There — Even When No One Was Looking
Bill was always the first to arrive and the last to sleep. He overpacked, yes — but always had what everyone needed. He stayed late not out of obligation but out of heart. He helped with crossword puzzles, brought snacks, offered quiet reassurances.
His loyalty wasn’t loud. It was consistent.
Quiet Legacy, Loud Impact
For fans, Bill might have been a name mentioned rarely — but for those backstage, he was a legend. Engelbert admitted: “The more I write, the more I want to write — but I want others to share their memories too.”
And memories came flooding in — about the man who always remembered birthdays, who lifted spirits after tough shows, who never complained no matter how long the road was.
A Birthday in Heaven
Bill passed away just before turning 75. Engelbert shared birthday wishes to him anyway, imagining that Bill is now backstage at the greatest concert in the sky — with friends, family, and old road companions, smiling as always.
His shoes may be empty now, but the path he helped carve remains — in stories, in laughter, in every well-lit stage Engelbert will walk onto next.