Discover Gene Pitney's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 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. 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 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. 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. Gene Pitney's casket "Wild" Wayne's floral arrangement at the funeral for Gene Pitney T Alison Ryan Associated With. 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. 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. He loved music since his childhood and joined a band in high school. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? Those recordings were not released until 1990. His streak of success continued through 1976 with songs like Down This Road, and Days of Summer. 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. As well as music, Gene was a keen student and, after high school, he began studying electrical engineering. Gene Pitney is a member of the following lists: Epic Records artists, American pop singers . They are provided in a historical context. Jason Derby, Other Works "Rebel" kept Pitney's own No. 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. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. "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. "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. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Pitney scored 22 UK Top 40 hits during his long career. 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 single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. Gene had a love of music from an early age. In collaboration with songwriter Aaron Schroeder, he placed his songs with big artists. 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". In 1966, his single Nobody Needs Your Love peaked at No. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? Does Unforgotten work without Nicola Walker? Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Despite this the song was well received and it's mix of the pop and country genres worked extremely well. Almond said he was "saddened and shocked" at the news. 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. Gene and his family. [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. The song received a Golden Globe Award, reached the US top 20 and Gene also performed it at the Academy Awards. 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. 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). In 1964, his song Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa peaked at No.5 in Britain and at No. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. Whether you like it or not you know when it is Gene. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 4 in 1962. He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. He is from USA. Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 in Rockville, Connecticut, the son of Anna A. Despite showing no signs of ill health prior to his death, the singer passed away after performing a show in the Welsh capital. "He's a Rebel" would eventually reach number 1 in the UK and ironically deny Pitney the chance at a number 1 himself. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and Patrick Ewing. It was followed by Town Without Pity which became his first Top 20 single. His family asked for donations, in lieu of flowers, to be made to Connecticut Public Broadcasting Company and the Humane Society of the US. 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". 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 also performed it at Oscars ceremony on April 9, 1962, becoming the first pop singer to do so. 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). 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. 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 . (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. He received a glowing review for the South Wales Echo - "non-stop enthusiastic performance" during what proved to be his final concert in Cardiff. Pitney and Almond appeared on the Terry Wogan television show in Britain. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. 7 and No. "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. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and David. Pitney was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff the morning after playing at the city's St David's Hall. SELECT OPTIONS SAVE TO CART In 1961, Gene Pitney recorded his first Top 20 single, Town Without Pity which had been penned by Tiomkin and Ned Washington. "Rubber Ball", another Pitney song, became a hit for Bobby Vee in the US and Marty Wilde in the UK. 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. 1, in late January 1989. Video Captures Gene Video's from Youtube. He also recorded an album of folk songs. 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. He once recalled how his first solo performance at school degenerated into an embarrassing whimper as Pitney was petrified by the expectant audience. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The cause of his death was ruled to be a heart attack. He is also credited with helping the Rolling Stones break the American market with his endorsement of the band. 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. 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. Pitney's career in the US took a downturn after mid-1966, when "Backstage" ended another run of Top 40 hits. "His family have taken the news as can be expected," said Pitney's promoter Mark Howes. 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. Also learn how He earned most of Gene Pitney networth? "I know that he had many Welsh fans and his performances were always enthusiastically received. 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. He is also remembered for the Burt BacharachHal David song "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance", which peaked at No. [2] The third of five children of a lathe operator, Pitney lived with his family in Rockville, Connecticut, during his formative years. Gene's career as an artist in his own right began with the self-penned "I Wanna Love My Life Away" which he recorded for $30 at a small recording studio in New York. The duet brought him his first UK No. It reached the Top 40 in US and Britain. American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. He recorded his self-penned song (I Wanna) Love My Life Away which was released on Schroeders Musicor label in 1961. "Rubber Ball", another Pitney song, became a hit for Bobby Vee in the US and Marty Wilde in the UK. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney and the Genials". Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Soon, his focus shifted to only music. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. He said it was the best tour he had done for quite a few years.". He still appeared regularly on UK charts till 1974. 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. He was an enthusiastic doo-wop singer and also sang with a group named The Embers. 2 in US. 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.. In 2000, he sang the harmony vocals in Jane Olivors version of his own song Half Heaven Half Heartache. Who was the host of Gene Pitneys funeral? We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. [4] Pitney charted 16 top-40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. (Photo by Mario Ruiz/Getty Images) Save. He also recorded a number of his hits in Italian. The cause of his death was ascertained to be a heart attack. With limited success as an artist, Gene began to find more success as a songwriter. He had two older and two younger siblings and lived with his family in Rockville, Connecticut. Gene Pitney's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. [9], Pitney was involved in a gaffe on ITV's This Morning in 1989, owing to a "technical mishap". He also recorded songs in Italian, Spanish and German. 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. Wiki User. 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. 17 on US Hot 100. Gene had a love of music from an early age. 2 in UK. 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 Pitney was born on 17 February 1940, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Anna A. The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. He is most remembered for Song, "Red Rubber Ball. , money, salary, income, and assets. 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. At one point he had hits in Europe, the UK, and the US pop and country charts with four different songs simultaneously. 2 in the UK, matching the No. What was the cause of Gene Pitneys death? [12] It has been repeated on television over the years, notably on a 2002 episode of BBC One series Room 101,[11] in which host Paul Merton described it as a "very funny moment" in which Pitney came in "unbearably late". EEAAO star gives tearful speech after historic win, The best Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom deals. Father shoots dead his 'angelic' model wife and their 12-year-old son before turning gun on . And finally in 1989 achieved what had eluded him at the peak of his popularity, a number 1 single in the UK. Who Is Gene Pitney's Wife? Whether you like it or not you know when it is Gene. When Was Only Love Can Break Your Heart released? Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the hits "Trans-Canada Highway" and "Blue Angel". Today we welcome famous widow, Lynne Pitney, wife of famous Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Gene Pitney, to our joy -ous club, the club that nobody wants to joy -n. Ever. The funeral of singer Gene Pitney has been held in his home town of Somers, in Connecticut. 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. "They felt awful that he was so far away when it happened but they are glad that he is home now.". 5 for Pitney in 1967. Musicor liked he song and didn't think it needed any "tweaking", releasing it exactly the way Pitney sent it to them. 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. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, who was a lathe operator. Lynne Gayton (28 January1967 - 5 April2006)( his death)( 3 children). On 18 March 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He recorded albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful. . The Jagger/Richards song "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" was a No. The limousine carrying the family of singer Gene Pitney leaves Somers Center Cemetery following Pitney's burial. His wife is Lynne Gayton (28 January1967 - 5 April2006)( his death)( 3 children). Pitney. Singer Gene Pitney (2L) playing guitar w. sons Todd (R) & David (2R), & wife Lynne (L) playing back-up instruments at home. 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". 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. [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. "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. Pitney has often been categorized (quite unfairly) as a teen-idol singer responsible only for melodramatic, angst-ridden ballads. Wedding: Lynne C. Gayton to Gene Pitney (Pop Star) - The Bridgeport Post, Jan. 26, 1967 (Thu) Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton on Wednesday morning (April 5). It is awarded annually to Rockville High School. He was the first pop singer to ever perform at the Oscar's and it helped to significantly raise his profile in the US. (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. Who Is Gene Pitney's Wife? "Gene moved on quickly though and his first solo song came with "Cradle of My Arms" albeit under the name Billy Bryan. Following hot on the heels of "Town Without Pity" was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". He was buried at the Somers Centre Cemetery following a service at the nearby All Saints Church. In Australia, his songs Blue Angel (No. Gene Pitney's net worth 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. Despite this the song was well received and it's mix of the pop and country genres worked extremely well. He married wife Lynee. 2) and Trans-Canada Highway (No. 03:36 EST 13 Apr 2006 Gene Pitney died at age 65 of natural causes. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. Publicity Listings Gene Pitney was the man with one of the unique voices in music history, awesomely talented and brilliant. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. In Australia, after a fallow period in the early 1970s, Pitney returned to the Top 40 in 1974, when both "Blue Angel" (No. Pitney's songs have been recorded by some of the world's biggest stars - Hello Mary Lou was released by Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison recorded Today's Teardrops as the B-side to his million-selling single, Blue Angel. They were taken just a few days after Gene's funeral. Portrait of singer Gene Pitney and his pregnant wife Lynne Gayton during a holiday in Italy, circa 1968. It won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscars nomination for the Best Song. Pitney died on 5 April at the age of 65 of natural causes, hours after coming off stage during his. She confirmed: As soon as it (the death) was deemed to be non-suspicious, the matter was handed over to the coroner.. I was shocked and saddened to hear of the. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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. 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. Early Life. Gene Pitney, singer and songwriter, born February 17 1941; died April 5 2006. Although disappearing in the late seventies he made a successful touring comeback in 1983 with a sell out North American tour. With limited success as an artist, Gene began to find more success as a songwriter. Pitney charted 16 top 40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. Only Love Can Break Your Heart/Released. Also Known As: Gene Francis Alan Pitney Died At Age: 66 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Lynne Gayton (m. 1967) father: Harold F. Pitney mother: Anna A. 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. American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. Clipping found in The Bridgeport Post in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Jan 26, 1967. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. 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. More tickets released for It's a Sin star's play, Nope's Keke Palmer gives birth to first child, Strictly's Rachel Stevens talks split from husband, Stacey Solomon hits back at mum-shaming trolls, Paris Hilton shares unusual name for newborn son, Love Island stars spark engagement rumours, Ray Liotta given posthumous Walk of Fame star, Marvel's Karen Gillan posts first wedding pictures, DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. He followed up in December with "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", which reached No. And finally in 1989 achieved what had eluded him at the peak of his popularity, a number 1 single in the UK. His songs gained notable popularity in US and UK and he was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. He is survived by his wife Lynne and three sons who live in his native Connecticut. He had nine dates left on his 23-date UK tour and was due to appear at Bristol's Colston Hall on Wednesday. [7] In the US, the single stalled at No. Musicor liked he song and didn't think it needed any "tweaking", releasing it exactly the way Pitney sent it to them. 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). 14) marked his comeback by featuring in the Top 40 in 1974. Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel at 1000 BST. After high school, he studied electrical engineering while simultaneously focusing on music. Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the hits "Trans-Canada Highway" and "Blue Angel". (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images), 4950 x 3669 px (16.50 x 12.23 in) - 300 dpi - 4 MB. Signed to songwriter Aaron Schroeder's newly formed Musicor label in 1961, Pitney scored his first chart single, which made the Top 40, the self-penned "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away", on which he played several instruments and multi-tracked the vocals. 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. In the early 1970s, Pitney decided to spend only six months each year on the road in order to spend more time with his family. Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 [1] [2] - April 5, 2006) [3] was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. 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! The son of a mill worker, Pitney said childhood ambitions of becoming a performer could not have been further from his mind. 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.
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