One of the greatest talents of the 60s. Roy Orbison and Del Shannon too. Those three were singer/songwriters before the term had even been coined.
Has anyone ever heard Gene's medley of Orbison's and Jimmie Rodger's It's Over/It's Over? He combined those two songs beautifully. The vocals just blow you away! I'm only 30 and Gene Pitney has been one of my favorites since I was a teen.
I always wondered if Gene would have been the next Traveling Wilbury after Roy and Del died. But I think that slot was considered jinxed by then. Like being drummer for Spinal Tap.