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. Gene Pitney was an American Singer, songwriter, musician, and sound engineer.He is well known for his chart making hit songs and recordings. He is a member of famous Soundtrack with the age 66 years old group. Marc Almond recorded "Backstage (I'm Lonely)" for his 2007 covers album Stardom Road. 2 in the UK, matching the No. I was shocked and saddened to hear of the. Listen online to one of his last interviews, conducted by BBC Radio Wiltshire's Mark Seaman. He recorded his self-penned song (I Wanna) Love My Life Away which was released on Schroeders Musicor label in 1961. , money, salary, income, and assets. The cause of Gene Pitney's death at 65 has been confirmed. Who was the host of Gene Pitneys funeral? Pitney's career in the US took a downturn after mid-1966, when "Backstage" ended another run of Top 40 hits. The writers, Howard Greenfield and Helen Miller, presented the song to Pitney. He said it was the best tour he had done for quite a few years.". 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. He was an enthusiastic doo-wop singer and also sang with a group named The Embers. His songs gained notable popularity in US and UK and he was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Gene Pitney's net worth | "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. 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. Clipping found in The Bridgeport Post in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Jan 26, 1967. The duet brought him his first UK No. Later that year, he had his first solo release "Cradle Of My Arms" under the name Billy Bryan on the Blaze record label. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. "I know that he had many Welsh fans and his performances were always enthusiastically received. Gene's profile was very good outside of the US and UK as well. Especially in Italy where he came second in the San Remo song contest with the song "Nessuno Mi Puo Giudicare". 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. Whether you like it or not you know when it is Gene. Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the hits "Trans-Canada Highway" and "Blue Angel". The night before his body was . As well as music, Gene was a keen student and, after high school, he began studying electrical engineering. He is an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.. In 1966, his single Nobody Needs Your Love peaked at No. He is most remembered for Song, "Red Rubber Ball. On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. Gene's first foray into the music scene was as part of a duet with Ginny Arnell, their first song being 1959's "Classical Rock & Roll. His streak of success continued through 1976 with songs like Down This Road, and Days of Summer. American superstar Gene Pitney has been found dead aged 65 in his bed in a Cardiff hotel. Lynne Pitney, center, wife of singer Gene Pitney, follows her husband's casket out of All Saints Catholic Church. "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. Collect, curate and comment on your files. It reached number 5 in the UK charts and marked the beginning of his rise in popularity throughout the U. K. and Europe. We will update Gene Pitney's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. In 1962 he sent a demo record to Musicor Records, called "I Wanna Love My Life Away". The body can now be flown back to the USA for the stars funeral. - Gene Pitney Tribute Site These first three pictures were kindly supplied by Anne Griffiths. See the events in life of Gene Pitney in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-kRoGbEdIo. 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. A post mortem examination showed that singer Gene Pitney died of natural causes, police said today. | Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton. UK pianist Maurice Merry was his musical director from 1970 onwards. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. 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. His songs gained notable popularity in US and UK and he was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images), 4950 x 3669 px (16.50 x 12.23 in) - 300 dpi - 4 MB. ", The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. 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. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Gene Pitney has one of the most distinctive voices in music. A: Mumbo Jumbo. He also recorded an album of folk songs. 2) and "Trans-Canada Highway" (No. Mark Howes of his management company In Touch Music said the singer was found in his bed. 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. 2023 Getty Images. Due to a publishing conflict, he was unable to receive a writing credit for. 5 in Britain at the start of 1964. It reached #39 on the charts. Gene Alan Pitney was born on the 17th of February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. [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. Legendary crooner Gene Pitney has sadly passed away. Did Gene Pitney ever get married? Miller replaced Sedaka's voice with Pitney's, though Sedaka's trademark backing harmonies were left intact. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. His maternal grandparents were Polish. Gene Pitneys income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. In collaboration with songwriter Aaron Schroeder, he placed his songs with big artists. He married wife Lynee. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. 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 son of a mill worker, Pitney said childhood ambitions of becoming a performer could not have been further from his mind. He loved music since his childhood and joined a band in high school. Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut, United States,[3] the son of Anna A. Gene Pitney is a member of Rock Singer. The cause of his death was ruled to be a heart attack. The first big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded "Today's Teardrops" as the B-side to "Blue Angel". [7] In the US, the single stalled at No. Record Covers More Record Covers Magazine or newspaper articles Memories Blog About Contact Gene Video's from Youtube. 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. Gene Pitney's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. 2011-04-11 01:33:42. 2 hit "Only Love Can Break a Heart", his highest-charting single in the US, from the top spot on 3 November 1962, the only time that a writer shut himself (or herself) out of the No. 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 . 14; production by David Mackay) were substantial hits. Among his most famous hits are Town Without Pity , (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance , Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa , Im Gonna Be Strong , and It Hurts To Be In Love . 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. In 1962, he recorded what would become his highest-charting song, Only Love Can Break a Heart, that peaked at No. , updated In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney and the Genials". Gene Pitney died at age 65 of natural causes. 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). 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. Pitney was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff the morning after playing at the city's St David's Hall. However, initially he found more success as a songwriter rather than as a singer. "Gene moved on quickly though and his first solo song came with "Cradle of My Arms" albeit under the name Billy Bryan. 49, ending a run of seven Top 40 singles for Pitney as a performer. And finally in 1989 achieved what had eluded him at the peak of his popularity, a number 1 single in the UK. Almond said he was "saddened and shocked" at the news. 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. Wedding: Lynne C. Gayton to Gene Pitney (Pop Star) - The Bridgeport Post, Jan. 26, 1967 (Thu) He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. The first big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded "Today's Teardrops" as the B-side to "Blue Angel". Who Is Gene Pitney's Wife? And finally in 1989 achieved what had eluded him at the peak of his popularity, a number 1 single in the UK. The limousine carrying the family of singer Gene Pitney leaves Somers Center Cemetery following Pitney's burial. The single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. 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. 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. Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the hits "Trans-Canada Highway" and "Blue Angel". The 65-year-old, who died in the Cardiff Hilton last week, was suffering from hardening of the arteries, according to his death certificate. An autopsy found the cause of death to be a heart attack and that he had severely occluded coronary arteries. It won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscars nomination for the Best Song. See answer (1) Copy. Portrait of singer Gene Pitney and his pregnant wife Lynne Gayton during a holiday in Italy, circa 1968. Musicor liked he song and didn't think it needed any "tweaking", releasing it exactly the way Pitney sent it to them. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. He also recorded songs in Italian, Spanish and German. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? On September 20, 2007, a plaque to Pitney was unveiled at the town hall in his hometown of Rockville, Connecticut. Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton on Wednesday morning (April 5). 2 UK peak of "I'm Gonna Be Strong". Lynne Gayton (28 January1967 - 5 April2006)( his death)( 3 children). Gene has never looked back since then and has toured almost continuously throughout the nineties. Gene's profile was very good outside of the US and UK as well. Those recordings were not released until 1990. Only Love Can Break Your Heart/Released. They are provided in a historical context. What was the cause of Gene Pitneys death? 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. EEAAO star gives tearful speech after historic win, The best Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom deals. Soon, his focus shifted to only music. (Photo by Mario Ruiz/Getty Images) Save. The 65-year-old, who died in the Cardiff Hilton last week, was suffering from hardening of the arteries, according to his death certificate. 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. Members of the family attended. In October 2008, an international fan convention was held in Rockville. 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. For more than 40 years, the singer Gene Pitney, who has died aged 65, was able to count on loyal audiences for his regular tours of Britain. He also recorded a number of his hits in Italian. He recorded albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful. It was during one of their gigs that his distinctive voice was discovered by the "the proverbial fat man with a cigar" who took him off to New York. 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. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. The funeral of singer Gene Pitney has been held in his home town of Somers, in Connecticut. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. The cause of death is not yet known but is not suspicious. 4 in 1962. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Gene Pitney was an American singer, songwriter, and sound engineer best known for his song Town Without Pity. Who Is Gene Pitney's Wife? Gene's first recordings were in 1958 with a Connecticut singing group called the Embers. Pitney scored 22 UK Top 40 hits during his long career. He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. The cause of his death was ascertained to be a heart attack. Marked by his piercing, pained, and melodramatic tenor, he was often characterized (very unfairly) as a shallow teen idol type of singer. In December the same year, his Half Heaven, Half Heartache reached No.12 on the Billboard chart. [16] He was laid to rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut.[17]. With his popularity now firmly established in the US and growing in the UK Gene began to churn the hits out with amazing regularity. 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). 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! The Jagger/Richards song "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" was a No. He once recalled how his first solo performance at school degenerated into an embarrassing whimper as Pitney was petrified by the expectant audience. 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. Jane Corbett's pictures Pictures of Gene's Grave. 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