I got the news a couple of hours ago and I'm flabbergasted.". On 18 March 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 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. CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. Gene Pitney Rearview Mirror 2020. He just wanted to please, and he did.". He was absolutely on top of his game and was really happy with the show. Let's take a look a his incredible career. Pitney's tour manager, James Kelly, said his friend Geoff Clennell had found Pitney fully-clothed in bed this morning. Gene Pitney was born Francis Alan Pitney in Hartford, Connecticut on February 17, 1940 and was an American singer-songwriter and musician. I had one of his albums where he sang a song that was a hit for Jay and the Americans called Cara Mia. Where did Gene Pitney die? What was the location of death? His maternal grandparents were Polish. "Last night was generally one of the happiest and most exuberant performances we've seen out of him. His songs have been recorded by some of the world's biggest stars -- "Hello Mary Lou" was released by Ricky Nelson, "Today's Teardrops" by Roy Orbison, and "Rubber Ball" by U.S. singer Bobby Vee and British artist Marty Wilde. He signed autographs. After a successful singing career spanning five decades, at the age of 66, he was found dead of natural causes, while in the middle of a … I was shocked when Gene Pitney died in 2006 that his death received so little publicity. PITNEY, Gene Gene Pitney, 66, of Somers and formerly of Rockville died on Wednesday, (April 5, 2006), in Welsh Capital, Cardiff, UK. He was a great, unique singer of great, unique songs.". "Last night at Cardiff, he was so alive," Wendy Horton, who had seen the singer perform six times, said. "I am deeply saddened and shocked by the death of Gene Pitney," Almond said today. Takes skill.-----Brandin Member Together they had three Sons, Todd, Chris, and David. One of the most interesting and difficult-to-categorize singers in '60s pop, Gene Pitney had a long run of hits distinguished by his pained, one-of-a-kind melodramatic wail. It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever. He had 11 top 10 hits in Britain, including his first number one with the Almond duet. As in the way Haggard sang "Sing a Sad Song" without going into falsetto. Gene Francis Alan Pitney (17 February 1940 – 5 April 2006) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and sound engineer. His last U.S. hit was "She's a Heartbreaker" in 1968. If anything, his popularity was greater in the UK and Europe than it was in his native US. The spokeswoman said a post mortem examination will take place to establish whether an inquest will be necessary. The 65-year-old American star was found dead just after 10am today at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff. Pitney, 65, was the voice behind such classics such as 'Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa' and 'Something Got A Hold Of My Heart'.He performed the latter alongside former Soft Cell … He had 11 top 10 hits in the UK including "That Girl Belongs To Yesterday" and "Looking Thru The Eyes of Love.". Pitney died while on tour in the UK on the 5th of April, 2006.His manager found him dead in his hotel room. His final show at Cardiff's St David's Hall had earned him a standing ovation; he ended with "Town Without Pity". Gene talks to Johnnie Walker and slow dances with Sally Boazman, who he rather seems to like! 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. He quit school at the age of 17 to join the Navy. His 40-year career included the massive hit "Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa" in 1963, his most famous song. The 65-year-old, who died in the Cardiff Hilton last week, was suffering from hardening of the arteries, according to … In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney … He was found this morning, at around 10am, at the Cardiff Hilton. BORN GENE FRANCIS ALAN PITNEY - HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT FEBRUARY 17, 1941 DIED - CARDIFF - WALES - APRIL 5, 2006. Gene Pitney had … Pitney played at St David's Hall in Cardiff last night, a performance one spectator described as one of his best. He was ubiquitous in the pop music world in the ’60s beginning in ’61 when his song “Rubber Ball” sung by Bobby Vee went to number 6 in the Billboard pop charts and a year later The Crystals’ hit with his “He’s A Rebel.” GENE PITNEY RIP @ 65. In 1989, he hit the UK number one slot with a recording of, 'Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart,' a remake of one of his 1960s singles he did with singer Marc Almond. He did not leave anybody out. "He was found fully-clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie down. His other hits included Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart, which reached number one in the UK when he re-released it as a duet with Marc Almond in 1989, and he worked with pop luminaries including the songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David and the producer Phil Spector. Discover (and save!) The 65-year-old musician - nicknamed the Rockville Rocket after the town in which he spent his teenage years - was a key bridge between 50s rock'n'roll and 60s pop. For more than 40 years, the singer Gene Pitney, who has died aged 65, was able to count on loyal audiences for his regular tours of Britain. An autopsy found the cause of death to be a heart attack and that he had severely occluded coronary arteries. Friends said he was in apparent good health and his death came as a shock. Not Pitney, he sang it full voice all the way. The single gave Pitney his first UK number one -- 22 years after its first release, PA added. There was no immediate word on the cause of death. American superstar Gene Pitney has been found dead aged 65 in his bed in a Cardiff hotel. I loved Gene Pitney. Gene Pitney Birthday and Date of Death. Pitney's father was a part-time musician, and by the age of six, Mo was learning to play the drums. COPIOUS COUNTRY IN GENE'S GENES . A spokeswoman for Cardiff coroner Mary Hassell told PA she had been officially informed of the star's death. Gene Pitney was one of Americas greatest performers and songwriters. He worked with the Rolling Stones and was credited with helping them find fame in the U.S., according to PA. Tags: american birth day 17 birth month february birth year 1940 death day 5 death month april death year 2006 singer-songwriter Jene Levy told Reuters Pitney had died on Wednesday morning in the Welsh capital. It's true that some of his biggest hits -- "Town Without Pity," "Only Love Can Break a Heart," "I'm Gonna Be … Pitney is sometimes characterized (or dismissed) as a shallow teen idol-type prone to operatic ballads. He once recalled how his first solo performance at school degenerated into an embarrassing whimper as Pitney was petrified by the expectant audience. South Wales police said they had been called to a hotel at 9.50 a.m. on Wednesday morning and that the death was not being treated as suspicious. He enjoyed water Skiing with friends. Long-time family friend Paul Gagliarducci paid tribute to Pitney, who died of natural causes, as "a man full of quiet generosity". (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. April 5, 2006 – Gene Pitney was born February 17, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut and grew up in Rockville, now part of Vernon, Connecticut. Gene Pitney got married to childhood friend and heartthrob, Lynne Gaytonin 1966. After a successful singing career spanning five decades, at the age of 66, he was found dead of natural causes, while in the middle of a sellout UK tour. Jan 21, 2014 - This Pin was discovered by Cecilia Jaconetti - Irresisti. He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut. He took the time to go across the front and shake everybody's hand. LONDON, England -- Singer Gene Pitney has died in the middle of his UK tour, his agent said. "He had a standing ovation. Gene Pitney (born Gene Francis Alan Pitney in Hartford, Connecticut, USA on 17 February 1940 - died 5 April 2006 (Cardiff, Wales). Cardiff, Wales, UK; Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in … Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 – April 5, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and sound engineer. The 65-year-old American star was found dead just after 10 a.m. Wednesday (0500 ET) at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff, Wales. "He did a good show last night at St. David's Hall and it was wonderful," he said. Singer Gene Pitney has died in the middle of his UK tour, his agent said today. When he was 12, Pitney was recovering from a broken arm when he asked his dad to teach him to play guitar, with a towel draped over the instrument's body so as not to scratch the finish. Pitney was found in his bed by his tour manager, Mark Hawes of In Touch Music told the BBC. Gene had a love of music from an early age. Pitney's song Mecca, with its eastern-inspired melodies, is considered to have been a key influence on psychedelic pop, while (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance went a long way towards bringing country music into the pop mainstream. Gene was born on … "I've seen him quite a few times on this tour and he was fit and well. Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 and died on April 5, 2006. The cause of death was a heart attack and severely occluded coronary arteries. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and Patrick Ewing. Although moved to the pop sidelines by the so-called "British invasion" of the mid-60s and considered by some to be a lightweight figure, his influence and reputation grew considerably in recent decades. The cause of Gene Pitney's death has been confirmed. "It looks like it was a very peaceful passing," he said. The singer had been due to perform in Bristol tonight and had a total of nine tour dates ahead of him in Wales, Scotland and northern England. His naval career was ended following … Pitney who began his music career in 1961, had several songs on both the Top 20 and Top 40 music charts. Gene Pitney (born Gene Francis Alan Pitney in Hartford, Connecticut, USA on 17 February 1940 - died 5 April 2006 (Cardiff, Wales). Rock 'n' roll pioneer Gene Vincent was born Eugene Vincent Craddock (Vincent Eugene according to some biographers) on February 11, 1935 in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2002 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Gene Francis Alan Pitney was born on February 17, 1941, in Hartford, Connecticut. He rests at Somers Center Cemetary in Somers, Connecticut. 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. Pitney was touring the UK in the spring of 2006 when his manager found him dead in his hotel room following a concert in Cardiff, Wales, on April 5. Pitney 'died of natural causes' Last updated at 16:49 06 April 2006 A post mortem examination showed that singer Gene Pitney died of natural causes, police said … He seems to have died of natural causes while asleep. gene pitney's Concert History. He was found dead early this morning while midway through a 23-date UK tour, his agent, Jene Levy, said. Issues of Time. "It was an honour to have worked with him. your own Pins on Pinterest "Last night was one of the best performances, not vocally, but from the enthusiasm. Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 in Rockville, Connecticut, the son of Anna A. Pitney rose to fame in the 1960s and was introduced to a new generation of fans in 1989 when he duetted with Marc Almond on "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart," the UK's Press Association reported. DAVE'S DIARY - 14 APRIL 2006 - GENE PITNEY OBITUARY. LONDON, England -- Singer Gene Pitney has died in the middle of his UK tour, his agent said. Born October 21, 1940 in Nicholasville, he was the son of the late John Edward and Dola Mae Stinnett Pitney. Gene was 66 years old at the time of death. The night before his body was discovered in … Anyhoo, when Jay got to the high notes, he sang falsetto. South Wales police were called to the hotel room shortly before 9am, but are not treating the death as suspicious. 6th April 2006 American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. American crooner Gene Pitney has died in a hotel during his latest UK tour. Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Bobby Gene Pitney, 72, of Gravel Switch, died Monday, July 22, 2013. He said it was the best tour he had done for quite a few years.". 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