April 07, 2006
He was the bravest of them all - - Gene Pitney Dies at 65
Gene Pitney was found dead in a hotel in Cardiff, Wales on Wednesday, April 5. Pitney was 65, on a tour of Britain and had performed in Cardiff the night before. According to the Associated Press, he appeared to have died of natural causes.
Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut and before embarking on his own singing career, wrote songs for Steve Lawrence, Roy Orbison and Bobbie Vee. Pitney also penned the Ricky Nelson hit “Hello Mary Lou” and the Crystals’ “He’s a Rebel,” recorded by Phil Spector. Yes, yes, we know that Darleen Love sung the lead vocal, but it was still credited to the Crystals. Pitney is probably best known for his hits, “Town without Pity,” “(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance” (although the song never made it into the movie) and “Only Love Can Break a Heart.” Pitney also recorded the Rolling Stones’ “That Girl Belongs to Yesterday” in 1963; in 1964 it became the first Jagger/Richards composition to chart in the United States. Pitney also had a hit in Britain in the late 80s with “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart” which he sung with Mark Almond.
Pitney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.