Engelbert Humperdinck

London, March 3: Anglo-Indian singer Engelbert Humperdinck, best known for such hits as Release Me, After the Lovin’ and The Last Waltz, has been chosen to represent the UK in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest at the age of 75.

The “Golden Oldie”, who has sold more than 150 million records across the world and still continues to tour, will perform before an estimated global audience of 120 million when the contest takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 26.

His progress will be followed eagerly by India’s Anglo-Indian community, especially in Chennai, where he was born when it was still called Madras, on May 2, 1936. It would be another 11 years before India would become independent.

He was born Arnold George Dorsey, one of 10 children, to British army officer Mervyn Dorsey and his wife Olive, who was of Indian heritage, which made the children Anglo-Indian.

When he was 10, the family shifted to Leicester in the East Midlands.

Unlike Cliff Richard, Engelbert has not hidden the fact that he is Anglo-Indian. From his home in Los Angeles he still returns periodically to Leicester, a city now dominated by Gujaratis from East Africa.

The surprising choice of Engelbert to represent the UK has been made this year by the BBC, whereas in the past the selection depended on popular audience participation.

“I’m excited and raring to go and want the nation to get behind me,” said Engelbert, who last had a Top Ten hit in the UK charts 42 years ago. “It’s an absolute honour to be representing my country for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest,” he added.

“When the BBC approached me, it just felt right for me to be a part of an institution like Eurovision,” he declared.

Katie Taylor of the BBC explained the corporation’s choice: “Not since the ’70s have we had such an established international musical legend represent the nation. We couldn’t be more delighted. Engelbert’s experience leaves us in no doubt that he will be able to deliver a standout performance in front of 120 million viewers worldwide.”

Lovers of pop music do not know whether to laugh or cry at the choice but Engelbert can probably count on the support of his wife, Patricia Healey, a show jumper whom he married in 1964, their four children and nine grandchildren. No doubt, they will be concerned he doesn’t do himself an injury as he attempts to move around on stage all by himself.

When he became a singer he initially used the name Gerry Dorsey but when success eluded him in his early years, he took the advice of his manager and adopted the stage name of Engelbert Humperdinck in the 1960s — and this is how he is known by million of adoring fans all over the world.

In 1976, his single After The Lovin’ reached number eight in the US.

As well as his US chart success, he developed a popular Las Vegas stage show and last year was awarded a place on the city’s Walk of Stars. He has received numerous accolades, including four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe, 63 gold and 24 platinum records.

He will perform an as yet unnamed song co-written by Martin Terefe, who has worked with James Morrison and KT Tunstall, and Sacha Skarbek, who has penned tracks for Adele and co-wrote James Blunt’s hit You’re Beautiful. The track will be recorded in London, Los Angeles and Nashville.

It is the first time since the 1970s that the UK has chosen such a well-known international artiste, and it follows years of mostly mediocre results.

Last year, boy band Blue finished in eleventh place. In 2009, Jade Ewen performed a song by Andrew Lloyd Webber and took fifth place — with the highest number of points for the UK since Katrina and the Waves won the contest for the UK in 1997 with Love Shine A Light.

In the past year alone Engelbert has performed in major venues in the UK, Russia, Netherlands, Belgium, Romania and Israel.

After his British heyday in the 1960s, Engelbert continued producing records and playing as many as 250 gigs a year around the world.