Croon and Swoon

In the upper echelon of finely coiffed, candy-throated troubadours there are but a few true legends who continue to foster rabid and loyal fan bases. Neil Diamond was able to elude being pigeonholed as a Fat Elvis apostle, winning over scores of fans by mixing a little bit of singer-songwriter...

By Geoff Johnston

July 27, 2006

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In the upper echelon of finely coiffed, candy-throated troubadours there are but a few true legends who continue to foster rabid and loyal fan bases. Neil Diamond was able to elude being pigeonholed as a Fat Elvis apostle, winning over scores of fans by mixing a little bit of singer-songwriter grit with a healthy helping of sparkling Vegas glitz. Tom Jones' cheeky swagger and two-fisted libidinal prowess continue to drop more drawers than any Usher ballad ever written, while still being appropriate for a PBS pledge drive. In 1967, Engelbert Humperdinck knocked "Strawberry Fields Forever" off the top of the British charts with "Release Me," thus beginning his aural conquest of the fairer persuasion. Having just celebrated his 70th birthday, Humperdinck shows no signs of leaving the pimp game. His lustrous, jet-black mane is perfectly preserved, all his gold pinky rings are freshly polished and his voice is as suave and smooth as 1,000 gallons of Aramis cologne. Whether you take your girlfriend or your grandma, be sure to bring the smelling salts. Engelbert Humperdinck performs 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bass Performance Hall, Fourth and Calhoun streets in Fort Worth. Tickets range from $35 to $75. Call 1-877-212-4280 or visit basshall.com.
Wed., Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m.

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