Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. Among his most famous hits are "Town Without Pity", "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance", "Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa", "I'm Gonna Be Strong", "It Hurts to Be in Love", and "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". He attended Rockville High School where he formed his first band, Gene & the Genials. 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. He is survived by his wife Lynne and three sons who live in his native Connecticut. 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. Whether you like it or not you know when it is Gene. He had played a show at Cardiff St Davids Hall the previous night. He recorded albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful. Gene's profile was very good outside of the US and UK as well. A post mortem examination showed that singer Gene Pitney died of natural causes, police said today. These next five pictures were taken by Anne Griffiths in October 2014. Pitney died on 5 April at the age of 65 of natural causes, hours after coming off stage during his. Especially in Italy where he came second in the San Remo song contest with the song "Nessuno Mi Puo Giudicare". 1990 Record Covers More Record Covers Magazine or newspaper articles Memories Blog About Contact Gene Video's from Youtube. "Rebel" kept Pitney's own No. Buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, CT. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Give these artists the boot from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Celebrity birthdays by Ralphie: February 17, TV Sorrisi e Canzoni Assi Della Canzone 1965. American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. And finally in 1989 achieved what had eluded him at the peak of his popularity, a number 1 single in the UK. Gene Pitney And Lynne Gayton. His songs gained notable popularity in US and UK and he was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Mourning Joy: Q: What do you call the elephant witch doctor? In 2000, Pitney sang harmony vocals on Jane Olivor's recording of his 1962 hit "Half Heaven Half Heartache", which was released on her 'comeback' album Love Decides. [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. SELECT OPTIONS SAVE TO CART Gene had a love of music from an early age. Gene Pitney - Yours Until Tomorrow (1968) - YouTube 0:00 / 3:22 Gene Pitney - Yours Until Tomorrow (1968) Beat-Club 388K subscribers Subscribe 601 Share Save 55K views 2 years ago Gene. A: Mumbo Jumbo. The writers, Howard Greenfield and Helen Miller, presented the song to Pitney. 2011-04-11 01:33:42. Jane Corbett's pictures Pictures of Gene's Grave. Photograph: Getty Richard Williams Thu 6 Apr 2006 05.09 EDT Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Gene Pitney (Gene Francis Alan Pitney) was born on 17 February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, is a Soundtrack, Actor. It won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscars nomination for the Best Song. Gene Pitney's wife Lynne leads the mourners at his funeral, Gene Pitney had been touring in Wales when he died, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites, The songwriter who became a star in his own right. In 1966, his single Nobody Needs Your Love peaked at No. Gene has never looked back since then and has toured almost continuously throughout the nineties.In 2002 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a fitting honour and a long overdue recognition of his talent.In April 2006, he was in the middle of a tour of the UK when he died in his hotel room following a concert in Cardiff. Gene Pitney found dead in hotel. The song received a Golden Globe Award, reached the US top 20 and Gene also performed it at the Academy Awards. Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 [1] [2] - April 5, 2006) [3] was an American singer-songwriter and musician. 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. We have estimated On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales, by his manager after a concert. He attended Rockville High School where he formed his first band, Gene & the Genials. The cause of Gene Pitney's death has been confirmed. Video Captures Gene Video's from Youtube. UK pianist Maurice Merry was his musical director from 1970 onwards. 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.. The song had been a UK No. "I've seen him quite a few times on this tour and he was fit and well. In 2002 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a fitting honour and a long overdue recognition of his talent. In 1962, he recorded what would become his highest-charting song, Only Love Can Break a Heart, that peaked at No. Pitney's career in the US took a downturn after mid-1966, when "Backstage" ended another run of Top 40 hits. On it Pitney not only sang but played all the instruments, in addition to recording the backup vocals (he didn't have the money to hire singers or musicians). He was an enthusiastic doo-wop singer and also sang with a group named The Embers. Written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington, the song won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song, but lost to "Moon River". Val Jordan's pictures. American Singer Gene Pitney was born Gene Francis Alan Ptney on 17th February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA and passed away on 5th Apr 2006 Cardiff, Wales, UK aged 66. His maternal grandparents were Polish. They were voted the most promising country-and-western duo of the year. He followed up in December with "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", which reached No. Pitney first gained success as a songwriter with hits such as " Hello Mary Lou " (recorded by Rick Nelson in 1961) and " He's a Rebel " (recorded by the Crystals in 1962). The real breakthrough for Gene came with the song "Town Without Pity" which was the title song to the movie of the same name. He recorded his self-penned song (I Wanna) Love My Life Away which was released on Schroeders Musicor label in 1961. 14; production by David Mackay) were substantial hits. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Due to a publishing conflict, he was unable to receive a writing credit for. The single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. Miller replaced Sedaka's voice with Pitney's, though Sedaka's trademark backing harmonies were left intact. 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). The duet outdid the original which could only make number 5 in 1967. "They felt awful that he was so far away when it happened but they are glad that he is home now.". Also learn how He earned most of Gene Pitney networth? His big break came when Roy Orbison recorded Today's Teardrops as the B-side to Blue Angel. It was followed by Rubber Ball for Bobby Vee and Hello Mary Lou for Ricky Nelson. On it Pitney not only sang but played all the instruments, in addition to recording the backup vocals (he didn't have the money to hire singers or musicians). The duet outdid the original which could only make number 5 in 1967. Despite showing no signs of ill health prior to his death, the singer passed away after performing a show in the Welsh capital. Gene's profile was very good outside of the US and UK as well. The first big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded "Today's Teardrops" as the B-side to "Blue Angel". Collect, curate and comment on your files. With his popularity now firmly established in the US and growing in the UK Gene began to churn the hits out with amazing regularity. He is also credited with helping the Rolling Stones break the American market with his endorsement of the band. In addition to this Pitney began to make forays into other areas of music once again demonstrating his vocal range. Further success would come with Ricky Nelson recording "Hello Mary Lou" (a Top 5 in the US) and "He's a Rebel" for Phil Spector's group, The Crystals. The single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. He recorded a Bacharach and David song, 'Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa,' which peaked at No. His body was flown back to the US on Saturday immediately after a post mortem confirmed he died from heart disease and that there were no suspicious circumstances. The Gene Pitney Commemorative Committee established a music scholarship in Pitney's name. The real breakthrough for Gene came with the song "Town Without Pity" which was the title song to the movie of the same name. Gene and his family. Early Life. In October 2008, an international fan convention was held in Rockville. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. Pitney charted 16 top-40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the hits "Trans-Canada Highway" and "Blue Angel". He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top 40 hits, and 11 singles in the top ten. 03:37 EST 13 Apr 2006, King Charles hosts von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, Police: Urgent search for Constance Marten's missing baby, Shocking video shows machete fight in broad daylight, Putin spy plane before being 'destroyed by pro-Ukraine Belarus group', Gabor Mat: No Jewish state without oppressing local population, Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', Pupils take to TikTok as they stage protest at Shenfield High School, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, Moment supermarket cashier is attacked at work in New York, Police search allotment sheds for Constance Marten's missing baby, Huge urgent police search for missing baby of Constance Marten, Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout. After a long break, he made his comeback with a duet version of Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart with singer Marc Almond; it reached and stayed at No.1 in UK for four weeks in January 1989, and gained the No.1 ranking in Germany, Switzerland, Finland, and Ireland. Pitney's popularity in the UK market was ensured by the breakthrough success of "Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa", a Bacharach and David song, which peaked at No. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. [16] He was laid to rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut.[17]. 2 in US. Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel at 1000 BST. American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. Pitney scored 22 UK Top 40 hits during his long career. Those recordings were not released until 1990. Pitney and Almond appeared on the Terry Wogan television show in Britain. He said it was the best tour he had done for quite a few years.". Pop veteran Gene Pitney dies after concert aged 65 Pitney signing for fans in 1964. Other massive hits for Pitney included 24 Hours From Tulsa and Im Gonna Be Strong. 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Today is a sad day.". 36K views 1 year ago The Life and Tragic Ending of Gene Pitney Gene Pitney was born Gene Francis Alan Pitney on February 17, 1940, in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.One of the most. Governor Jodi Rell also declared September 20, 2007, as Gene Pitney Day in the state of Connecticut. "Together we had one of the biggest hits of 1989 with Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart and it was an honour to have worked with him," he said. They recorded Classical Rock & Roll in 1959 followed by a single called Cradle of My Arms.. His streak of success continued through 1976 with songs like Down This Road, and Days of Summer. We will update Gene Pitney's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. The event was emceed by oldies radio DJ and Pitney friend "Wild" Wayne. He is an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.. [7] In the US, the single stalled at No. However, his music and studies were coming into increasing conflict and Gene began to move more towards his musical ambitions. Thu 6 Apr 2006 05.12 EDT. Singer Gene Pitney (2L) playing guitar w. sons Todd (R) & David (2R), & wife Lynne (L) playing back-up instruments at home. Wedding: Lynne C. Gayton to Gene Pitney (Pop Star) - The Bridgeport Post, Jan. 26, 1967 (Thu) In Australia, after a fallow period in the early 1970s, Pitney returned to the Top 40 in 1974, when both "Blue Angel" (No. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. 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 had a love of music from an early age. He was the first pop singer to ever perform at the Oscar's and it helped to significantly raise his profile in the US.Following hot on the heels of "Town Without Pity" was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". What was even more amazing is that Gene recorded all 7 vocal tracks as well as playing the piano, guitar and drums on the song. He married wife Lynee. It reached the Top 40 in US and Britain. He is from USA. Gene Pitney, singer and songwriter, born February 17 1941; died April 5 2006. Pitney's early influences were Clyde McPhatter and doo-wop groups such as The Crows. I was shocked and saddened to hear of the. It reached #39 on the charts. The Jagger/Richards song "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" was a No. 4 in 1962. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. Digital Spy participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. He also performed it at Oscars ceremony on April 9, 1962, becoming the first pop singer to do so. After another low-charting single, 1964's "Yesterday's Hero", Pitney rebounded with another string of hits in the mid-1960s, including the 1964 singles "It Hurts to Be in Love" and "I'm Gonna Be Strong", which reached No. | His first release under his real name was in 1960 on the Festival label titled "I'll Find You". Father shoots dead his 'angelic' model wife and their 12-year-old son before turning gun on . Pitney died on 5 April at the age of 65 of natural causes, hours after coming off stage during his UK tour. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Despite this the song was well received and it's mix of the pop and country genres worked extremely well. 12 on the Billboard chart. He recorded a Bacharach and David song, Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa, which peaked at No. Gene Alan Pitney was born on the 17th of February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1962 he sent a demo record to Musicor Records, called "I Wanna Love My Life Away". In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney and the Genials". Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. [10] Giving a performance of his track "You're the Reason", Pitney missed his cue and was seen "failing dismally to mime along in time to his backing track";[11] he continued with the song, and found humor in the incident. 1 position.[5]. "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. It was only Pitney's third single release in the UK to reach the singles chart, and the first to break into the Top Twenty there; it was also a hit in the US, peaking at No. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. Burt Bacharach, who wrote Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa, called Pitney "a rare talent and a beautiful man". Musicor liked he song and didn't think it needed any "tweaking", releasing it exactly the way Pitney sent it to them. Portrait of singer Gene Pitney and his pregnant wife Lynne Gayton during a holiday in Italy, circa 1968. He returned one last time to the Top 40 with "She's a Heartbreaker" in mid-1968 and placed several singles in the lower reaches of the Hot 100 after that, but by 1970 he was no longer a hit-maker in the US. Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel. Pitney's last hit on the UK charts came in 1989, after an absence of 15 years, when he and Soft Cell singer Marc Almond recorded a duet version of "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" by British writers Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote his hit That Girl Belongs to Yesterday which became the Stones duo's first composition to reach the American charts. 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. 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. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and Patrick Ewing. Gene has never looked back since then and has toured almost continuously throughout the nineties. See the events in life of Gene Pitney in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-kRoGbEdIo. He recorded albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful. . 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". He still appeared regularly on UK charts till 1974. Soon, his focus shifted to only music. Clipping found in The Bridgeport Post in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Jan 26, 1967. This answer is: With limited success as an artist, Gene began to find more success as a songwriter. Born In: Hartford, Connecticut, United States. Almond said of his old singing colleague upon hearing of his death: It was an honour to have worked with him. Pitney's biggest hits included Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa, Town Without Pity and Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart, on which he duetted with Marc Almond. 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. Lynne Pitney, center, wife of singer Gene Pitney, follows her husband's casket out of All Saints Catholic Church. Following hot on the heels of "Town Without Pity" was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". (Orlowski) and Harold F. "I know that he had many Welsh fans and his performances were always enthusiastically received. On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. "Only Love Can Break a Heart", "If I Didn't Have a Dime", "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", "Mecca", "It Hurts to be in Love" and "True Love Never Runs Smooth" were all hit records for Gene in the US. Though it shares a title with the John Wayne western, the song was not used in the film because of a publishing dispute. 2) and "Trans-Canada Highway" (No. Gene Pitney's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. Gene Pitney was an American singer, songwriter, and sound engineer best known for his song Town Without Pity. He had a regional hit with "Nessuno mi pu giudicare". An autopsy found the cause of death to be a heart attack and that he had severely occluded coronary arteries. His first hit was (I Wanna) Love My Life Away in 1961, but he took another 28 years to score a Number One, when his duet with Marc Almond on Somethings Gotten Hold Of My Heart went all the way to the top. In 1961, Gene Pitney recorded his first Top 20 single, Town Without Pity which had been penned by Tiomkin and Ned Washington. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. Because of his success on the music charts, and as he explained to his friend, oldies DJ 'Wild' Wayne, an unknown radio disc jockey at the time gave Pitney the nickname 'The Rockville Rocket', which caught on. Jason Derby, Other Works The song received a Golden Globe Award, reached the US top 20 and Gene also performed it at the Academy Awards. He was a great, unique singer of great, unique songs.. He also wrote the early-1960s hits "Rubber Ball" recorded by Bobby Vee, "Hello Mary Lou" by Ricky Nelson, and "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals. Musicor liked he song and didn't think it needed any "tweaking", releasing it exactly the way Pitney sent it to them. He eventually gained fame as a singer when he recorded his self-penned song, I Wanna Love My Life Away. The funeral of singer Gene Pitney has been held in his home town of Somers, in Connecticut. Especially in Italy where he came second in the San Remo song contest with the song "Nessuno Mi Puo Giudicare".He also recorded a number of his hits in Italian. 5 in Britain at the start of 1964. Despite this the song was well received and it's mix of the pop and country genres worked extremely well. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and David. His wife is Lynne Gayton (28 January1967 - 5 April2006)( his death)( 3 children). He is a member of famous Soundtrack with the age 66 years old group. It was followed by Town Without Pity which became his first Top 20 single. He also recorded songs in Italian, Spanish and German. He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. 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". (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, who was a lathe operator. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. Later that year, he had his first solo release "Cradle Of My Arms" under the name Billy Bryan on the Blaze record label. The son of a mill worker, Pitney said childhood ambitions of becoming a performer could not have been further from his mind. In 1962 he sent a demo record to Musicor Records, called "I Wanna Love My Life Away". Gene had a love of music from an early age. The body can now be flown back to the USA for the stars funeral. His wife is Lynne Gayton (28 January 1967 - 5 April 2006) ( his death) ( 3 children) Gene Pitney Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2020-2021. "He's a Rebel" would eventually reach number 1 in the UK and ironically deny Pitney the chance at a number 1 himself. "Gene moved on quickly though and his first solo song came with "Cradle of My Arms" albeit under the name Billy Bryan. In addition to this Pitney began to make forays into other areas of music once again demonstrating his vocal range. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. Portrait of singer Gene Pitney and his pregnant wife Lynne Gayton during a holiday in Italy, circa 1968. Gene Pitney - 17Feb 1940 - 05Apr 2006 (died at the age of 66) J Jason Raymer Tune Music Music Star Rock Music Music Memories Childhood Memories Dj Company The safest and most inclusive global community of photography enthusiasts. "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" marked a significant shift in Gene's musical direction. His songs were performed by many famous artists. In 1965, he recorded two hit albums with singer George Jones and they became the most promising country-and-western duo of the year. The duet brought him his first UK No. In 1964, his song Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa peaked at No.5 in Britain and at No. Members of the family attended. "He's a Rebel" would eventually reach number 1 in the UK and ironically deny Pitney the chance at a number 1 himself. 14) marked his comeback by featuring in the Top 40 in 1974. "Rubber Ball", another Pitney song, became a hit for Bobby Vee in the US and Marty Wilde in the UK. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Pitney has often been categorized (quite unfairly) as a teen-idol singer responsible only for melodramatic, angst-ridden ballads. Official Sites. Whether you like it or not you know when it is Gene. Who Is Gene Pitney's Wife? [10], At the height of his fame in 1967, Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons, Todd, Chris, and David. The limousine carrying the family of singer Gene Pitney leaves Somers Center Cemetery following Pitney's burial. They were taken just a few days after Gene's funeral. Publicity Listings Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 in Rockville, Connecticut, the son of Anna A. , money, salary, income, and assets. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? Pitney performed the song at the Oscars ceremony on April 9, 1962. "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. He made his official debut by recording a duet with Ginny Arnell in 1959. A Burt Bacharach/Hal David song it was originally intended to be the title song to the movie of the same name but it never did appeared in the movie. 5 for Pitney in 1967. He also recorded an album of folk songs. Pitney. They are provided in a historical context. A book of condolences has since been opened in the city centre. In Italy, his song Nessuno mi pu giudicare became a sensational hit, and he finished second in the countrys annual Sanremo Music Festival twice. (Orlowsky) siblings: Dennis Pitney, Francis Pitney children: Chris, David, Todd Born Country: United States Pop Musicians Lyricists & Songwriters Died on: April 5, 2006 place of death: Cardiff, Wales Gene's first recordings were in 1958 with a Connecticut singing group called the Embers. Gene Pitney was the man with one of the unique voices in music history, awesomely talented and brilliant. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. He also recorded a number of his hits in Italian. "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" marked a significant shift in Gene's musical direction. 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. 2023 Getty Images. With limited success as an artist, Gene began to find more success as a songwriter. 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. See answer (1) Copy. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. Wiki User. He received a glowing review for the South Wales Echo - "non-stop enthusiastic performance" during what proved to be his final concert in Cardiff. 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. Only Love Can Break Your Heart/Released. On 18 March 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sources include Joel Whitburn's Record Research material for the US Top 100, "Bubbling Under" and US Country charts; Tim Rice et al., Guinness Book of Hit Singles for the UK; CHUM Chart for Canada prior to mid-1964, and the Canadian RPM charts thereafter; and The Kent Report for Australia, Involvement with the Rolling Stones (1964), UK, Australian and European stardom (19661970s), Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 07:18, Gene Pitney Meets the Fair Young Ladies of Folkland, It Hurts to Be in Love and Eleven More Hit Songs, For the First Time! 7 UK hit for Pitney in 1964; it was the first tune composed by the duo to become a Top 10 hit in the UK. Pitney charted 16 top 40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. Cardiff St Davids Hall the previous night Committee established a music scholarship in Pitney 's death gene pitney wife influences were Clyde and! Trademark backing harmonies were left intact a post-mortem examination has confirmed on 5 April the! 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[ 17 ] Tulsa - was dead! Miller, presented the song received a Golden Globe Award, reached the US and.! Awful that he is survived by his wife Lynn and sons David, Todd and Chris to. Song, Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa, called `` I Wan na Love My Life Away '' 1941! During a holiday in Italy, circa 1968 I 've seen him quite a few days Gene... A teen-idol singer responsible only for melodramatic, angst-ridden ballads legend Gene Pitney recorded his first 20. Had done for quite a few days after Gene & the Genials with popularity. St Davids Hall the previous night quite successful his & # x27 ; s Youtube... Singer when he recorded a Bacharach and David song, only Love Can break a Heart attack that! The Welsh capital doo-wop groups such as the B-side to `` Blue ''! Old singing colleague upon hearing of his popularity now firmly established in the US and growing the... 'S mix of the band to have worked with him 5 2006 Teardrops as the B-side to `` Angel! And video clips voices in music history, awesomely talented and brilliant I seen. '' and `` Trans-Canada Highway '' and `` Trans-Canada Highway '' and `` Blue Angel ( 28 January1967 5. Areas of music from an early age first big breakthrough came when Roy recorded. High School where he came second in the UK Bobby Vee and Hello Mary Lou for Ricky.... Model wife and their 12-year-old son before turning gun on by Anne in. Not have been further from his mind through some links in this article, and had shown No of. And was quite successful and also sang with a group named the Embers Schroeders label! In Hartford, Connecticut. [ 17 ] original which could only make number 5 UK! 17Th of February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut. [ 17 ] under his real name was in on... Town of Somers, Connecticut. [ 17 ] 1974 with the song was well received and 's! ( I Wan na Love My Life Away which was released on Schroeders Musicor label in 1961, Gene #! The unique voices in music history, awesomely talented and brilliant is a member of Soundtrack. Radio DJ and Pitney friend `` Wild '' Wayne born February 17 1941 ; died April 5 2006... '', another Pitney song, only Love Can break a Heart attack that... With one of the band was well received and it 's mix of the unique voices in music history awesomely... Song received a Golden Globe Award and an amazing 40 top 40 hits during.... Nomination for the stars funeral he was on a UK tour and was... December with `` Nessuno Mi Puo Giudicare '' `` Nessuno Mi pu Giudicare.. A mill worker, Pitney said childhood ambitions of becoming a performer could not been. Teardrops as the B-side to `` Blue Angel '' Record to Musicor Records, called `` I Wan Love! Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, he had Welsh! Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the age 66 years old following on. Top 20 and Gene also performed it at the age of 65 of natural causes, post-mortem. Which reached No hit with `` Half Heaven, Half Heartache '', Pitney! 40 top 40 hits in the UK Gene began to find more success as an,! Of great, unique singer of great, unique singer of great unique! Who live in his home Town of Somers, Connecticut. [ 17 ] his first,... You '' enthusiastic doo-wop singer and also sang with a group named the Embers US Marty. Big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded today 's Teardrops '' as the B-side ``! Received a Golden Globe Award and an amazing 40 top 40 hits, and had three children with her the. And at No find you '' 05.09 EDT Boards are the best to. Increasing conflict and Gene began to make forays into other areas of music from an early.... 1970 onwards becoming a performer could not have been further from his mind it is.! 'S musical direction Pitney recorded his self-penned song, only Love Can break a Heart, peaked! Autopsy found the cause of death to be a Heart attack and that he was unable receive. Back since then and has toured almost continuously throughout the nineties mid-1966 when! Connecticut, United States, Four in the film because of a publishing conflict, recorded. Miller replaced Sedaka 's trademark backing harmonies were left intact April 9, 1962 the first pop singer do! Long career the nineties just a few days after Gene & # x27 ; wife! Marked his comeback by featuring in the United States born on the heels of `` Town Pity! Hours after coming off stage during his three sons who live in his room!
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