Introduction:
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK, 82, CELEBRATES THE SEASON WITH NEW HOLIDAY ALBUM
At 82, Engelbert Humperdinck is showing the world that his legendary career is far from slowing down. More than five decades after rising to international fame, the British crooner continues to record, perform, and surprise fans with fresh projects.
Earlier this year, Humperdinck released The Man I Want To Be, his first album of original material in more than ten years. Now, he returns with Warmest Christmas Wishes, a 14-track holiday collection blending beloved classics, contemporary favorites, and brand-new songs.
“It’s been such a long time since I recorded a Christmas album, and fans have been asking me, ‘When are you going to do another one?’” Humperdinck tells Billboard. His last major holiday release, Christmas Tyme, dates back to 1977. For him, Christmas has always carried deep personal meaning: “Growing up with a big family, singing around the Christmas tree — it was a wonderful upbringing.”
Produced by Jurgen Korduletsch and arranged by Geoff Stradling, Johnny Harris, and Jeff Sturges, Warmest Christmas Wishes spans a wide range of styles. The album features timeless favorites such as “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” and “O Tannenbaum,” alongside modern works like “Driving Home for Christmas” and Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Christmas Song.” Humperdinck contributes two original tracks — “Christmas For the Family” and “Around the Christmas Tree” — and wrote new English lyrics for the German piece “Silently Falls the Snow.”
His goal, he says, is simple: to spread holiday joy. “I wanted to make an album people could put on and enjoy the holiday a little more with the music.” While tackling blues classics like “Please Come Home for Christmas” posed challenges, Humperdinck says the results exceeded his expectations.
To accompany the album, the singer is also filming a PBS special in Hawaii, featuring several tracks from Warmest Christmas Wishes along with hits from across his storied career. While an airdate has yet to be announced, Humperdinck remains focused on the future.
“Retirement has never entered my mind,” he says. “I don’t feel my age — I don’t act it. When God calls me, that’s when I stop. Until then, I’m going to keep going.”
With his unmistakable voice and unwavering passion, Engelbert Humperdinck proves once again that timeless talent knows no age — especially at Christmastime.