Singer Gene Pitney Dies at 65

Leftcoaster · 04-05-2006, 07:13 PM

Singer Gene Pitney Dies at 65

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 5, 2006
Filed at 8:37 a.m. ET

LONDON (AP) -- Gene Pitney, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame whose hits included ''Town Without Pity'' and ''Only Love Can Break a Heart,'' died Wednesday at a hotel in Wales after playing a show, his agent said. He was 65.

Pitney was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. Police said the death did not appear suspicious.

''We don't have a cause of death at the moment but looks like it was a very peaceful passing,'' said Pitney's tour manager, James Kelly.

''He was found fully clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie down. It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever.''

He added: ''Last night was generally one of the happiest and most exuberant performances we've seen out of him. He was absolutely on top of his game and was really happy with the show.''

Born in Hartford, Conn., on Feb. 17, 1941, Pitney had his first success as a songwriter with ''Rubber Ball,'' a Top 10 hit for Bobby Vee in 1961. Later that year, Ricky Nelson had a hit with Pitney's ''Hello Mary Lou.''

As a performer, Pitney had his first success that same year with ''Love My Life Away.''

But Burt Bacharach and Hal David provided the songs that put Pitney in the Top 10: ''The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'' and ''Only Love Can Break a Heart.''

''Only Love Can Break a Heart'' was Pitney's biggest U.S. hit, peaking at No. 2 on the charts in 1962. The No. 1 song at the time was The Crystals' ''He's a Rebel,'' written by Pitney.

He had more than a dozen Top 40 hits and even contributed to an early Rolling Stones recording session.

Pitney waited until 1990 for his first British No. 1 -- he rerecorded ''Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart'' with Marc Almond.

Pitney also had some success as a country singer, pairing with George Jones to record ''I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night'' and ''Louisiana Man.''

He recorded in Italian and Spanish, and twice took second place at the San Remo Song Festival in Italy. He also had a regional hit with ''Nessuno Mi Puo' Giudicare.''

Pitney was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts...=1&oref=slogin

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Only 4 songs come to my mind when I think of Pitney, but they were all keepers.

Not that it cancels out one of, if not the worst life experience a person can encounter (death), but I'm happy for him that he was still doing what he enjoyed on the day he died.

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Qboots · 04-05-2006, 11:38 PM

Aw, that's too bad. And I really thought he was older than 65.

Rest in Peace, Gene.

SentFromHeaven · 04-06-2006, 03:34 AM

My favorite song from him was 'True Love Never Runs Smooth'. R.I.P. Gene.

SFH.

04-05-2006, 07:13 PM	#1
Leftcoaster FORT Fogey Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,403	Singer Gene Pitney Dies at 65 Singer Gene Pitney Dies at 65 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: April 5, 2006 Filed at 8:37 a.m. ET LONDON (AP) -- Gene Pitney, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame whose hits included ''Town Without Pity'' and ''Only Love Can Break a Heart,'' died Wednesday at a hotel in Wales after playing a show, his agent said. He was 65. Pitney was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. Police said the death did not appear suspicious. ''We don't have a cause of death at the moment but looks like it was a very peaceful passing,'' said Pitney's tour manager, James Kelly. ''He was found fully clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie down. It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever.'' He added: ''Last night was generally one of the happiest and most exuberant performances we've seen out of him. He was absolutely on top of his game and was really happy with the show.'' Born in Hartford, Conn., on Feb. 17, 1941, Pitney had his first success as a songwriter with ''Rubber Ball,'' a Top 10 hit for Bobby Vee in 1961. Later that year, Ricky Nelson had a hit with Pitney's ''Hello Mary Lou.'' As a performer, Pitney had his first success that same year with ''Love My Life Away.'' But Burt Bacharach and Hal David provided the songs that put Pitney in the Top 10: ''The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'' and ''Only Love Can Break a Heart.'' ''Only Love Can Break a Heart'' was Pitney's biggest U.S. hit, peaking at No. 2 on the charts in 1962. The No. 1 song at the time was The Crystals' ''He's a Rebel,'' written by Pitney. He had more than a dozen Top 40 hits and even contributed to an early Rolling Stones recording session. Pitney waited until 1990 for his first British No. 1 -- he rerecorded ''Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart'' with Marc Almond. Pitney also had some success as a country singer, pairing with George Jones to record ''I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night'' and ''Louisiana Man.'' He recorded in Italian and Spanish, and twice took second place at the San Remo Song Festival in Italy. He also had a regional hit with ''Nessuno Mi Puo' Giudicare.'' Pitney was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts...=1&oref=slogin --------- Only 4 songs come to my mind when I think of Pitney, but they were all keepers. Not that it cancels out one of, if not the worst life experience a person can encounter (death), but I'm happy for him that he was still doing what he enjoyed on the day he died.

04-05-2006, 11:38 PM	#2
Qboots Go Bruins! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: LOST in the 70's Posts: 10,321	Aw, that's too bad. And I really thought he was older than 65. Rest in Peace, Gene. __________________ "I'm telling you - it's a madhouse out there. I feel like Charlton Heston waking up in the field and seeing the chimp on top of the pony." ~ Dennis Miller

04-06-2006, 03:34 AM	#3
SentFromHeaven I Love Chad Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 477	My favorite song from him was 'True Love Never Runs Smooth'. R.I.P. Gene. SFH. __________________ Check out my avatar It's Chad Michael Murray!