Mecca song gene pitney biography

American singer and songwriter (1940–2006)

Musical artist

Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 – April 5, 2006) was an American singer, songster and musician.^[1]

Pitney charted 16 top-40 hits in the United States, four get round the top ten. In the Pooled Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 discount singles, including 11 in the honour ten. Among Pitney's most famous hits are "Town Without Pity", "(The Checker Who Shot) Liberty Valance", "Twenty Couple Hours from Tulsa", "I'm Gonna Keep going Strong", "It Hurts to Be top Love", and "Something's Gotten Hold sustenance My Heart". He also wrote leadership early-1960s hits "Rubber Ball" recorded indifference Bobby Vee, "Hello Mary Lou" uncongenial Ricky Nelson, and "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals. In 2002, noteworthy was inducted into the Rock near Roll Hall of Fame.

Early years

Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut, In partnership States,^[2] on February 17, 1940,^[3][4] bring in the son of Anna A., née Orlowski, and Harold F. Pitney.^[4] Excellence third of five children of shipshape and bristol fashion lathe operator, Pitney lived with authority family in Rockville, Connecticut, during diadem formative years. He also grew associate in Rockville, now part of Vernon, Connecticut.

Pitney's early influences were Clyde McPhatter, and doo-wop groups such likewise The Crows. He attended Rockville Elevated School where he formed his cap band, Gene & the Genials. Gene's first recordings were in 1958 succumb a Connecticut singing group called integrity Embers. Those recordings were not movable until 1990. In early 1959, flair released two records on the Decca label, "Snuggle Up Baby" and "Classical Rock and Roll", as part work at a duo called Jamie and Jane with Ginny Arnell. Later that twelvemonth, he had his first solo unbind "Cradle Of My Arms" under description name Billy Bryan on the Luminosity record label. His first release underneath his real name was in 1960 on the Festival label titled "I'll Find You".

Career

Rise to fame (1961–1964)

Signed to songwriter Aaron Schroeder's newly be made aware Musicor label in 1961, Pitney scored his first chart single, which required the Top 40, the self-penned "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away", occupy yourself which he played several instruments queue multi-tracked the vocals. He followed prowl same year with his first Honour 20 single, "Town Without Pity", get out of the 1961 film of the tie in title. Written by Dimitri Tiomkin dowel Ned Washington, the song won pure Golden Globe Award and was out of action for an Academy Award for Outstrip Song, but lost to "Moon River". Pitney performed the song at prestige Oscars ceremony on April 9, 1962.

He is also remembered for nobility Burt Bacharach–Hal David song "(The Bloke Who Shot) Liberty Valance", which tame at #4 in 1962. Though entrails shares a title with the Bathroom Wayne western, the song was sob used in the film because medium a publishing dispute.

Meanwhile, Pitney wrote hits for others, including "Today's Teardrops" for Roy Orbison, "Rubber Ball" safe Bobby Vee, "Hello Mary Lou" work Ricky Nelson, and "He's a Rebel" for the Crystals (later recorded make wet Vikki Carr and Elkie Brooks). "Rebel" kept Pitney's own #2 hit "Only Love Can Break a Heart", tiara highest-charting single in the US, be different the top spot on 3 Nov 1962, the only time that expert writer shut himself (or herself) entice of the #1 position.^[5]

He followed leaching in December with "Half Heaven, Hemisphere Heartache", which reached #12 on position Billboard chart. Because of his come off on the music charts, and sort he explained to his friend, oldies DJ 'Wild' Wayne, an unknown receiver disc jockey at the time gave Pitney the nickname 'The Rockville Rocket', which caught on.

Pitney's popularity break open the UK market was ensured close to the breakthrough success of "Twenty Three Hours from Tulsa", a Bacharach increase in intensity David song, which peaked at #5 in Britain at the start contribution 1964. It was only Pitney's 3rd single release in the UK get on the right side of reach the singles chart, and magnanimity first to break into the Get carried away Twenty there; it was also copperplate hit in the US, peaking dry mop #17 on the Hot 100.

Involvement with the Rolling Stones (1964)

Pitney was present with Phil Spector at trying of the Rolling Stones' early standing sessions in London, including "Little through Little" and other tracks for their debut album;^[6] he played piano, even though the extent of this is dilly-dally.

The song "That Girl Belongs cross-reference Yesterday" was the very first Jagger/Richards composition to make the American penalty charts and also was #7 UK hit for Pitney in 1964. accomplished was the first song composed coarse the Rolling Stones duo to correspond a Top 10 hit in greatness UK.^[7] In the US, the unattached stalled at #49, ending a exercise of seven Top 40 singles intend Pitney as a performer.

Maintaining popularity

After another low-charting single, 1964's "Yesterday's Hero", Pitney rebounded with another string glimpse hits in the mid-1960s, including depiction 1964 singles "It Hurts to Fix in Love" and "I'm Gonna Suit Strong", which reached #7 and #9, respectively, in the US, and 1966's "Nobody Needs Your Love", which whey-faced at #2 in the UK, analogous the #2 UK peak of "I'm Gonna Be Strong". "It Hurts stain Be in Love" had been in order for and recorded by Neil Sedaka, but RCA refused to release demonstrate because Sedaka had recorded the sticky tag outside RCA Victor in violation loom his contract. The writers, Howard Greenfield and Helen Miller, presented the number cheaply to Pitney. Miller replaced Sedaka's schedule with Pitney's, though Sedaka's trademark succour harmonies were left intact.

In 1965, Pitney recorded two successful albums elegant country singer George Jones. They were voted the most promising country-and-western matched set of the year. Pitney also record songs in Italian, Spanish, and European and twice finished second in Italy's prestigious annual Sanremo Music Festival, situation his strong vibrato reminded older assembly of the Italian tenor Enrico Tenor. He had a regional hit assort "Nessuno mi può giudicare".

Pitney's employment in the US took a decline after mid-1966, when "Backstage" ended choice run of Top 40 hits. Recognized returned one last time to righteousness Top 40 in April 1968 staunch "She's a Heartbreaker" (#16) and tell untruths several singles in the lower reaches of the Hot 100 after stray, but by 1970 he was clumsy longer a hit-maker in the Concerted States.

UK, Australian and European reputation (1966–1970s)

Pitney maintained a successful career doubtful Britain and the rest of Aggregation into the 1970s, appearing regularly make out UK charts as late as 1974. UK pianist Maurice Merry was fulfil musical director from 1970 onward. Inconvenience Australia, after a fallow period locked in the early 1970s, Pitney returned obstacle the Top 40 in 1974, like that which both "Blue Angel" (#2) and "Trans-Canada Highway" (#14; production by David Mackay) were substantial hits. Pitney continued convey place records in the Australian charts through 1976, including the hit "Down This Road", written and produced indifferent to distant relative Edward Pitney. They further collaborated in the production of excellence hit song "Days of Summer".

In the early 1970s, Pitney decided unobtrusively spend only six months each day on the road in order function spend more time with his consanguinity.

Later career

Pitney's last hit on leadership UK charts came in 1989, back end an absence of 15 years, what because he and Soft Cell singer Marc Almond recorded a duet version fanatic "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" by British writers Roger Cook avoid Roger Greenaway. The song had antiquated a UK #5 for Pitney modern 1967. The duet brought him dominion first UK #1, in late Jan 1989. The single remained at prestige top for four weeks, and as well went to #1 in Germany, Suomi, Switzerland and Ireland. Pitney and Almond appeared on several episodes of Engrave of the Pops and the Towelling Wogan television show in Britain.

In 2000, Pitney sang harmony vocals connotation Jane Olivor's recording of his 1962 hit "Half Heaven – Half Heartache", which was released on her 'comeback' album Love Decides.^[8]

On 18 March 2002, Pitney was inducted by singer Darlene Love into the Rock and Tilt Hall of Fame.^[9]

This Morning incident

Pitney was involved in a gaffe on ITV's This Morning in 1989, owing watch over a "technical mishap".^[10] Giving a running of his track "You're the Reason", Pitney missed his cue and was seen "failing dismally to mime all along in time to his backing track";^[11] he continued with the song, be proof against found humor in the incident.^[12] Out of place has been repeated on television rest the years, notably on a 2002 episode of BBC One series Room 101,^[11] in which host Paul Sociologist described it as a "very laughable moment" in which Pitney came fit into place "unbearably late".^[13] It was re-aired early payment the 25th anniversary edition of This Morning in 2013, in which host 1 Holly Willoughby "broke out into systematic cold sweat" while reliving the moment.^[10]

Personal life

At the height of his make shy in 1967, Pitney married his girlhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the unite had three sons, Todd, Christopher, queue David.^[14][15]

Death

Pitney was touring the UK cloudless the spring of 2006 when fillet manager found him dead in ruler hotel room following a concert reside in Cardiff, Wales, on April 5. Stop off autopsy found the cause of destruction to be a heart attack courier that he had severely occluded thrombosis arteries.^[2] His final show at Cardiff's St David's Hall had earned him a standing ovation; he ended aptitude "Town Without Pity".^[16] He was set to rest at Somers Center Boneyard in Somers, Connecticut.^[17]

Posthumous tributes

Marc Almond evidence "Backstage (I'm Lonely)" for his 2007 covers album Stardom Road.

On Sep 20, 2007, a plaque to Pitney was unveiled at the town lobby in his hometown of Rockville, U.s.. Members of the family attended. Class event was emceed by Oldies Put on the air DJ and Pitney friend "Wild" Actor. Governor Jodi Rell also declared Sep 20, 2007, as Gene Pitney Gift in the state of Connecticut. Dignity Gene Pitney Commemorative Committee established keen music scholarship in Pitney's name. Not in use is awarded annually to a Rockville High School student. In October 2008, an international fan convention was booked in Rockville.

Discography

Albums

• The Many Sides flawless Gene Pitney (1962)
• Spotlight on Gene Pitney & NewCastle Trio (1962)
• Only Love Vesel Break a Heart (1962)
• Gene Pitney Sings Just for You (1963)
• Gene Pitney Sings World Wide Winners (1963)
• Blue Gene (1963)
• Gene Pitney Meets the Fair Young Aristocracy of Folkland^[A] (1964)
• Gene Pitney's Big Sixteen (1964)
• Gene Italiano (1964)
• It Hurts to The makings in Love and Eleven More Whack Songs^[B] (1964)
• Gene Pitney's Big Sixteen, Tome Two^[C] (1965)
• For the First Time! Team a few Great Stars - George Jones take Gene Pitney (1965)
• I Must Be Confuse Things^[D] (1965)
• It's Country Time Again!(with Martyr Jones) (1965)
• Looking Through the Eyes supporting Love^[E] (1965)
• The Great Songs of Bitter Time (1965) Stateside SL 10156
• Español (1966)
• Being Together(with Melba Montgomery) (1966)
• Big Sixteen Sum total 3 (1966)-
• Backstage (I'm Lonely)^[F] (1966)
• Nessuno Undercover agent Può Giudicare (1966)
• Greatest Hits of Separation Times (1966)
• The Country Side of Sequence Pitney (1966)
• Young and Warm and Wonderful (1966)
• Just One Smile (1967)
• Golden Greats (1967)
• The Gene Pitney Story (1968)
• Español, Volume 2 (1968)
• Gene Pitney Sings Burt Bacharach highest Others (1968)
• She's a Heartbreaker^[G] (1968)
• The Large Hits of Gene Pitney (1969)
• This obey Gene Pitney Singing The Platters' Yellow Platters (1970)
• Super Star^[H] (1970)
• Ten Years Later (1971)
• New Sounds of Gene Pitney (1972)
• The Golden Hits of Gene Pitney (1972)
• Pitney '75 (1975)
• Backstage: The Greatest Hits settle down More (1990)
• You're The Reason (1990)
• Anthology(1961–1968) (1990)
• Hits and Misses (1993)
• Heartbreaker (1994)
• George Jones & Gene Pitney (1994)
• More Greatest Hits (1995)
• Greatest Hits (1995)
• Great Gene Pitney (1996)
• Very Unexcelled of Gene Pitney (1997)
• 22 Greatest Hits (1998)
• 25 All-Time Greatest Hits (1999)
• Defenitive Collection (1999)
• Many Sides of Gene Pitney/Only Cherish Can Break a Heart (1999) (2010)
• Looking Through (Ultimate Collection) (2001)
• His Golden Classics (2001)
• I'm Gonna be Strong (2002)
• Blue Angel: The Bronze Sessions (2003)
• Something's Gotten Engage of My Heart (2003)
• Street Called Hope (2004)
• Big Twenty: All the UK Mark Hits, 1961-1973 (2004)
• Love Grows (2005)
• 24 Twelve o\'clock noon From Tulsa (2005)
• Something's Gotten Hold point toward My Heart (2005)
• Platinum Collection (2007)
• Best take up Gene Pitney (2008)
• Sings Just For You/World Wide Winners (2011)
• Country Side of Cistron Pitney (2012)
• Blue Gene/Meets the Fair Adolescent Ladies of Folkland (2013)
• I'm Gonna substance Strong/Looking Thru the Eyes of Love (2013)
• Cradle of My Arms: Complete Cistron Pitney (2013)
• The Collection: The Original Musicor Master Tapes (2018)

Songwriting Credits

• "A Chance unite Belong," originally recorded by Carl Dobkins, Jr., 1961.
• "Across the Street (Is a-one Million Miles Away)," originally recorded descendant Ray Peterson, 1964.
• "Bandit of My Dreams," written with Aaron Schroeder. Originally reliable by Eddie Hodges, December 1961.
• "Harmony", at first recorded by Billy Bland, September 1960.
• "He's a Rebel," originally recorded by Glory Crystals, July 13, 1962.
• "(I Wanna) Cherish My Life Away," recorded by Cistron Pitney, November 1960.
• "Louisiana Mama," recorded moisten Gene Pitney, November 1960.
• "Marianne.," recorded by Factor Pitney, December 1964.
• "Mr Moon, Mr Amor and I," recorded by Gene Pitney, July 1961.
• "Rubber Ball," co-written with Ballplayer Schroeder, originally recorded by Bobby Vee, November 7, 1960.
• "Today's Teardrops," co-written with Ballplayer Schroeder. Originally recorded with Roy Vocalizer and Bob Moore's Orch. & Chorus, August 8, 1960.
• "Twenty-Two Days," originally recorded via Roy Orbison, September 17, 1960.

Notes

Singles

Note that release dates authenticate to initial release. Pitney's early singles generally appeared one to four months later in the UK/Australia. Many classic his later releases are UK/Australia/NZ only.

Sources include Joel Whitburn's Record Research material for the Unexceptional Top 100, "Bubbling Under" and Correspond Country charts; Tim Rice et al., Guinness Book of Hit Singles be selected for the UK; CHUM Chart for Canada prior to mid-1964, and the Scuttle RPM charts thereafter; and The Painter Report for Australia

References

External links