Most fans know Engelbert Humperdinck as the velvet-voiced crooner behind global classics like Release Me and The Last Waltz, but few are aware that he was actually the youngest child in a family of ten siblings.
Born in 1936 in Madras, British India, under the name Arnold George Dorsey, Engelbert came from humble beginnings. His father served in the British military, and his mother – of Anglo-Indian heritage – was deeply passionate about music. It was she who introduced young Arnold to the world of melodies, often encouraging him to sing around the house.
After the family moved to Leicester, England, Engelbert grew up in a tightly-knit, modest household. Despite their size, his family was known for their love and support. Among his nine older siblings, some dabbled in music or arts, but none pursued the stage like he did.
Humperdinck has occasionally mentioned that being the youngest came with its challenges – he had to “sing louder just to be heard.” He credits his siblings for instilling in him a strong sense of discipline and resilience, especially in the early days when he was singing in small pubs and clubs trying to get noticed.
Before adopting the now-famous stage name, he briefly performed under the name Gerry Dorsey, but an illness sidelined his early efforts. Upon recovery, he made the bold choice to reinvent himself as Engelbert Humperdinck, borrowing the name of a 19th-century German composer. While unusual, the name stuck—and helped him stand out in an industry where image is everything.
Though his siblings stayed out of the limelight, Humperdinck never lost touch with them. His success, he says, belongs as much to his family as to himself. “Without them,” he once said, “I wouldn’t have had the courage to become who I am.”
Behind the glitz of Las Vegas shows and gold records lies a deeply rooted family story—of heritage, struggle, and one youngest son who dared to dream bigger than anyone expected.