Gene Pitney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene Pitney
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Pitney in 1967
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gene Francis Alan Pitney |
| Also known as | Billy Bryan |
| Born | February 17, 1940 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Origin | Rockville, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | April 5, 2006 (aged 66) Cardiff, Wales |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, piano, drums, vocals |
| Years active | 1958–2006 |
| Labels | Musicor, Columbia |
Gene Francis Alan Pitney (born February 17, 1940 – died April 5, 2006) was a famous American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was known for his powerful voice and emotional songs.
Gene Pitney had many hit songs in the United States and the United Kingdom. Some of his most popular songs include "Town Without Pity", "Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa", and "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". He also wrote songs for other artists, like "Hello Mary Lou" for Ricky Nelson. In 2002, he was honored by being added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Early Life
Gene Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He was one of five children. His family lived in Rockville, Connecticut, where he grew up.
When he was young, Gene was inspired by singers like Clyde McPhatter. He went to Rockville High School. There, he started his first band called Gene & the Genials. He made his first recordings in 1958 with a group called the Embers. Later, he released some songs under the name Billy Bryan before using his real name, Gene Pitney.
Music Career
Becoming Famous (1961–1964)
In 1961, Gene Pitney signed with a new record label called Musicor. He quickly had his first song, "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away", become a Top 40 hit. He played many instruments on this song and recorded his voice multiple times to create a richer sound.
Later that year, his song "Town Without Pity" became a Top 20 hit. This song was from a movie and even won a Golden Globe Award. Gene performed it at the Academy Awards ceremony.
He also had a big hit with "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" in 1962. Even though it had the same name as a famous western movie, the song wasn't used in the film.
Gene Pitney was also a talented songwriter for others. He wrote hits like "Rubber Ball" for Bobby Vee and "He's a Rebel" for the Crystals. In fact, "He's a Rebel" even kept one of his own songs, "Only Love Can Break a Heart", from reaching the number one spot! Because of his success, a radio DJ gave him the nickname 'The Rockville Rocket'.
His song "Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa" became a huge hit in the UK in 1964. This helped him become very popular there.
Working with The Rolling Stones (1964)
In 1964, Gene Pitney was in London and played piano during some early recording sessions for the Rolling Stones. He helped them record songs for their first album.
He also had a UK hit with "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday", which was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. It was the first time a song written by them became a Top 10 hit in the UK.
Staying Popular
Gene Pitney continued to have many hits in the mid-1960s. These included "It Hurts to Be in Love" and "I'm Gonna Be Strong". "It Hurts to Be in Love" was originally planned for another singer, Neil Sedaka, but Gene ended up recording it.
In 1965, Gene recorded two successful albums with country singer George Jones. They were even voted the most promising country duo of the year. Gene also recorded songs in Italian, Spanish, and German, showing his talent around the world. He was very popular in Italy, where his strong singing style reminded people of famous Italian singers.
UK, Australian, and European Success (1966–1970s)
After 1966, Gene Pitney's songs were not as popular in the US charts. However, he remained a huge star in Britain, Australia, and other parts of Europe throughout the 1970s. He regularly appeared on the music charts in these countries.
In the early 1970s, Gene decided to spend more time with his family. He chose to tour for only six months each year.
Later Career
Gene Pitney had another big hit in 1989 after not being on the charts for 15 years. He teamed up with Soft Cell singer Marc Almond to record a duet version of "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". This song became his first number one hit in the UK! It also reached number one in Germany, Finland, Switzerland, and Ireland.
In 2000, Gene sang harmony vocals on a song called "Half Heaven – Half Heartache" for singer Jane Olivor.
On March 18, 2002, Gene Pitney was officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This was a great honor for his contributions to music.
This Morning Show Incident
In 1989, Gene Pitney had a funny moment on a TV show called This Morning. During his performance of "You're the Reason", there was a technical problem. He missed his cue and was seen trying to sing along to his own backing track, but he was out of sync! Gene found humor in the situation and continued with the song. This moment has been replayed on TV many times since then.
Personal Life
In 1967, when he was very famous, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton. They had three sons named Todd, Chris, and David.
Death
Gene Pitney was on tour in the UK in 2006. After a concert in Cardiff, Wales, on April 5, his manager found him dead in his hotel room. Doctors determined he had a heart attack. His last show had been a great success, ending with a standing ovation. He was buried in Somers, Connecticut.
Remembering Gene Pitney
After his death, many people paid tribute to Gene Pitney. Marc Almond, who sang the duet with him, recorded a song called "Backstage (I'm Lonely)" in 2007.
On September 20, 2007, a special plaque was put up in his hometown of Rockville, Connecticut, to honor him. His family attended the event. The Governor of Connecticut also declared September 20, 2007, as Gene Pitney Day. A music scholarship was also created in his name for students at Rockville High School.
Discography
Gene Pitney released many albums throughout his career, including:
- The Many Sides of Gene Pitney (1962)
- Only Love Can Break a Heart (1962)
- Gene Pitney Sings Just for You (1963)
- It Hurts to Be in Love and Eleven More Hit Songs (1964)
- For the First Time! Two Great Stars - George Jones and Gene Pitney (1965)
- I Must Be Seeing Things (1965)
- Just One Smile (1967)
- She's a Heartbreaker (1968)
- Backstage: The Greatest Hits and More (1990)
- Anthology (1961-1968) (1990)
- Looking Through (Ultimate Collection) (2001)
Images for kids
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Gene Pitney in 1967
See also
In Spanish: Gene Pitney para niños
