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. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. 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. Gene Pitney And Lynne Gayton. He had played a show at Cardiff St Davids Hall the previous night. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. SELECT OPTIONS SAVE TO CART We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. These next five pictures were taken by Anne Griffiths in October 2014. "Rubber Ball", another Pitney song, became a hit for Bobby Vee in the US and Marty Wilde in the UK. 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. Today is a sad day.". 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. Gene's first recordings were in 1958 with a Connecticut singing group called the Embers. Gene Pitney's casket "Wild" Wayne's floral arrangement at the funeral for Gene Pitney Publicity Listings It won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscars nomination for the Best Song. A book of condolences has since been opened in the city centre. In collaboration with songwriter Aaron Schroeder, he placed his songs with big artists. The first big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded "Today's Teardrops" as the B-side to "Blue Angel". After high school, he studied electrical engineering while simultaneously focusing on music. "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" marked a significant shift in Gene's musical direction. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. Collect, curate and comment on your files. The writers, Howard Greenfield and Helen Miller, presented the song to Pitney. On September 20, 2007, a plaque to Pitney was unveiled at the town hall in his hometown of Rockville, Connecticut. However, his music and studies were coming into increasing conflict and Gene began to move more towards his musical ambitions. The first big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded "Today's Teardrops" as the B-side to "Blue Angel". 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". 14) marked his comeback by featuring in the Top 40 in 1974. In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney and the Genials". I wanted to pay my respects by signing this book of condolence, which I know will reflect just how fondly thought of Gene was in Cardiff. The son of a mill worker, Pitney said childhood ambitions of becoming a performer could not have been further from his mind. Val Jordan's pictures. It reached the Top 40 in US and Britain. Pitney continued to place records in the Australian charts through 1976, including the hit "Down This Road", written and produced by distant relative Edward Pitney. With his popularity now firmly established in the US and growing in the UK Gene began to churn the hits out with amazing regularity. Gene Pitney was the man with one of the unique voices in music history, awesomely talented and brilliant. At one point he had hits in Europe, the UK, and the US pop and country charts with four different songs simultaneously. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. At 66 years old, Gene Pitney height not available right now. On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images), 4950 x 3669 px (16.50 x 12.23 in) - 300 dpi - 4 MB. His maternal grandparents were Polish. Gene Pitney's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. The cause of his death was ruled to be a heart attack. He once recalled how his first solo performance at school degenerated into an embarrassing whimper as Pitney was petrified by the expectant audience. (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 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Gene Pitneys income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. EEAAO star gives tearful speech after historic win, The best Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom deals. The cause of Gene Pitney's death has been confirmed. 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. Later that year, he had his first solo release "Cradle Of My Arms" under the name Billy Bryan on the Blaze record label. Discover Gene Pitney's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 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. Gene Pitney is a member of the following lists: Epic Records artists, American pop singers . She confirmed: As soon as it (the death) was deemed to be non-suspicious, the matter was handed over to the coroner.. His wife is Lynne Gayton (28 January1967 - 5 April2006)( his death)( 3 children). He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. He recorded a Bacharach and David song, 'Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa,' which peaked at No. Listen online to one of his last interviews, conducted by BBC Radio Wiltshire's Mark Seaman. This is to deny the true talent of the man and the extensive range he possesses.Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 in Rockville, Connecticut, the son of Anna A. Gene teamed up with Marc Almond to cover his sixties hit "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". The body can now be flown back to the USA for the stars funeral. Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel. Pitney has often been categorized (quite unfairly) as a teen-idol singer responsible only for melodramatic, angst-ridden ballads. In 1962 he sent a demo record to Musicor Records, called "I Wanna Love My Life Away". He eventually gained fame as a singer when he recorded his self-penned song, I Wanna Love My Life Away. American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. Musicor liked he song and didn't think it needed any "tweaking", releasing it exactly the way Pitney sent it to them. A post mortem examination showed that singer Gene Pitney died of natural causes, police said today. 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 real breakthrough for Gene came with the song "Town Without Pity" which was the title song to the movie of the same name. He had a regional hit with "Nessuno mi pu giudicare". [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. 03:36 EST 13 Apr 2006 Those recordings were not released until 1990. 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. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. | | We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel at 1000 BST. They were voted the most promising country-and-western duo of the year. Pitney was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff the morning after playing at the city's St David's Hall. Age, Biography and Wiki. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and Patrick Ewing. However, initially he found more success as a songwriter rather than as a singer. He followed up in December with "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", which reached 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. Associated With. The event was emceed by oldies radio DJ and Pitney friend "Wild" Wayne. 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. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. 5 in Britain at the start of 1964. Marked by his piercing, pained, and melodramatic tenor, he was often characterized (very unfairly) as a shallow teen idol type of singer. In Australia, after a fallow period in the early 1970s, Pitney returned to the Top 40 in 1974, when both "Blue Angel" (No. See the events in life of Gene Pitney in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-kRoGbEdIo. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. 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. The best place for inspiration, connection, and sharing! He attended Rockville High School where he formed his first band, Gene & the Genials. In October 2008, an international fan convention was held in Rockville. 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. (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. 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. Gene Pitney found dead in hotel. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? "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. [8], On 18 March 2002, Pitney was inducted by singer Darlene Love into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The single remained at the top for four weeks, and also went to No. 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! (Photo by Mario Ruiz/Getty Images) Save. Gene had a love of music from an early age. 5 for Pitney in 1967. (Orlowski) and Harold F. Pitney has often been categorized ( quite unfairly ) as a songwriter rather than as a rather. Song, became a hit for Bobby Vee in the UK into increasing conflict and Gene to. At one point he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the.! With amazing regularity as a singer when he recorded his self-penned song, became a hit for Bobby in... His childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in Hartford, Connecticut shown no signs of illness worth... City centre `` Half Heaven, Half Heartache '', another Pitney,... Griffiths in October 2014 as a singer when he recorded his self-penned,... 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