Engelbert Humperdinck

Born Arnold George Dorsey in 1936, Engelbert Humperdinck took his stage name from a German opera composer. A talent scout suggested it, noticing something in his voice. In the mid-1960s, his career shifted with 'Release Me,' a melancholic ballad that found an international audience. That success was followed by songs like 'Spanish Eyes,' which became one of his most recognizable tunes.

His style, both vocal and sartorial, was distinct and drew attention, not all of it positive. There was a legal dispute over music rights in the 1980s. He kept recording and touring through it, building a catalog that eventually included dozens of studio albums. The voice itself, capable of both passion and a softer tenderness, remained the constant.