Gene Pitney: 1941-2006
Update: April 6, 2006: Crooner Gene Pitney, best known for hits like "Only Love Can Break A Heart" and "Town Without Pity," as well as smashes he penned for other artists (Ricky Nelson's "Hello Mary Lou," The Crystals' "He's a Rebel"), has died in Cardiff, England at the age of 65.The death, which has been ruled the result of natural causes, occured during a 23-date tour of the British Isles. His tour manager, James Kelly, who spent Tuesday night in Gene's company, was "stunned" by Pitney's death, describing him on his last night as "absolutely buzzing and full of life... last night was generally one of the happiest and most exuberant performances we've seen out of him." Officials have ruled out any criminal investigation.
The singer, who remained popular in Europe after his Sixties successes, was enjoying new critical appreciation for his legacy, having been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Lynne, and sons David, Todd and Chris; Pitney's body has been released to the family and will be flown back to the US.
Comments
From lonely night dreams
Of faraway arms.
It’s time for me to be waking.
I’m very sad to see him go. I definitely learned some of my very early affection for classic pop music listening to an old red vinyl, Asian copy of Gene Pitney’s greatest hits that my brother and I found one day in the ditch along side the road - believe it or not.
No one has a voice like Gene Pitney - absolutely unique. On a sad song there is nothing like the emotion and pain he was able to convey.
Sad day in the music world, another great voice has gone, never forgotten.
I truly love Gene Pitney and his music. He will truly be missed all over the world!
sad sad sad sad-he will be greatly missed - I will forever remember his appearance on american bandstand and the music that he leaves the community -I am greatful.
So sorry about the loss of Gene Pitney. Very sad and shocking. I remember him from the early days. He was great!
Gene was one of my all time favorite
artist of the 60’s. One song that seems
to be forgotten by others is, “It Hurts
To Be In Love”; one of his best ever~!
Gene is one of my top 5 male vocalist ever. He also gave a proformance in Minneapolis that I will never forget. This is very sad news and a major loss to music.
Gene God Bless You
The Prince of Pain: It pains us so to see you go. You are Music’s best and will live for ever!
Gene Pitney was a great influence on my life. The first song I ever sang on stage at the age of 16 was ‘24 hours from Tulsa’
By the time I was 17 I left University and became a full time entertainer. That was 1968 and I am still singing. I named my second boy after Gene Pitney and I finally met Gene several years ago at Tweed Heads, Australia. He had heard there was a local guy around that sang his songs ‘better than he did’ and so when we met he asked me if I was that guy, the guy who sang his songs better.
I always dreamed that one day we would become friends. I think I know every song Gene recorded, even the obscure ones. He loved to sing and losing him at such an early age really knocked the wind out of me. We lost Roy a few years ago and now Gene is gone. Perhaps an era has gone too.
RPG
God’s choir has been augmented by one of the most gifted lyrical tenors of the 20th century.
Gene had the voice of joy, pathos, pain and love that defined the first-love and puppy love of the human experience which also branched into the adult maturity
coming-of-age appreciation of pop music.
Gene also did not buy into the pop music
star scandals that he could have easily fallen prey to by others in the entertainment industry and stood tall above the dirt and grime of the underbelly of the music business.
May he always be remembered for his hard work ethic and most unique talent that cannot be denied. Copied but never, never surpassed.
God speed to the universe and the music of the stars dearest Gene Pitney.
What a magnificent voice the world has lost. What a wonderful tribute to Gene Pitney it would be if Celine Dion made an album of his songs dedicated to him. No other voice can match his power and intensity only she can bring his beautiful voice back into the charts again for all the younger generations to appreciate once more. God Bless Gene and prayers for your family.
Gene Pitney was one of the voices of the 60,s, a fabulous entertainer and singer who loved his fans in Portsmouth England.It was a very sad day when I heard of his untimely death, can,t imagine not going to see him in concert again,our loss is gods gain.xx