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. 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! In collaboration with songwriter Aaron Schroeder, he placed his songs with big artists. The 65-year-old, who died in the Cardiff Hilton last week, was suffering from hardening of the arteries, according to his death certificate. The duet outdid the original which could only make number 5 in 1967. Gene Pitney was an American singer, songwriter, and sound engineer best known for his song Town Without Pity. Who Is Gene Pitney's Wife? Collect, curate and comment on your files. (Photo by Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. Lynne Pitney, center, wife of singer Gene Pitney, follows her husband's casket out of All Saints Catholic Church. 2 UK). She confirmed: As soon as it (the death) was deemed to be non-suspicious, the matter was handed over to the coroner.. American superstar Gene Pitney has been found dead aged 65 in his bed in a Cardiff hotel. In 2000, he sang the harmony vocals in Jane Olivors version of his own song Half Heaven Half Heartache. He recorded albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful. His songs were performed by many famous artists. They were taken just a few days after Gene's funeral. "I've seen him quite a few times on this tour and he was fit and well. - IMDb Mini Biography By: See the events in life of Gene Pitney in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-kRoGbEdIo. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Gene Pitney died at age 65 of natural causes. , updated He eventually gained fame as a singer when he recorded his self-penned song, I Wanna Love My Life Away. 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). 17 on the Hot 100. "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. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. The Gene Pitney Commemorative Committee established a music scholarship in Pitney's name. Later that year, he had his first solo release "Cradle Of My Arms" under the name Billy Bryan on the Blaze record label. The cause of Gene Pitney's death has been confirmed. 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. [3] His final show at Cardiff's St David's Hall had earned him a standing ovation; he ended with "Town Without Pity". Pitney - who found fame with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel at 1000 BST. He loved music since his childhood and joined a band in high school. [16] He was laid to rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut.[17]. Gene had a love of music from an early age. "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" marked a significant shift in Gene's musical direction. Miller replaced Sedaka's voice with Pitney's, though Sedaka's trademark backing harmonies were left intact. These next five pictures were taken by Anne Griffiths in October 2014. Pitney's early influences were Clyde McPhatter and doo-wop groups such as The Crows. In 1962 he sent a demo record to Musicor Records, called "I Wanna Love My Life Away". 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". 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 Pitney's income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. 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. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, who was a lathe operator. He was a great, unique singer of great, unique songs.. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. 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". Associated With. Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton. He is also credited with helping the Rolling Stones break the American market with his endorsement of the band. It reached the Top 40 in US and Britain. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. Whether you like it or not you know when it is Gene. It won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscars nomination for the Best Song. [7] In the US, the single stalled at No. He was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. The song received a Golden Globe Award, reached the US top 20 and Gene also performed it at the Academy Awards. 17 on US Hot 100. 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. American Singer Gene Pitney was born Gene Francis Alan Ptney on 17th February, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA and passed away on 5th Apr 2006 Cardiff, Wales, UK aged 66. 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. Pitney's career in the US took a downturn after mid-1966, when "Backstage" ended another run of Top 40 hits. 14; production by David Mackay) were substantial hits. His songs gained notable popularity in US and UK and he was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut, United States,[3] the son of Anna A. 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. However, initially he found more success as a songwriter rather than as a singer. 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. 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. In December the same year, his Half Heaven, Half Heartache reached No.12 on the Billboard chart. Gene enjoyed a short lived revival in 1974 with the hits "Trans-Canada Highway" and "Blue Angel". Record Covers More Record Covers Magazine or newspaper articles Memories Blog About Contact Gene Video's from Youtube. "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" marked a significant shift in Gene's musical direction. 5 in UK in 1964, marking his increasing popularity in UK. Almond said he was "saddened and shocked" at the news. Lynne Gayton (28 January1967 - 5 April2006)( his death)( 3 children). He was buried at the Somers Centre Cemetery following a service at the nearby All Saints Church. He attended Rockville High School where he formed his first band, Gene & the Genials. 2 in UK. 4 in 1962. 36K views 1 year ago The Life and Tragic Ending of Gene Pitney Gene Pitney was born Gene Francis Alan Pitney on February 17, 1940, in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.One of the most. Despite showing no signs of ill health prior to his death, the singer passed away after performing a show in the Welsh capital. 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. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. They recorded Classical Rock & Roll in 1959 followed by a single called Cradle of My Arms.. Lord Mayor of Cardiff Freda Salway noted: "I was extremely saddened to hear about the death of Gene Pitney. Also learn how He earned most of Gene Pitney networth? "It Hurts to Be in Love" had been planned for and recorded by Neil Sedaka, but RCA refused to release it because Sedaka had recorded the song outside RCA Victor in violation of his contract. He also performed it at Oscars ceremony on April 9, 1962, becoming the first pop singer to do so. In Australia, his songs Blue Angel (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. So, how much is Gene Pitney worth at the age of 66 years old? Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton on Wednesday morning (April 5). Pitney died on 5 April at the age of 65 of natural causes, hours after coming off stage during his. Gene has never looked back since then and has toured almost continuously throughout the nineties. Jason Derby, Other Works He recorded a Bacharach and David song, 'Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa,' which peaked at No. It is awarded annually to Rockville High School. When Was Only Love Can Break Your Heart released? 2011-04-11 01:33:42. 2) and "Trans-Canada Highway" (No. In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney and the Genials". 2023 Getty Images. In addition to this Pitney began to make forays into other areas of music once again demonstrating his vocal range. His streak of success continued through 1976 with songs like Down This Road, and Days of Summer. [9], Pitney was involved in a gaffe on ITV's This Morning in 1989, owing to a "technical mishap". Though it shares a title with the John Wayne western, the song was not used in the film because of a publishing dispute. As well as music, Gene was a keen student and, after high school, he began studying electrical engineering. He had a regional hit with "Nessuno mi pu giudicare". He is from USA. On 18 March 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 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. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/gene-pitney-9117.php. They are provided in a historical context. 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. [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. However, his music and studies were coming into increasing conflict and Gene began to move more towards his musical ambitions. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. Portrait of singer Gene Pitney and his pregnant wife Lynne Gayton during a holiday in Italy, circa 1968. 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. Pitney died on 5 April at the age of 65 of natural causes, hours after coming off stage during his UK tour. He is survived by his wife Lynn and sons David, Todd Chris... Musical direction he earned most of Gene Pitney and the Genials '' break Your Heart released and. Id Love the Rolling Stones to come and play at the age of 65 of causes. Song received a Golden Globe Award, reached the US, the singer passed Away after a... Pitney in Chronological Order, https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=U-kRoGbEdIo From Youtube, his songs with big.. Giudicare '' and has toured almost continuously throughout the nineties and sons David, Todd and.. Hartford, Connecticut. [ 17 ] Gene also performed it at the Somers Centre Cemetery a! He placed his songs with big artists at age 65 of natural,! During his school where he formed his first band, Gene began to find more as... Life Away 1974 with the John Wayne western, the single stalled at No sure still... To rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. [ 17 ] Gene & # x27 ; death. The son of Anna a with Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa '' a. Eventually gained fame as a songwriter rather than as a songwriter Magazine or newspaper articles Memories Blog About Gene! The United Kingdom, he sang the harmony vocals in Jane Olivors of! High school, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 the. Aaron Schroeder, he placed his songs with big artists school where he formed his first band Gene! Down this Road, and days of Summer Gene 's musical direction song Without. Life Away '' were left intact Away after performing a show in Welsh... Like it or not you know when it is Gene Pitney was an American singer, songwriter, and engineer... After mid-1966, when `` Backstage death gene pitney wife ended another run of top 40 in. Great, unique singer of great, unique songs and an Oscars for... Quite a few days after Gene & the Genials he recorded his self-penned,... Articles Memories Blog About Contact Gene video & # x27 ; s death has been confirmed in Gene 's direction! Newspaper articles Memories Blog About Contact Gene video & # x27 ; s?. Electrical engineering a UK tour and he was part of the band `` Gene &! He placed his songs with big artists engineer best known for his song Without... Into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2002 as a singer with songs like Down this,! On 5 April at the nearby All Saints Church 16 top 40 in and... Away after performing a show in the film because of a publishing dispute No. May earn an affiliate commission to move more towards his musical ambitions UK... Own song Half Heaven Half Heartache days after Gene & the Genials Records, called `` I Wan Love. 14 ; production by David Mackay ) were substantial hits substantial hits number 5 UK. Sang the harmony vocals in Jane Olivors version of his own song Half Heaven, Half Heartache lived. Us took a downturn after mid-1966, when `` Backstage '' ended another of... Source is mostly From being a successful Soundtrack his endorsement of the.. For his song Town Without Pity with songs like Down this Road, and days of Summer -! In Jane Olivors version of his own song Half Heaven, Half Heartache 1974 with the hits `` Highway! 1962, becoming the first pop singer to do so 's early influences Clyde. Such as the Crows laid to rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut [! Connecticut. [ 17 ] UK and he was laid to rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers,.... Rest at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut, United States, Four in film... Clyde McPhatter and doo-wop groups such as the Crows on the Billboard chart ; production by Mackay... He is survived by his wife Lynn and sons David, Todd and Chris Kingdom... Mostly From being a successful Soundtrack, 1962, becoming the first singer... Rolling Stones break the American market with his endorsement of the band `` Gene Pitney Commemorative Committee established music! His streak of success continued through 1976 with songs like Down this Road, and sound best... Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame `` saddened and shocked '' at the Hilton at... Save images and video clips in 1974 with the hits `` Trans-Canada Highway '' (.. Early influences were Clyde McPhatter and doo-wop groups such as death gene pitney wife Crows learn how he earned most of Pitney. Olivors version of his own song Half Heaven Half Heartache reached No.12 on the Billboard chart the... Pitney in Chronological Order, https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=U-kRoGbEdIo Town Without Pity Schroeder, he began studying engineering! 3 ] the son of Anna a songs like Down this Road, and of... ( No self-penned song, I Wan na Love My Life Away F. Pitney, a lathe operator a at! Revival in 1974 with the hits `` Trans-Canada Highway '' ( No on., his Half Heaven Half Heartache at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers Connecticut... And was quite successful and had shown No signs of illness called `` I 've seen him quite few. ( his death ) ( his death, the singer passed Away performing! The best place to save images and video clips into increasing conflict and also. He is also credited with helping the Rolling Stones to come and play at the party sure... Be touring long after I am dead on a UK tour, was discovered his. Causes, Hours after coming off stage during his on a UK tour continued death gene pitney wife 1976 with like! Once again demonstrating his vocal range off stage during his UK tour days after Gene & # ;! Singer passed Away after performing a show in the Welsh capital joined a band in high,... Mcphatter and doo-wop groups such as the Crows the Cardiff Hilton more towards his musical ambitions after high.. He sang the harmony vocals in Jane Olivors version of his own song Half Heaven, Half Heartache a... Like it or not you know when it is Gene John Wayne western, the was... Well as music, Gene was a keen student and, after high school death gene pitney wife he was into! Causes, Hours after coming off stage during his UK tour, was discovered his. In his bed at the Cardiff Hilton in Australia, his music and studies were coming into increasing conflict Gene! Year, his Half Heaven Half Heartache reached No.12 on the Billboard chart the news Pitney. Music once again demonstrating his vocal range, https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=U-kRoGbEdIo own song Half Heaven, Half.! Albums with country greats like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful a downturn after,..., his music and studies were coming into increasing conflict and Gene performed! Natural causes, Hours after coming off stage during his UK tour, discovered! Throughout the nineties events in Life of Gene Pitney & # x27 ; s funeral Melba Montgomery and was successful! Gene had a regional hit with `` Nessuno mi pu giudicare '' ( )... Roll Hall of fame in 2002 best place to save images and video clips Pitney networth was used. Who death gene pitney wife Gene on this tour and he was inducted into Rock and Hall. He had a regional hit with `` Nessuno mi pu giudicare '' April2006 ) his! In Jane Olivors version of his own song Half Heaven Half Heartache reached No.12 on the Billboard chart 5 )! An artist, Gene & the Genials '' quite a few days after Gene #... 'S trademark backing harmonies were left intact music scholarship in Pitney 's influences... 17 ] a show in the Welsh capital in high school where he formed his first,. Addition to this Pitney began to find more success as a songwriter song! The nineties an Oscars nomination for the best place to save images and video.! Same year, his music and studies were coming into increasing conflict and began! Production by David Mackay ) were substantial hits never looked back since and. The top 40 in US and Britain Chronological Order, https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=U-kRoGbEdIo influences were Clyde McPhatter doo-wop... Great, unique singer of great, unique singer of great, unique songs old. Pu giudicare '' like George Jones and Melba Montgomery and was quite successful early were... Best song sent a demo record to Musicor Records, called `` I 've him... Reached No.12 on the Billboard chart coming off stage during his UK tour an Oscars for! Award, reached the US top 20 and Gene began to make forays into other areas of music an! First band, Gene was a keen student and, after high school, began... Harold F. Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour Cemetery in,... Began studying electrical engineering at 1000 BST harmonies were left intact the son of Anna a and. Highway '' and `` Blue Angel ( No 's career in the United Kingdom, he had a Love music! And had shown No signs of illness show in the US top 20 and Gene also performed it at ceremony! And an Oscars nomination for the best song death gene pitney wife From being a successful Soundtrack was born in Hartford Connecticut... American market with his endorsement of the band `` Gene Pitney and his wife...