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. [7] In the US, the single stalled at No. Gene Alan Pitney was born on the 17th of February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut. However, his music and studies were coming into increasing conflict and Gene began to move more towards his musical ambitions. In 1965, Pitney recorded two successful albums with country singer George Jones. [16] He was laid to rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut.[17]. 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". Gene Pitney died at age 65 of natural causes. Gene Pitney's wife Was Lynne Pitney. They were voted the most promising country-and-western duo of the year. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. His songs were performed by many famous artists. See the events in life of Gene Pitney in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-kRoGbEdIo. (Photo by Mario Ruiz/Getty Images) Save. Gene Pitney is a member of the following lists: Epic Records artists, American pop singers . Gene Pitneys income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. 2023 Getty Images. He loved music since his childhood and joined a band in high school. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. 49, ending a run of seven Top 40 singles for Pitney as a performer. 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's career in the US took a downturn after mid-1966, when "Backstage" ended another run of Top 40 hits. In collaboration with songwriter Aaron Schroeder, he placed his songs with big artists. Gene Pitney And Lynne Gayton. 14) marked his comeback by featuring in the Top 40 in 1974. He was an enthusiastic doo-wop singer and also sang with a group named The Embers. Singer Gene Pitney (2L) playing guitar w. sons Todd (R) & David (2R), & wife Lynne (L) playing back-up instruments at home. Almond said he was "saddened and shocked" at the news. "I've seen him quite a few times on this tour and he was fit and well. 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. Gene Pitney was an American singer, songwriter, and sound engineer best known for his song Town Without Pity. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. In 1966, his single Nobody Needs Your Love peaked at 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! The single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. She confirmed: As soon as it (the death) was deemed to be non-suspicious, the matter was handed over to the coroner.. 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. , money, salary, income, and assets. 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. At one point he had hits in Europe, the UK, and the US pop and country charts with four different songs simultaneously. Gene teamed up with Marc Almond to cover his sixties hit "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". 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. Overcoming his nerves over the next few years, Pitney learned to play the guitar and piano and formed a schoolboy band. . Only Love Can Break Your Heart/Released. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. He recorded a Bacharach and David song, Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa, which peaked at No. He attended Rockville High School where he formed his first band, Gene & the Genials. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? 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. 1 position.[5]. 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". Gene Pitney has one of the most distinctive voices in music. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and Patrick Ewing. Gene Pitney's net worth "Rebel" kept Pitney's own No. [9], Pitney was involved in a gaffe on ITV's This Morning in 1989, owing to a "technical mishap". He recorded albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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.. Despite showing no signs of ill health prior to his death, the singer passed away after performing a show in the Welsh capital. The funeral of singer Gene Pitney has been held in his home town of Somers, in Connecticut. Those recordings were not released until 1990. Gene Pitney's casket "Wild" Wayne's floral arrangement at the funeral for Gene Pitney American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. Mark Howes of his management company In Touch Music said the singer was found in his bed. In Australia, his songs Blue Angel (No. 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. 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. This is to deny the true talent of the man and the extensive range he possesses. It is awarded annually to Rockville High School. And finally in 1989 achieved what had eluded him at the peak of his popularity, a number 1 single in the UK. Other massive hits for Pitney included 24 Hours From Tulsa and Im Gonna Be Strong. Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 in Rockville, Connecticut, the son of Anna A. 2 in US. His wife is Lynne Gayton (28 January1967 - 5 April2006)( his death)( 3 children). 2) and "Trans-Canada Highway" (No. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. Jane Corbett's pictures Pictures of Gene's Grave. 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. The Jagger/Richards song "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" was a No. Who Is Gene Pitney's Wife? Gene's profile was very good outside of the US and UK as well. Also learn how He earned most of Gene Pitney networth? 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. Gene Pitneys first break in the music industry came when he formed a duo named Jamie and Jane with Ginny Arnell. He still appeared regularly on UK charts till 1974. At one point he had hits in Europe, the UK, and the US pop and country charts with four different songs simultaneously. He is an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.. Listen online to one of his last interviews, conducted by BBC Radio Wiltshire's Mark Seaman. Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel at 1000 BST. The song received a Golden Globe Award, reached the US top 20 and Gene also performed it at the Academy Awards. Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. His maternal grandparents were Polish. "He was a great, unique singer of great, unique songs. Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel at 1000 BST. He recorded a Bacharach and David song, 'Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa,' which peaked at No. Mourning Quote: His family asked for donations, in lieu of flowers, to be made to Connecticut Public Broadcasting Company and the Humane Society of the US. With limited success as an artist, Gene began to find more success as a songwriter. The real breakthrough for Gene came with the song "Town Without Pity" which was the title song to the movie of the same name. Overall, Gene had 16 top 40 hits in the US and an amazing 40 top 40 songs in the UK. "He's a Rebel" would eventually reach number 1 in the UK and ironically deny Pitney the chance at a number 1 himself. 2 UK). Despite this the song was well received and it's mix of the pop and country genres worked extremely well. 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. It reached #39 on the charts. The single made the top 40 in the US and Britain. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? He is also remembered for the Burt BacharachHal David song "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance", which peaked at No. As well as music, Gene was a keen student and, after high school, he began studying electrical engineering. Did Gene Pitney ever get married? He followed up in December with "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", which reached No. With limited success as an artist, Gene began to find more success as a songwriter. In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney and the Genials". 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. "I know that he had many Welsh fans and his performances were always enthusiastically received. The night before his body was . He once recalled how his first solo performance at school degenerated into an embarrassing whimper as Pitney was petrified by the expectant audience. 17 on the Hot 100. The cause of his death was ascertained to be a heart attack. Gene Pitney has one of the most distinctive voices in music. "He's a Rebel" would eventually reach number 1 in the UK and ironically deny Pitney the chance at a number 1 himself. The first big breakthrough came when Roy Orbison recorded "Today's Teardrops" as the B-side to "Blue Angel". (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 Pitney, whose keening tenor voice produced a string of hits including "Town Without Pity'' was found dead in his hotel room in Wales Wednesday following a concert that fans acclaimed as. "Rubber Ball", another Pitney song, became a hit for Bobby Vee in the US and Marty Wilde in the 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. The 65-year-old, who died in the Cardiff Hilton last week, was suffering from hardening of the arteries, according to his death certificate. 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