The 21st Century
Humperdinck hit the top five of the British album charts in 2000 with Engelbert At His Very Best, and returned to the top five four years later, after he appeared in a John Smith's TV-advertisement.
In the spring of 2003 Humperdinck collaborated with Grammy Award-winning artist-producer Art Greenhaw to record the roots gospel album Always Hear the Harmony: The Gospel Sessions; joining Humperdinck on the album were The Light Crust Doughboys, The Jordanaires and the Blackwood Brothers Quartet. The critically acclaimed album was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year", while Humperdinck was photographed with generations of fans at the 2004 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, where he was an honoured Nominee guest.
In August 2005 Humperdinck auctioned his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on eBay to raise money for the County Air Ambulance in Leicestershire, where he spent much of his British youth. In September 2007 Humperdinck released The Winding Road, a tribute to British composers.
During the recording of the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach, Humperdinck was asked by Damon Albarn to perform on a selection. However, after listening to the proposed selection, his manager declined the offer without Humperdinck knowing. Humperdinck later stated in an interview that his manager declining the collaboration offer was, "the most grievous sin ever committed," and that he would have gladly collaborated with the Gorillaz if he had known they asked. He has since stated that he fired his management and now has his son as his manager. He also said at the end of the interview: "I'd really like to rekindle that suggestion again and bring it back. Hopefully they will ask me again. My son Scott will definitely say yes".
On 25 February 2009 Leicester City Council announced that Humperdinck would be given the Honorary Freedom of Leicester alongside author Sue Townsend and former professional footballer Alan Birchenall. 19 December 2009 saw Humperdinck perform at Carols in the Domain, a popular Christmas event held in Sydney, Australia. 17 October 2010 found him in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the prestigious Orchestra Hall, in a performance arranged by the booker Lilly Schwartz. In November 2010 he returned to Australia for a number of concerts, while adding a new studio album, Released, to his discography.
As of 2012, Humperdinck is reported to be working on a new studio album of duets, due to be released in 2013. Details of the collaborations have not been released, except for a duet between Humperdinck and Sir Elton John, already recorded in Los Angeles .
Read more about this topic: Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)
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