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Singer Gene Pitney Dies at 65
AP via Yahoo! News ^ | 04/05/2006

Posted on 04/05/2006 5:41:25 AM PDT by GeneD

LONDON - Gene Pitney, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame whose hits included "Town Without Pity" and "Only Love Can Break a Heart," died Wednesday at a hotel in Wales after playing a show, his agent said. He was 65.

Pitney was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales. Police said the death did not appear suspicious.

"We don't have a cause of death at the moment but looks like it was a very peaceful passing," said Pitney's tour manager, James Kelly.

"He was found fully clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie down. It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever."

He added: "Last night was generally one of the happiest and most exuberant performances we've seen out of him. He was absolutely on top of his game and was really happy with the show."

Born in Hartford, Conn., on Feb. 17, 1941, Pitney had his first success as a songwriter with "Rubber Ball," a Top 10 hit for Bobby Vee in 1961. Later that year, Ricky Nelson had a hit with Pitney's "Hello Mary Lou."

As a performer, Pitney had his first success that same year with "Love My Life Away."

But Burt Bacharach and Hal David provided the songs that put Pitney in the Top 10: "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and "Only Love Can Break a Heart."

"Only Love Can Break a Heart" was Pitney's biggest U.S. hit, peaking at No. 2 on the charts in 1962. The No. 1 song at the time was The Crystals' "He's a Rebel," written by Pitney.

He had more than a dozen Top 40 hits and even contributed to an early Rolling Stones recording session.

Pitney waited until 1990 for his first British No. 1 — he rerecorded "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" with Marc Almond.

Pitney also had some success as a country singer, pairing with George Jones to record "I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night" and "Louisiana Man."

He recorded in Italian and Spanish, and twice took second place at the San Remo Song Festival in Italy. He also had a regional hit with "Nessuno Mi Puo' Giudicare."

Pitney was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

___

On the Net:

http://www.allmusic.com


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS: genepitney; music; obituary
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To: speedy
A 1963 R&B (sort of) favorite of mine was "I Know, I Know" by Pookie Hudson. Also Baby Washington "That's How Heartaches Are Made."

My favorite Baby Washington opus from 1963 is "Leave Me Alone," in which she is backed by a full orchestra. I don't believe this record even charted.

121 posted on 04/05/2006 9:34:21 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: Riverman94610
Half Heaven, Half Heartache debuted at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of December 15, 1962 and peaked at #12 about a month and a half later.
122 posted on 04/05/2006 9:41:34 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: Riverman94610
Man,I have to leave for work now but I need your help in identifying two songs for me: Que Sera Sera by the Five Keyes-I THINK they did it-from Summer of 1963 and a song that went "Beware,beware,you better beware or you ain't a gonna get nowhere"by an R and B group from around 1960. Thanks,speedy.

I'm a music collector, and as a librarian, I make my living answering reference questions, but you've thrown me a stumper. I can't find a record of any recording of "Que Sera, Sera" by the Five Keys, who on about four different labels during the 1950's and early 1960's. They don't seem to have released it as a single, but it may be on an LP.

The other song in question may be "Beware" by Jesse Belvin & The Capris, from 1959. This was a regional hit in Southern California and was also recorded by The Innocents, another Southern California group, in 1961. However, I haven't heard it in a while and don't remember how the lyrics go.

123 posted on 04/05/2006 9:55:46 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: tiki

One heck of a voice, extremely powerful for a small man, or so he looked to me. The final notes on "I'm Going to Be Strong" are unusual for a pop singer. Then there is Scott Walker, a story for another day, I suppose.


124 posted on 04/05/2006 10:08:17 PM PDT by ashtanga
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To: Fiji Hill

Wow -- always great to see another Baby Washington fan. Talk about under-rated (or even unknown.) Let me know if you like Bertha Tillman too!


125 posted on 04/05/2006 10:26:51 PM PDT by speedy
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To: Revolting cat!

I'll bet something similar happens when Lou Christie cashes out. Which I hope doesn't happen for a long time.


126 posted on 04/05/2006 10:28:27 PM PDT by speedy
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To: speedy

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.


127 posted on 04/05/2006 11:48:09 PM PDT by bushinohio
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To: GeneD
Gene Pitney's operatic voice ranks with other greats such as Roy Orbison & Jay Black.

His passing is a tragic loss.

128 posted on 04/06/2006 2:39:58 AM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is not free)
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To: GeneD

Just Damn... I really love Pitney's music. I used to drive the little alternative kids crazy at the college station where I dj'd by slipping in "She's a Heartbreaker" and "It Hurts To Be In Love" in between punk tunes. RIP, Gene - you'll be missed.


129 posted on 04/06/2006 2:44:41 AM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (Count Petofi will not be denied!)
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To: speedy
I'll bet something similar happens when Lou Christie cashes out. Which I hope doesn't happen for a long time.

Another forgotten great! I saw him at an oldies show some years ago - Lou looked great and hit all the high notes. He even covered "Girls On the Beach", which thrilled the Beach Boys fanatic within me. Lou Christie rocks!
130 posted on 04/06/2006 2:50:16 AM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (Count Petofi will not be denied!)
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Most of his big hits happened before I got into rock and roll ...but I was aware of him , being a fellow Nutmegger from down the road in Willimantic ...I bought a double record greatest hits set of his years ago , and am playing it now here in my humble Japanese home in the Kyushu boondocks ...Town Without Pity one of my all time fave songs ...RIP Gene ...


131 posted on 04/06/2006 3:04:54 AM PDT by sushiman
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To: Revolting cat!

"No matter what you do,
Baby it's you!"

Those are some of the lyrics but there might be a typo in the discography. I'd like to hear this song. Probably not the same, but you never know.


132 posted on 04/06/2006 5:36:13 AM PDT by MrLee
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To: GodBlessRonaldReagan

Lou has made a nice living off the oldies circuit, often appearing with Lesley Gore. It must have been great to hear "The Gypsy Cried" and "Two Faces Have I" again in all their glory. Nice idea to cover "Girls On The Beach."


133 posted on 04/06/2006 6:23:28 AM PDT by speedy
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To: bushinohio
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.

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.

134 posted on 04/06/2006 6:26:24 AM PDT by speedy
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To: M. Espinola

Didn't Jay Black also die not too long ago? Or was it the first "Jay"?


135 posted on 04/06/2006 6:27:56 AM PDT by speedy
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To: speedy

Jay Black is still alive and well. Saw him in concert twice and he still sounds exactly the same...incredible. I'm not sure about the original Jay (Jay Traynor of Jay and the Americans).


136 posted on 04/06/2006 7:57:14 AM PDT by bushinohio
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To: bushinohio

Glad to hear it. If he'd given us nothing more than that extended "Cara Mia" note, he would have earned his niche in rock history.


137 posted on 04/06/2006 8:08:54 AM PDT by speedy
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To: speedy
Lou has made a nice living off the oldies circuit, often appearing with Lesley Gore.

Auuugh! I'd cut off my left arm to see Lou with Leslie Gore. I love her music - "Maybe I Know" is a song just crying out for a remake with crunchy guitars!

When I saw Lou, he was with Frankie "Sea Cruise" Ford who was terrific, and the Mamas and the Papas with no original members. The lineup included Mackenzie Phillips (!), Scott Mackenzie and Spanky from Spanky and Our Gang. I was excited at first, being a big S&OG fan, but she had totally lost her voice over the years. Needless to say, they really bit. Lou was awesome, though. Like you said, to hear those classics live was spine-tingling.
138 posted on 04/06/2006 9:31:57 AM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (Count Petofi will not be denied!)
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To: speedy
Talk about under-rated (or even unknown.)

Bertha Tillman was certainly under-rated. Although "Oh, My Angel," her biggest hit, only made it to #61 on the Billboard Hot Hundred in the spring of '62, it was for years a popular "oldie" in LA. If you have the original 45, it should be worth some bucks.

Another great baby Washington opus is "Lonely Nights" by The Hearts, a "doo wop" tune in which she sings lead, from 1955.

139 posted on 04/06/2006 10:45:16 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: speedy

"...the next Traveling Wilbury after Roy and Del died."

That's right, Del had been tapped to take Roy's spot and then he killed himself. Do you know if they ever recorded anything before that happened? Del had a haunting voice, almost a ghostly wail sometimes. I have a collection of "dying" songs I put together. Del's "The Prom" is on it.


140 posted on 04/06/2006 11:23:43 AM PDT by beelzepug (Kites banned in Pakistan...does anything in Islam NOT involve throat slitting?)
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