Gene Pitney's operatic voice ranks with other greats such as Roy Orbison & Jay Black. His passing is a tragic loss.
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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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.
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.
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.
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!
I'll bet something similar happens when Lou Christie cashes out. Which I hope doesn't happen for a long time.
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.
Gene Pitney's operatic voice ranks with other greats such as Roy Orbison & Jay Black. His passing is a tragic loss.
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.
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 ...
"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.
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."
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.
Didn't Jay Black also die not too long ago? Or was it the first "Jay"?
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).
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.
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.
"...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.
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