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.
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ping
Sad. That too young.
One of my favorites.
I'm listening to "It Hurts to Be in Love" now.
Rest in peace...
Aw jeez, he was a great one. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" and "True Love Never Runs Smooth" and "Half Heaven, Half Heartache" and "It Hurts To Be In Love" and many many more. So sad. RIP, and thank you for so many great songs.
Ping Liberty Valance
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I remember his music well, in the early 60s.
RIP, Gene.
Theodore R -- thanks for thinking of me. I know we were just talking about him. This really makes me sad, just as when Roy Orbison died.
WTF?
Healthy performer completes concert, lies down for a nap, dies.
?
A great has passed. He did some early work with the Rolling Stones, and George Jones too.
Even did a song called "Mecca" that would probably get him the death penalty by the "religion of peace" today.
"Liberty Valence" was (is) my favorite , and, it wasn't even in the movie!
:-(
Happens all the time.
Although I haven't really thought about Gene Pitney in a number of years, I'm sad to learn of his passing. I was in my early teens when he first became popular ... have fond memories of that era and his music was part of it.
It's rather surprising, because he was famous in later years for staying remarkably in shape and youthful for an oldies act.
"It Hurts To Be In Love" is one of the all-time great oldies. My 5-year-old daughter loves it, too.
Well put, and ditto. A song of his that always reminds me of the time around when JFK was killed was "24 Hours From Tulsa." I think his last big hit was "She's A Heartbreaker." Another good one was "Last Chance To Turn Around." What a great and distinctive voice.
Wow, they must have played that 100 times a day when I was growing up. Yet I've never seen a pic of him.
Thanks for the songs and memories, Gene.
Was he still singing and writing?
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