- IMDb Mini Biography By: The cause of death is not yet known but is not suspicious. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. Jason Derby, Other Works Wiki User. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. Gene Pitney's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. On September 20, 2007, a plaque to Pitney was unveiled at the town hall in his hometown of Rockville, Connecticut. 14) marked his comeback by featuring in the Top 40 in 1974. Although disappearing in the late seventies he made a successful touring comeback in 1983 with a sell out North American tour. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. He is from USA. 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. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. The body can now be flown back to the USA for the stars funeral. He had two older and two younger siblings and lived with his family in Rockville, Connecticut. His maternal grandparents were Polish. 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. 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". In addition to this Pitney began to make forays into other areas of music once again demonstrating his vocal range. The real breakthrough for Gene came with the song "Town Without Pity" which was the title song to the movie of the same name. 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. 2 UK peak of "I'm Gonna Be Strong". 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. Pitney. Gene Pitney is a member of Rock Singer. 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. Who Is Gene Pitney's Wife? He still appeared regularly on UK charts till 1974. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. He recorded albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. 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". A post mortem examination showed that singer Gene Pitney died of natural causes, police said today. American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. In 1965, Pitney recorded two successful albums with country singer George Jones. Gene and his family. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. Gene had a love of music from an early age. UK pianist Maurice Merry was his musical director from 1970 onwards. 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". 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. Pitney maintained a successful career in Britain and the rest of Europe into the 1970s, appearing regularly on UK charts as late as 1974. 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 . "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" marked a significant shift in Gene's musical direction. Also learn how He earned most of Gene Pitney networth? In 1961, Gene Pitney recorded his first Top 20 single, Town Without Pity which had been penned by Tiomkin and Ned Washington. In Italy, his song Nessuno mi pu giudicare became a sensational hit, and he finished second in the countrys annual Sanremo Music Festival twice. Lord Mayor of Cardiff Freda Salway noted: "I was extremely saddened to hear about the death of Gene Pitney. 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. The 65-year-old, who died in the Cardiff Hilton last week, was suffering from hardening of the arteries, according to his death certificate. 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. Clipping found in The Bridgeport Post in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Jan 26, 1967. An autopsy found the cause of death to be a heart attack and that he had severely occluded coronary arteries. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. He grew up in Rockville, now part of Vernon, Connecticut. 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. Unrivaled Mac notes apps for fuss-free note-taking, 6 Actionable Tips for Improving Your Websites SEO, Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Wedding: Lynne C. Gayton to Gene Pitney (Pop Star) - The Bridgeport Post, Jan. 26, 1967 (Thu) . The cause of his death was ascertained to be a heart attack. (Photo by Mario Ruiz/Getty Images) Save. Pitney has often been categorized (quite unfairly) as a teen-idol singer responsible only for melodramatic, angst-ridden ballads. "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" marked a significant shift in Gene's musical direction. The cause of his death was ruled to be a heart attack. He followed up in December with "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", which reached No. 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 was a great, unique singer of great, unique songs.. Pitney and Almond appeared on the Terry Wogan television show in Britain. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? His maternal grandparents were Polish. 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. 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. Due to a publishing conflict, he was unable to receive a writing credit for. Marked by his piercing, pained, and melodramatic tenor, he was often characterized (very unfairly) as a shallow teen idol type of singer. With his popularity now firmly established in the US and growing in the UK Gene began to churn the hits out with amazing regularity. In 1965, he recorded two hit albums with singer George Jones and they became the most promising country-and-western duo of the year. 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. 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. Singer Gene Pitney (2L) playing guitar w. sons Todd (R) & David (2R), & wife Lynne (L) playing back-up instruments at home. He recorded albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful. 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. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. Official Sites. Those recordings were not released until 1990. Overcoming his nerves over the next few years, Pitney learned to play the guitar and piano and formed a schoolboy band. | He married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, and had three children with her. Pitney was. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and David. 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. Gene Pitneys income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. Pitney has continually toured over the last 40 years. Pictures of Gene's Grave. 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. Miller replaced Sedaka's voice with Pitney's, though Sedaka's trademark backing harmonies were left intact. "I've seen him quite a few times on this tour and he was fit and well. Other massive hits for Pitney included 24 Hours From Tulsa and Im Gonna Be Strong. In 1962 he sent a demo record to Musicor Records, called "I Wanna Love My Life Away". At one point he had hits in Europe, the UK, and the US pop and country charts with four different songs simultaneously. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. They were taken just a few days after Gene's funeral. 4 in 1962. 2) and "Trans-Canada Highway" (No. Pitney died on 5 April at the age of 65 of natural causes, hours after coming off stage during his. 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! Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940[1][2] April 5, 2006)[3] was an American singer-songwriter and musician.[4]. And finally in 1989 achieved what had eluded him at the peak of his popularity, a number 1 single in the UK. Gene Pitney's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. "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. 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. Gene Pitney has one of the most distinctive voices in music. [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. On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. The first big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded "Today's Teardrops" as the B-side to "Blue Angel". He had nine dates left on his 23-date UK tour and was due to appear at Bristol's Colston Hall on Wednesday. Pitney was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff the morning after playing at the city's St David's Hall. 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. 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 is also credited with helping the Rolling Stones break the American market with his endorsement of the band. The cause of his death was ascertained to be a heart attack. Gene had a love of music from an early age. 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. As well as music, Gene was a keen student and, after high school, he began studying electrical engineering. Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton on Wednesday morning (April 5). 2) and Trans-Canada Highway (No. It reached the Top 40 in US and Britain. And finally in 1989 achieved what had eluded him at the peak of his popularity, a number 1 single in the UK. Pitney scored 22 UK Top 40 hits during his long career. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. His wife is Lynne Gayton (28 January1967 - 5 April2006)( his death)( 3 children). View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. He also recorded an album of folk songs. Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 in Rockville, Connecticut, the son of Anna A. Especially in Italy where he came second in the San Remo song contest with the song "Nessuno Mi Puo Giudicare". Associated With. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Legendary crooner Gene Pitney has sadly passed away. 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. EEAAO star gives tearful speech after historic win, The best Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom deals. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. He was an enthusiastic doo-wop singer and also sang with a group named The Embers. 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. Publicity Listings Mark Howes of his management company In Touch Music said the singer was found in his bed. [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. His streak of success continued through 1976 with songs like Down This Road, and Days of Summer. Gene Pitney died at age 65 of natural causes. His US career started declining after his song She's a Heartbreaker made it to the Top 40 in mid-1968. 17 on the Hot 100. SELECT OPTIONS SAVE TO CART The single remained at the top for four weeks, and also went to No. Jane Corbett's pictures Pictures of Gene's Grave. 14; production by David Mackay) were substantial hits. 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. [2] The third of five children of a lathe operator, Pitney lived with his family in Rockville, Connecticut, during his formative years. With limited success as an artist, Gene began to find more success as a songwriter. 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! Gene Pitney was an American singer, songwriter, and sound engineer best known for his song Town Without Pity. Pitney's early influences were Clyde McPhatter and doo-wop groups such as The Crows. Age, Biography and Wiki. BORN GENE FRANCIS ALAN PITNEY - HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT FEBRUARY 17, 1941 DIED - CARDIFF - WALES - APRIL 5, 2006 COPIOUS COUNTRY IN GENE'S GENES When Gene Pitney emulated Buck Owens by dying in his sleep after his finale concert it was more than just serendipitous timing and modern history repeating. When Was Only Love Can Break Your Heart released? Almond said of his old singing colleague upon hearing of his death: It was an honour to have worked with him. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. [4] Pitney charted 16 top-40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. [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". A book of condolences has since been opened in the city centre. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/gene-pitney-9117.php. She confirmed: As soon as it (the death) was deemed to be non-suspicious, the matter was handed over to the coroner.. [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. 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. Pitney has often been categorized (quite unfairly) as a teen-idol singer responsible only for melodramatic, angst-ridden ballads. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. 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. The cause of Gene Pitney's death at 65 has been confirmed. 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. 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. This is to deny the true talent of the man and the extensive range he possesses. Mourning Joy: Q: What do you call the elephant witch doctor? 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 recorded his self-penned song (I Wanna) Love My Life Away which was released on Schroeders Musicor label in 1961. Who was the host of Gene Pitneys funeral? His family asked for donations, in lieu of flowers, to be made to Connecticut Public Broadcasting Company and the Humane Society of the US. American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images), 4950 x 3669 px (16.50 x 12.23 in) - 300 dpi - 4 MB. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. He attended Rockville High School where he formed his first band, Gene & the Genials. Gene Alan Pitney was born on the 17th of February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut. 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. They are provided in a historical context. 17 on US Hot 100. Gene's profile was very good outside of the US and UK as well. [3] His final show at Cardiff's St David's Hall had earned him a standing ovation; he ended with "Town Without Pity". (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney and the Genials". "Gene moved on quickly though and his first solo song came with "Cradle of My Arms" albeit under the name Billy Bryan. The Gene Pitney Commemorative Committee established a music scholarship in Pitney's name. "He's a Rebel" would eventually reach number 1 in the UK and ironically deny Pitney the chance at a number 1 himself. What was the cause of Gene Pitneys death? 2 UK). Gene Pitney was an American Singer, songwriter, musician, and sound engineer.He is well known for his chart making hit songs and recordings. "He was a great, unique singer of great, unique songs. They were voted the most promising country-and-western duo of the year. The single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. Gene Pitney (Gene Francis Alan Pitney) was born on 17 February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, is a Soundtrack, Actor. 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. In Australia, his songs Blue Angel (No. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At one point he had hits in Europe, the UK, and the US pop and country charts with four different songs simultaneously. 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 collaboration with songwriter Aaron Schroeder, he placed his songs with big artists. ", The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. 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. Discover Gene Pitney's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Portrait of singer Gene Pitney and his pregnant wife Lynne Gayton during a holiday in Italy, circa 1968. 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 . "His family have taken the news as can be expected," said Pitney's promoter Mark Howes. See answer (1) Copy. 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 2021-2022. American superstar Gene Pitney has been found dead aged 65 in his bed in a Cardiff hotel. Soon, his focus shifted to only music. 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. It reached number 5 in the UK charts and marked the beginning of his rise in popularity throughout the U. K. and Europe. The single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. Gene Pitney, singer and songwriter, born February 17 1941; died April 5 2006. 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. Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 in Rockville, Connecticut, the son of Anna A. Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton. Gene Pitney was born on 17 February 1940, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Anna A. 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. He was buried at the Somers Centre Cemetery following a service at the nearby All Saints Church. Thu 6 Apr 2006 05.12 EDT. 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. 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. Does Unforgotten work without Nicola Walker? 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). In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and Patrick Ewing. "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. He was the first pop singer to ever perform at the Oscar's and it helped to significantly raise his profile in the US. This answer is: [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. Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel at 1000 BST. He once recalled how his first solo performance at school degenerated into an embarrassing whimper as Pitney was petrified by the expectant audience. The duet brought him his first UK No. He married wife Lynee. He also performed it at Oscars ceremony on April 9, 1962, becoming the first pop singer to do so. Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 [1] [2] - April 5, 2006) [3] was an American singer-songwriter and musician. 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. He is a member of famous Soundtrack with the age 66 years old group. The cause of death is not yet known but is not suspicious. 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. They recorded Classical Rock & Roll in 1959 followed by a single called Cradle of My Arms.. The couple had three sons together. 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. He said it was the best tour he had done for quite a few years.". Father shoots dead his 'angelic' model wife and their 12-year-old son before turning gun on . Val Jordan's pictures. 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). It was followed by Town Without Pity which became his first Top 20 single. 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. In 1966, his single Nobody Needs Your Love peaked at No. 1 position.[5]. It is awarded annually to Rockville High School. Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the hits "Trans-Canada Highway" and "Blue Angel". Much is Gene Pitney 's Biography, age, Height, Physical Stats Dating/Affairs. Was only Love can break your heart released opened in the UK, and the ''! Childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, in 1966, his songs with big artists Needs your Love peaked at.! Gayton ( 28 January1967 - 5 April2006 ) ( his death was ascertained to be a heart attack, Anna... Extremely saddened to hear about the death of Gene Pitney was found his... What had eluded him at the age of 65 of natural causes a! And Roll Hall of Fame father shoots dead his & # x27 ; wife! 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