DORSEY Family Tree

with links to British India


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Arnold George DORSEY

Stage name: Engelbert Humperdinck

Born: May 2, 1936
His stage name comes from the 19th century Austrian composer who wrote Hansel and Gretel. His voice comes from heaven, and he has been a legend in the international music industry for the past 30 years, with more than 130 million records sold.

Engelbert Humperdinck has recorded everything from the most romantic ballads to the platinum-selling humorous theme song Lesbian Seagull for the Beavis and Butthead movie. His sense of humor has endeared him to millions of fans around the globe and the MTV generation has just discovered what a magnificent musician the rest of the world has celebrated for decades.

Few people realise that several of the major forces in the world of rock n' roll, including Jimi Hendrix and The Carpenters, started out as opening acts for Humperdinck in the late 60s,70s and 80s.

Engelbert Humperdinck was one of 10 siblings. His father served in the British military, and his mother taught violin and had an operatic voice. He was born Arnold George Dorsey on May 2, 1936, in Madras, India, while his father was stationed there with the British army.

When he was17, Engelbert found himself playing at a pub that sponsored a singing contest. Goaded by his friends to enter, he revealed another vocal talent: impersonations. Arnold George Dorsey gave the world's finest impersonation of Jerry Lewis - even Jerry Lewis still thinks so - and was quickly dubbed Gerry Dorsey by his fans. It became his professional stage name. To this day, Engelbert continues to include a bit with impersonations in his shows as reference to how he got started.

Gerry's manager suggested the new name Engelbert Humperdinck. It was just outrageous enough to be memorable. It would take a man with a secure self-image and sense of humor to pull it off. And thus was born the soon-to-be legend, Engelbert Humperdinck.

And it was Humperdinck, not Elvis, who made famous the sideburns and flamboyant leather jumpsuits. Engelbert often jokingly asserts that Elvis stole the image from him. Nevertheless, the two legends often performed one another's songs, and enjoyed a lasting friendship until Elvis' death. Humperdinck has always enjoyed a healthy rivalry with Tom Jones, and the two actually partnered for 10 years and shared a manager for many, many more. Humperdinck eventually parted company with the manager to employ his own son in the same capacity.

 

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info from Shirley Pritchard (nee Gifford) Brianfpr@adelphia.net

 

? DORSEY married ?, children:

  1. Francis Arthur Dorsey (b 1804, d 22 Dec 1871 Poonamallee)

Francis Arthur DORSEY (b 1804, d 22 Dec 1871 Poonamallee) on 8 Jan 1827 in Madras married Eliza BONJOUR, children:

  1. Francis Edward Dorsey (b 10 Jan 1831 Madras)

  2. Sarah Matilda Dorsey (b 24 Apr 1841 Madras)

  3. Patrick Dorsey (b 1845)

  4. Arthur Francis Dorsey (b 19 Aug 1849, d 13 Feb 1921 Poonamallee, Madras)

Next Generation

Sarah Matilda DORSEY (b 24 Apr 1841 Madras) at 17yrs on 25 Feb 1859 in Poonamallee married 22yr Thomas QINNLESS (b 1837 son of Thomas Qinnless)

 

Sarah Matilda DORSEY (b 24 Apr 1841 Madras) widow, at 23yrs on 22 Dec 1919 married 24yr Christopher Edward Holden BALDWIN (b 1895 son of Richard Edward Baldwin)

 

Patrick Dorsey (b 1845) at 24yrs on 8 Nov 1869 in Poonamallee married 18yr widow Annie CORK (b 1851 daughter of John Napier), children:

  1. Francisca Dorsey (b 1870)

Arthur Francis DORSEY married Rosemond Adelaide HOLT, children:

  1. James Arthur Dorsey (b 1878)

  2. Maude Rosamond Dorsey (b 1881)

  3. J George Doresy (b 18 Mar 1883)

  4. Ernest Alexander Patrick Dorsey (b1885-d1950)

  5. Louisa Beatrice Dorsey (b 1889)

  6. Francena Elizabeth Dorsey (b 1 Feb 1891 Madras)

  7. Mervyn Albert Mattheas Dorsey (b 10 Feb 1893 Madras)

  8. Harold Childe Theolphilus Dorsey (b 20 Oct 1894 Agra, d 21 Jan 1909 Poonamallee Madras)

  9. Alfred William Dorsey (b 18 Nov 1900 Bangalore)

  10. Francis Richard Dorsey (b 21 Aug 1903 Poonamallee Madras)

Next Generation
Francisca DORSEY (b 1870) at 16yrs on 20 Aug 1886 in Secunderabad, married 24yr Alfred ARNOLD (b 1862, son of Robert Arnold)

 

James Arthur DORSEY (b 1878) at 31yrs on 27 Jan 1909 in Poonamallee married 21 yr Margaret Violet CLARKE (b 1888, daughter of Bernard Clarke), children:

  1. Mildred Rose May Dorsey (b 22 Jan 1910 Madras)

Maude Rosamond DORSEY (b 1881) at 17yrs on 1 Jun 1898 in Fatetigarh married 28yr William SANDERS (b 1870 son of Henry Sanders).

 

Maude Rosamond SANDERS (nee DORSEY) (b 1881) widow, at 24yrs on 5 July 1905 in Poonamallee married 35yr George William MARLOW (b 1870, son of John Henry Marlow)

 

Ernest Alexander Patrick DORSEY (1885-1950) at 26yrs on 2 Oct 1911 in Madras married 20yr Margaret Rose COSHAN (b1890-d1963, daughter of John Coshan) children:

  1. Lillian Dorsey (1912-2003)  

  2. Melita Dorsey (1915-1936)

  3. Thelma Dorsey (1918-2003)

  4. George Dorsey (1920-2002)

Louisa Beatrice DORSEY (b 1889) at 18yrs on 16 Jan 1907 in Madras married 29yr Patrick St Clare STRACEY (b 1878, son of Thomas Edward Stracey)

 

Mervyn DORSEY, British Army, at 38yrs on 24 Oct 1931 in Perambur Madras married 31yr Olive WEBBER (b 1900, daughter of Charles Webber) 10 children:

  1. Arnold George Dorsey (born May 2, 1936, in Madras, India) aka Engelbert Humperdinck. His family moved to Leicester, England,when he was 10.

Next Generation

Lilian Mary DORSEY (1912-2003) married Walter Gilbert GIFFORD (1898-1985) , children:

  1. Shirley Mary Gifford (b 1935)

  2. Moyra Margaret Gifford (b 1940)

  3. Patricia Gifford (b 1950)

Information on pages contained in this website have been supplied by family members/researchers for the enjoyment and mutual benefit of all concerned. The Administrator does not vouch for their accuracy.

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