In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. Pitney has often been categorized (quite unfairly) as a teen-idol singer responsible only for melodramatic, angst-ridden ballads. However, initially he found more success as a songwriter rather than as a singer. Though it shares a title with the John Wayne western, the song was not used in the film because of a publishing dispute. They also collaborated in the production of the hit song "Days of Summer". Pitney maintained a successful career in Britain and the rest of Europe into the 1970s, appearing regularly on UK charts as late as 1974. Although disappearing in the late seventies he made a successful touring comeback in 1983 with a sell out North American tour. It reached the Top 40 in US and Britain. He recorded his self-penned song (I Wanna) Love My Life Away which was released on Schroeders Musicor label in 1961. Gene Pitney (Gene Francis Alan Pitney) was born on 17 February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, is a Soundtrack, Actor. Gene Pitney, whose keening tenor voice produced a string of hits including "Town Without Pity'' was found dead in his hotel room in Wales Wednesday following a concert that fans acclaimed as. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and David. He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. American superstar Gene Pitney has been found dead aged 65 in his bed in a Cardiff hotel. Two Great Stars - George Jones and Gene Pitney, "The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones 19622008", "Results RPM Library and Archives Canada", THE OFFICIAL "WILD" WAYNE WEBSITE Connecticut based nationally known Oldies Radio DJ & friend of Gene Pitney, Interview with Gene Pitney in International Songwriters Association's "Songwriter Magazine", concentrating on his songwriting career, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gene_Pitney&oldid=1140261202, "If I Didn't Have a Dime (To Play the Jukebox)", "I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night", "She Lets Her Hair Down (Early in the Morning)", This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 07:18. The Mick Jagger/Keith Richards song "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" established his worldwide fame and he followed it up with "I'm Gonna be Strong", "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" (a million seller), "I Must be Seeing Things", "Princess in Rags", "Backstage", "Just One Smile", "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" and "Nobody Needs Your Love". [14][15], Pitney was touring the UK in the spring of 2006 when his manager found him dead in his hotel room following a concert in Cardiff, Wales, on April 5. Gene Pitney, singer and songwriter, born February 17 1941; died April 5 2006. His songs were performed by many famous artists. The cause of Gene Pitney's death at 65 has been confirmed. Id love the Rolling Stones to come and play at the party Im sure theyll still be touring long after I am dead. He is survived by his wife Lynn and sons David, Todd and Chris. On September 20, 2007, a plaque to Pitney was unveiled at the town hall in his hometown of Rockville, Connecticut. Gene Pitney was born on 17 February 1940, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Anna A. - IMDb Mini Biography By: He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and Patrick Ewing. 2011-04-11 01:33:42. SELECT OPTIONS SAVE TO CART UK pianist Maurice Merry was his musical director from 1970 onwards. 1, in late January 1989. See answer (1) Copy. Gene Pitney's casket "Wild" Wayne's floral arrangement at the funeral for Gene Pitney With limited success as an artist, Gene began to find more success as a songwriter. As well as music, Gene was a keen student and, after high school, he began studying electrical engineering. Other massive hits for Pitney included 24 Hours From Tulsa and Im Gonna Be Strong. In addition to this Pitney began to make forays into other areas of music once again demonstrating his vocal range. Meanwhile, Pitney wrote hits for others, including "Today's Teardrops" for Roy Orbison, "Rubber Ball" for Bobby Vee, "Hello Mary Lou" for Ricky Nelson, and "He's a Rebel" for the Crystals (later recorded by Vikki Carr and Elkie Brooks). Gene Pitney has one of the most distinctive voices in music. It is awarded annually to Rockville High School. 2 UK). Mr Howes told BBC Wales that everyone had been shocked by the death and there had been no signs that he was ill. "He did a good show last night at St David's Hall and it was wonderful," he said. Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. "Rubber Ball", another Pitney song, became a hit for Bobby Vee in the US and Marty Wilde in the UK. Those recordings were not released until 1990. Portrait of singer Gene Pitney and his pregnant wife Lynne Gayton during a holiday in Italy, circa 1968. Later that year, he had his first solo release "Cradle Of My Arms" under the name Billy Bryan on the Blaze record label. 7 and No. Gene Pitney found dead in hotel. Gene had a love of music from an early age. In 2002 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a fitting honour and a long overdue recognition of his talent. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. Today is a sad day.". When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. He received a glowing review for the South Wales Echo - "non-stop enthusiastic performance" during what proved to be his final concert in Cardiff. "Rebel" kept Pitney's own No. American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. Gene Pitney, singer and songwriter, born February 17 1941; died April 5 2006. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Embed Save PURCHASE A LICENSE Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. He was a truly iconic figure in the world of music and we were extremely lucky in Cardiff that he visited this city many times to perform at St David's Hall. Gene Pitney's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. In 1966, his single Nobody Needs Your Love peaked at No. It reached #39 on the charts. At one point he had hits in Europe, the UK, and the US pop and country charts with four different songs simultaneously. The 66-year-old, who was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff last week, was buried in Somers, Connecticut, after a service attended by friends, neighbours and lifelong fans. Gene Pitney was staying in an executive suite at the Hilton, Pitney returned to the charts with Marc Almond in 1989, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites, The songwriter who became a star in his own right. His songs gained notable popularity in US and UK and he was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Photograph: Getty Richard Williams Thu 6 Apr 2006 05.09 EDT A: Mumbo Jumbo. Pop veteran Gene Pitney dies after concert aged 65 Pitney signing for fans in 1964. Gene Pitney, (born February 17, 1941, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.died April 5, 2006, Cardiff, Wales), American singer and songwriter known for dramatic pop balladry. Gene Pitney's wife Was Lynne Pitney. In early 1959, he released two records on the Decca label, "Snuggle Up Baby" and "Classical Rock and Roll", as part of a duo called Jamie and Jane with Ginny Arnell. Gene Pitney was an American singer, songwriter, and sound engineer best known for his song Town Without Pity. The best place for inspiration, connection, and sharing! The cause of death is not yet known but is not suspicious. Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton on Wednesday morning (April 5). Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Wed 5 Apr 2006 12.08 EDT The American singer-songwriter Gene Pitney, whose biggest hit was Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa, has been found dead in a hotel room in Cardiff, it was announced today.. Gene Pitney is a member of the following lists: Epic Records artists, American pop singers . Pitney also recorded songs in Italian, Spanish, and German and twice finished second in Italy's annual Sanremo Music Festival, where his strong vibrato reminded older listeners of the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso. His first release under his real name was in 1960 on the Festival label titled "I'll Find You". (Photo by Mario Ruiz/Getty Images) Save. "Rubber Ball", another Pitney song, became a hit for Bobby Vee in the US and Marty Wilde in the UK. "He was a great, unique singer of great, unique songs. Despite this the song was well received and it's mix of the pop and country genres worked extremely well. 5 for Pitney in 1967. It reached number 5 in the UK charts and marked the beginning of his rise in popularity throughout the U.K. and Europe.Between 1963 and 1966, Gene consistently produced top 10 hits in the UK. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. [16] He was laid to rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut.[17]. 1 position.[5]. ", The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. Although disappearing in the late seventies he made a successful touring comeback in 1983 with a sell out North American tour. [4] Pitney charted 16 top-40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. Pitney scored 22 UK Top 40 hits during his long career. Pitney was present with Phil Spector at some of the Rolling Stones' early recording sessions in London, including "Little by Little" and other tracks for their debut album;[6] he played piano, though the extent of this is uncertain. Portrait of singer Gene Pitney and his pregnant wife Lynne Gayton during a holiday in Italy, circa 1968. Soundtrack Of My Life: Talking Heads Tina Weymouth, Creed III review: Michael B. Jordan gets another big win under his belt, Panic Shack: the wildest and funniest live band youll see all year, Final Fantasy 16 is a lavish RPG twist on Bayonetta and its all the better for it. 12 on the Billboard chart. American superstar Gene Pitney has been found dead aged 65 in his bed in a Cardiff hotel. The real breakthrough for Gene came with the song "Town Without Pity" which was the title song to the movie of the same name. The cause of his death was ascertained to be a heart attack. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. A police spokeswoman said there would be no need for an inquest or any further inquiries into the death following the results of the post-mortem. In 1964, he recorded the singles It Hurts to Be in Love (No.7 in US) and I'm Gonna Be Strong (No.9 in US and No. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. "Gene moved on quickly though and his first solo song came with "Cradle of My Arms" albeit under the name Billy Bryan. "It Hurts to Be in Love" had been planned for and recorded by Neil Sedaka, but RCA refused to release it because Sedaka had recorded the song outside RCA Victor in violation of his contract. Pitney charted 16 top 40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. He was buried at the Somers Centre Cemetery following a service at the nearby All Saints Church. The night before his body was . "Only Love Can Break a Heart" was denied number 1 in the US charts by Pitney's own composition "He's a Rebel" sung by The Crystals. Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the hits "Trans-Canada Highway" and "Blue Angel". 14; production by David Mackay) were substantial hits. Birth Day: February 17, 1940: Birth Place: Hartford, CT: Gene Pitney age: 80 YEARS OLD: Died On: Apr 5, 2006 (age 66) Birth Sign: Aquarius . Pitney's career in the US took a downturn after mid-1966, when "Backstage" ended another run of Top 40 hits. She confirmed: As soon as it (the death) was deemed to be non-suspicious, the matter was handed over to the coroner.. Pitney has often been categorized (quite unfairly) as a teen-idol singer responsible only for melodramatic, angst-ridden ballads. Pitney has continually toured over the last 40 years. [13] It was re-aired on the 25th anniversary edition of This Morning in 2013, in which presenter Holly Willoughby "broke out into a cold sweat" while reliving the moment. In 1989, while performing live on ITV's This Morning show, he missed his cue for the song You're the Reason and couldnt mime with the beats in time! So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? The single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. He also recorded a number of his hits in Italian. The first big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded "Today's Teardrops" as the B-side to "Blue Angel". , money, salary, income, and assets. Gene Pitneys income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. 2) and "Trans-Canada Highway" (No. In 1964, his song Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa peaked at No.5 in Britain and at No. He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. In 1965, Pitney recorded two successful albums with country singer George Jones. 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