Engelbert Humperdinck, the balladeer, the showman, gives a marvelous concert on this one off DVD titled ‘Engelbert Live’ at the Forum in Los Angeles. The almost packed arena was held spellbound by Engelbert’s true showmanship laced with humor that went down well with the gramophone playing old foggies, as well as the mobile phone generation present. He regales all in his honeyed, mellow voice to hits such as the unforgettable song that started it all – Release me, Quando, Quando, Quando to covers like Love is a many splendored thing, Can’t take my eyes off you, (Sittin on) The Dock of the Bay, Secret Love, Unchained Melody and a few others from his many albums like Stranger in Paradise, the funky Nothin a little love won’t cure, The Shadow of your smile all this backed by a 54 piece band which included his longtime friend and conductor of three decades, Jeff Stooges. Don’t miss the spellbinding duet with Michealla one of his three female backup singers on When I fall in love or even the acapella Yours. He brings the finale of his two hour concert with a soul stirring English version of ‘Ave Maria’ amidst a standing ovation.

The DVD also includes a half hour never before peep into Engelbert’s majestic home in Leicester, going into an interview on his beginning in showbiz to his most recent concert. Engelbert speaks on the people he has met in his life from Sammy Davies to Elvis Presley. Listen carefully on what he has to say on those famous side locks. The snapshots include his recording at the studio with Jeff Stooges and reactions from the producers and Michealla. There is also some never before galaxy of photos for your collection.

The DVD is set in three sound formats. The normal Dolby Digital 2.1 channel, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS. Take your pick and enjoy. Highly recommended is the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround that captures the singer in his element, his soaring voice overpowering you all around.

Going by his real desire, Engelbert Humperdinck never wanted to be a singer. A career in music, yes, but he was extraordinarily shy. The youngest boy of a family of ten children originally from Leicester, Engelbert grew up in Madras, India where his father was stationed during World War II. He entered the world as Arnold George Dorsey. At the age of 11, he started studying music and playing the saxophone. When he was seventeen, he found himself playing at a pub that sponsored a singing contest. He put down his sax and for the first time revealed another vocal talent: impersonations. He gave the world’s finest impersonation of Jerry Lewis - and was quickly dubbed Gerry Dorsey. It soon became his professional stage name and was very popular on the UK music circuit and in 1959 he released a single called Crazybells/ Mister Music Man. However he contracted tuberculosis which silenced him for six months and nearly snuffed out his rising music career for good. Upon regaining his health, he made a comeback as a strong, dynamic performer. A former manager suggested the new name Engelbert Humperdinck, taken from the Austrian composer who wrote "Hansel and Gretel". Thus was born the soon-to-be legend, Engelbert Humperdinck.

The all new Engelbert exploded onto the music scene in the Sixties with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Tom Jones. The shy handsome boy catapulted almost instantly to world icon status when his first single Release Me stayed at the No 1 spot for a record 56 consecutive weeks and also raced into the Guinness Book of Records. It was also No 1 in 11 countries.

In a career spanning 35 years Engelbert has generated sales in excess of 130 million records, including 64 gold albums and 24 platinum, four Grammies, a Golden Globe and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has performed for the Queen, several presidents and many Heads of States.

The following decades saw Engelbert touring the world to sell out crowds. Over recent years the life of this living legend has by no means slowed down. In 2004, he published his first autobiography, “Engelbert: What’s in a name?” which takes the unprecedented step of letting his wife Patricia write a chapter about what it’s like being married to a living legend.

For fans of Engelbert here’s one collection you just cannot afford to give a miss.

– Reviewed by Verus Ferreira.