Engelbert- What's In a Name: The Autobiography

Anyone who knows me I am a great fan of Englebert Humperdinck who has a permanent residence on my office walls. His songs are all "Mesmerizing" and offer fulfillment to anyone lucky enough to hear them. In reading Englebert, What's In A Name? He grew up a shy boy who slept with his teeth pressed against his knuckles, trying to push his teeth back. With full lips that he referred in the book as Car-bumper big, I laughed so hard. In actuality, Englebert Humperdinck is one of the best-looking entertainers there ever was. The ninth of ten children, Englebert grew up in Madras India and wanted to be a band leader. He was a womanizer even when he was in the service. Suddenly, one day he grew into his looks, so even when he and Patricia were show more married, they were poor. However Engle was so good-looking grocery store clerks would give the poor couple free food because Englebert was so good-looking she couldn't help herself. I loved hearing how Engle and Patricia met. She died this year after 56-years of marriage. Patricia's first impression of her husband: "He's a handsome, swarthy, well-tanned fella," she told them, "who looks smashing in his white suit - and he has a great smile-but there's something odd about him," she finished. In case anyone wants to know, Patricia sent Engle packing after he cheated. It was not easy for Engle to get her back and when they got back together, he cheated again. I loved this book and I tell you I was thrilled to learn that my favorite singer's career kicked off on the Ed Sullivan Show. The saddest part of the book was how hard Patricia fought to allow Englebert to be the entertainer. When news was coming out about his affairs with other women, Englebert called Patricia with a warning. One time Engle impregnated another woman at the same time he did his wife and the woman had her baby first. Whatever the case, you have to love this book and Patricia. There were times she'd show up unexpectedly at one of Engle's show and she had to go home because Engle had planned to be with someone else. Low and behold at the end of Patricia, who Engle called Popea's life, he was dead fast committed to his wife. When she developed Alzheimer's disease, Englebert did not short-change Patricia and he even wrote a song for her "No One Else Will Do. Overall, this book is a great, great read. It took years and years and a lot of slim pickings for Arnold George Dorsey to make it as an entertainer. I was walking down the street on a city street in Arizona when I heard "Love Me With All Your Heart" and that song made me one of Engle's biggest fan. I want to say without his wife Patricia, there'd have been no Englebert. So, glad he deferred to his wife at the end. I highly recommend this book, Engelbert What's In A Name!" show less