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Gene Pitney Biography
Gene Pitney, known for his song Town Without Pity, rose to fame starting in 1961 when he was signed Musicor. He immediately enjoyed success, with his “(I Wanna) Love My Life Away” hitting the Top 40. The same year “Town Without Pity” was his first song to hit the Top 20. The song won a Golden Globe Award. He performed the song at the Oscars in 1962. He is said to have one of the most distinctive voices in music. His songs and contributions have appeared in many television and movies. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, after being nominated 8 times. “He presents a strong, unique and highly identifiable voice that set him apart and made him one of the greatest vocalists in Rock and Roll,” Darlene Love said of him in 2002. He was considered a teen idol. “Jean really had a way with the females,” Darlene Love said.
His work was influenced by Paul Schafer, Goffin and Kings, Hal David and Burt Bacharach. “Those people have been the most important in allowing me to carry on and get here to this point today,” he said in his 2002 acceptance speech.
Gene composed songs for many others, including Roy Orbison, Bobby Vee, Ricky Nelson and most famously “He’s A Rebel” for The Crystals, which would hit #1 at the same time his own song “Only Love Can Break A Heart” at the #2 position. “Half Heaven, Half Heartache” reached No. 12 on the Billboard chart.
During his career, he released 34 Albums, 240 Singles and 265 Compilations. He was invited to play with The Rolling Stones on their first UK Album. They met while on tour in England, the same way that The Crystals met Gene. Considered a prolific songwriter, he gave Ricky Nelson one of his biggest hits, “Hello Mary Lou.”
After a brief lull in his career, Gene had a string of hits, starting in 1964 with two songs that reached No. 7 and No. 9. His last time in the US Top 40 was with “She’s A Heartbreaker” in 1968, but he continued to enjoy a respectable career enjoying success in the UK and Australia, with a number of titles that hit the Top 40 in those markets.
His most popular song on YouTube is “Somethings Gotten Hold of My Heart” with over 5,000,000 views. It reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart in 1967″One of my all time favourite songs. It’s textured and levelled. Not just a flat out tune. I can listen all day,” one commentor said. Another wrote, “Found this on radio over 30 years ago when I couldn’t sleep and still remember that day. One of the greatest songs ever and quite underrated”
Gene died in 2006 due to a heart attack. He was 66 years old. He continued performing to sold out audiences until his death. In 2007, his hometown of Rockville, Connecticut memorialized Gene with a plaque and September 20th, 2007 as Gene Pitney Day in Connecticut.
Discography
| The Collection: The Original Musicor Master Tapes |  |
| Cradle of My Arms: Complete Gene Pitney | |
| I’m Gonna be Strong/Looking Thru the Eyes of Love | |
| Blue Gene/Meets the Fair Young Ladies of Folkland | |
| Country Side of Gene Pitney | |
| Sings Just For You/World Wide Winners | |
| Best of Gene Pitney | |
| Platinum Collection | |
| Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart | |
| 24 Hours From Tulsa | |
| Love Grows | |
| Big Twenty: All the UK Top Hits, 1961-1973 | |
| Street Called Hope | |
| Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart | |
| Blue Angel: The Bronze Sessions | |
| I’m Gonna be Strong | |
| [object Object] | |
| Looking Through (Ultimate Collection) | |
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| Defenitive Collection | |
| 25 All-Time Greatest Hits | |
| 22 Greatest Hits | |
| Very Best of Gene Pitney | |
| Great Gene Pitney | |
| Greatest Hits | |
| More Greatest Hits | |
| George Jones & Gene Pitney | |
| Heartbreaker | |
| Hits and Misses | |
| Anthology(1961-1968) | |
| You’re The Reason | |
| Backstage: The Greatest Hits and More | |
| Pitney ’75 | |
| The Golden Hits of Gene Pitney | |
| New Sounds of Gene Pitney | |
| Ten Years Later | |
| Super Star | |
| This is Gene Pitney Singing The Platters’ Golden Platters | |
| The Greatest Hits of Gene Pitney | |
| She’s a Heartbreaker | |
| Gene Pitney Sings Burt Bacharach and Others | |
| Español, Volume 2 | |
| The Gene Pitney Story | |
| Golden Greats | |
| Just One Smile | |
| Young and Warm and Wonderful | |
| The Country Side of Gene Pitney | |
| Greatest Hits of All Times | |
| Nessuno Mi Può Giudicare | |
| Backstage (I’m Lonely) | |
| Big Sixteen Volume 3 | |
| Being Together (with Melba Montgomery) | |
| Espanol | |
| The Great Songs of Our Time | |
| Looking Through the Eyes of Love | |
| It’s Country Time Again! | |
| I Must Be Seeing Things | |
| For the First Time! Two Great Stars – George Jones and Gene Pitney | |
| Gene Pitney’s Big Sixteen, Volume Two | |
| It Hurts to Be in Love and Eleven More Hit Songs | |
| Gene Italiano | |
| Gene Pitney’s Big Sixteen | |
| Gene Pitney Meets the Fair Young Ladies of Folkland | |
| Blue Gene | |
| Gene Pitney Sings World Wide Winners | |
| Gene Pitney Sings Just for You | |
| Only Love Can Break a Heart | |
| Spotlight on Gene Pitney & NewCastle Trio | |
| The Many Sides of Gene Pitney | |
Top Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
Gene Pitney Hits?
One of the most successful American singer-songwriters of the 1960s, Gene Pitney had a string of Top 40 hits, including “24 Hours from Tulsa” and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
What Did Gene Pitney Die From?
Gene Pitney died of a heart attack on April 5, 2006, at the age of 65. Pitney had a long history of heart problems, and his death was not unexpected. However, it came as a shock to many of his fans, who loved him for his music.
Who Recorded 24 Hours From Tulsa?
The song “24 Hours from Tulsa” was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and first recorded by Gene Pitney in 1963.
When Realesed Gene Pitney – Last Chance To Turn Around Song ?
The song “Last Chance to Turn Around” by Gene Pitney was released in 1965. It is a ballad with a message of hope and second chances. The lyrics tell the story of a man who has made mistakes in his life but is given one last chance to turn things around.
Gene Pitney Greatest Hits?
The Very Best of Gene Pitney is a compilation album by American pop singer Gene Pitney, released in the UK on 24 September 2007. The album features some of his best-known hits, including “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart”, “24 Hours from Tulsa” and “I’m Gonna Be Strong”.
Who Wrote Gene Pitney – She’S A Heartbreaker Song ?
According to Songfacts, the song was written by Gene Pitney.
Most Searched For Gene Pitney Songs
| Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart | |
| The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance | |
| Town Without Pity | |
| If I Didn’t Have A Dime | |
| It Hurts To Be In Love | |
| Princess In Rags | |
| 24 Hours from Tulsa | |
| If I Only Had Time | |
| Only Love Can Break A Heart | |
| Mecca | |