When impresario, svengali, torchbearer and king-maker Gordon Mills of MAM Records “re-designed” Arnold George Dorsey (turning him into Engelbert Humperdinck) he gathered him (and his other talents: Thomas Woodward aka Tom Jones and Ray O’Sullivan aka Gilbert O’Sullivan) around him in his St George’s Hill neighborhood.

Humperdinck’s home was “Glenbrook” in Weybridge, Surrey. Other neighbours included Cliff Richard and comedian Dick Emery.

A few years after he found his success – and purchased the Surrey home – Humperdinck had to sell the home (probably worth around £10 million) – allegedly – for £50.

He blames Mills for the sudden calamity – saying that he was ripped-off by the former-manager. He has publicly stated that he always loved the Surrey home.

Another link to Surrey is through a guy named Alan Warman – he is a barber from Staines.

Warman spent much of the 1970’s working as Humperdinck’s personal hairdresser, road manager and PA … all after a chance encounter in an Ashford barber shop.

According to legend, Humperdinck became fed up with his hair stylist in 1970. He was looking around for someone new. He was taken to Ray Blowers place in Ashford and, there, he met up with Warman who was working as an apprentice.

The star was obviously impressed – because the young hairdresser was offered a contract for 13 weeks to ‘do’ the hair for a show on the BBC. This turned into a work period lasting eight years on-the-road with Engelbert.

It’s now 45 years since The Hump’s “Release Me” hit. Yet the world’s greatest balladeer is still active – and is soon to be releasing “Engelbert Calling.”

This new release was produced by Grammy award winner Martin Terefe, who is best-known for his work with Jason Mraz, James Morrison, KT Tunstall, and Mary J Blige.

“Working with Engelbert is such a truly remarkable experience,” Terefe told us.

“He is without a doubt one of the best singers around today – and brings so much other musical knowledge to the table.”

“Engelbert Calling” features over 20 tracks – all duets – with big names like Elton John, Willie Nelson, Gene Simmons, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers and many more.

For more information, please visit http://www.okgoodrecords.com.

Engelbert Humperdinck Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/OfficialEngelbertHumperdinck

@neilmach © 2014