At 90 years old, Engelbert Humperdinck, known as the “King of Romance,” attributes his sustained vitality and fitness to an unconventional workout routine: performing martial arts moves underwater in a swimming pool. Humperdinck shared details of his regimen on “The Jim Masters Show,” explaining that the resistance of the water enhances the effectiveness of his exercises.
“I walk out in the pool all the day,” he told the host. “I do all my martial art moves in the pool underwater, which makes it even more effective. … And that’s how I stay alive and keep going and keep myself as fit as possible so that the audience can see me in a respectable way.”
This unique approach to fitness appears to be effective. The singer continues to maintain a busy performance schedule, with concert dates planned through 2027 internationally. He is also preparing to release a new album titled “Faithfully” on August 28. The album features Humperdinck's interpretations of songs by artists such as Journey, The Cars, KISS, and Aerosmith, with contributions from several guest musicians.
Meanwhile, a decades-old song has helped Humperdinck connect with a younger audience. His 1968 track “A Man Without Love” was featured in two episodes of Marvel Studios' “Moon Knight.”
“Since ‘Man Without Love,’ it’s triggered something off,” Humperdinck said. “And it’s so nice. It’s so nice to know that people are now not worried about an age. They’re worried about the music, and that’s all that counts as far as I’m concerned. But I try to stay as young as possible all the time.”
While Humperdinck’s love songs continue to resonate, they have taken on a deeper emotional significance since the death of his wife, Patricia, in 2021. She passed away at age 85 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and a COVID-19 diagnosis. The couple married in 1964 and were together for 57 years.
Humperdinck described his late wife as the “backbone” of his life, noting her instrumental role in his early career and in raising their children while he was frequently away for work. Despite the bittersweet nature of performing his ballads now, he finds profound joy in connecting with audiences.
“There’s no better feeling. There’s no better feeling than walking on stage,” he said. “I call myself a thespian of song. So when I’m singing, I act a part. It’s not acting really, it’s reality coming through. But I give my all and I read the lyrics a little differently now, especially since I lost my wife. And it comes out more sincere.”
He views his role as a ballad singer as a way to touch hearts and bring people together. “There’s nothing like a good romantic ballad to touch the heart. And it puts people together. … I feel responsible for putting people together,” Humperdinck stated.
Looking ahead, Humperdinck hopes his music will leave a lasting legacy of connection. “My legacy is my music, and music is timeless,” he said. “And I listen to the radio and I watch on my phone, and I see the people in the past who have had massive, massive hits, and they’re still being viewed by the living. And that’s just wonderful. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave behind. I want to leave a good taste in my career behind.”