He took the time to go across the front and shake everybody's hand. A spokeswoman for Cardiff coroner Mary Hassell told PA she had been officially informed of the star's death. It's true that some of his biggest hits -- "Town Without Pity," "Only Love Can Break a Heart," "I'm Gonna Be … He was a great, unique singer of great, unique songs.". LONDON, England -- Singer Gene Pitney has died in the middle of his UK tour, his agent said. He just wanted to please, and he did.". He was found dead early this morning while midway through a 23-date UK tour, his agent, Jene Levy, said. Pitney was touring the UK in the spring of 2006 when his manager found him dead in his hotel room following a concert in Cardiff, Wales, on April 5. The 65-year-old, who died in the Cardiff Hilton last week, was suffering from hardening of the arteries, according to … Gene had a love of music from an early age. Gene was born on … LONDON, England -- Singer Gene Pitney has died in the middle of his UK tour, his agent said. There was no immediate word on the cause of death. Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in … Gene Pitney was one of Americas greatest performers and songwriters. Gene Pitney (born Gene Francis Alan Pitney in Hartford, Connecticut, USA on 17 February 1940 - died 5 April 2006 (Cardiff, Wales). your own Pins on Pinterest Pitney's tour manager, James Kelly, said his friend Geoff Clennell had found Pitney fully-clothed in bed this morning. Pitney 'died of natural causes' Last updated at 16:49 06 April 2006 A post mortem examination showed that singer Gene Pitney died of natural causes, police said … Let's take a look a his incredible career. His songs have been recorded by some of the world's biggest stars -- "Hello Mary Lou" was released by Ricky Nelson, "Today's Teardrops" by Roy Orbison, and "Rubber Ball" by U.S. singer Bobby Vee and British artist Marty Wilde. "Last night at Cardiff, he was so alive," Wendy Horton, who had seen the singer perform six times, said. He once recalled how his first solo performance at school degenerated into an embarrassing whimper as Pitney was petrified by the expectant audience. The single gave Pitney his first UK number one -- 22 years after its first release, PA added. He had 11 top 10 hits in Britain, including his first number one with the Almond duet. Gene Francis Alan Pitney (17 February 1940 – 5 April 2006) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and sound engineer. Gene Pitney got married to childhood friend and heartthrob, Lynne Gaytonin 1966. Born October 21, 1940 in Nicholasville, he was the son of the late John Edward and Dola Mae Stinnett Pitney. The 65-year-old American star was found dead just after 10 a.m. Wednesday (0500 ET) at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff, Wales. The American singer-songwriter Gene Pitney, whose biggest hit was Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa, has been found dead in a hotel room in Cardiff, it was announced today. Long-time family friend Paul Gagliarducci paid tribute to Pitney, who died of natural causes, as "a man full of quiet generosity". Gene Pitney (born Gene Francis Alan Pitney in Hartford, Connecticut, USA on 17 February 1940 - died 5 April 2006 (Cardiff, Wales). I was shocked when Gene Pitney died in 2006 that his death received so little publicity. Gene Pitney Birthday and Date of Death. Takes skill.-----Brandin Member Gene Pitney was born Francis Alan Pitney in Hartford, Connecticut on February 17, 1940 and was an American singer-songwriter and musician. The singer had been due to perform in Bristol tonight and had a total of nine tour dates ahead of him in Wales, Scotland and northern England. Tags: american birth day 17 birth month february birth year 1940 death day 5 death month april death year 2006 singer-songwriter He rests at Somers Center Cemetary in Somers, Connecticut. Pitney is sometimes characterized (or dismissed) as a shallow teen idol-type prone to operatic ballads. Jene Levy told Reuters Pitney had died on Wednesday morning in the Welsh capital. "I've seen him quite a few times on this tour and he was fit and well. The spokeswoman said a post mortem examination will take place to establish whether an inquest will be necessary. Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 in Rockville, Connecticut, the son of Anna A. GENE PITNEY RIP @ 65. The cause of Gene Pitney's death has been confirmed. Pitney's father was a part-time musician, and by the age of six, Mo was learning to play the drums. April 5, 2006 – Gene Pitney was born February 17, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut and grew up in Rockville, now part of Vernon, Connecticut. gene pitney's Concert History. Jan 21, 2014 - This Pin was discovered by Cecilia Jaconetti - Irresisti. Gene Pitney had … 6th April 2006 American singing legend Gene Pitney died of natural causes, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 – April 5, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and sound engineer. He enjoyed water Skiing with friends. In 1966, Gene Pitney married his childhood sweetheart, Lynne Gayton, and the couple had three sons together, Todd, Chris, and Patrick Ewing. Pitney was found in his bed by his tour manager, Mark Hawes of In Touch Music told the BBC. Not Pitney, he sang it full voice all the way. After a successful singing career spanning five decades, at the age of 66, he was found dead of natural causes, while in the middle of a … Gene Francis Alan Pitney was born on February 17, 1941, in Hartford, Connecticut. Friends said he was in apparent good health and his death came as a shock. Cardiff, Wales, UK; Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. BORN GENE FRANCIS ALAN PITNEY - HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT FEBRUARY 17, 1941 DIED - CARDIFF - WALES - APRIL 5, 2006. When he was 12, Pitney was recovering from a broken arm when he asked his dad to teach him to play guitar, with a towel draped over the instrument's body so as not to scratch the finish. American crooner Gene Pitney has died in a hotel during his latest UK tour. An autopsy found the cause of death to be a heart attack and that he had severely occluded coronary arteries. PITNEY, Gene Gene Pitney, 66, of Somers and formerly of Rockville died on Wednesday, (April 5, 2006), in Welsh Capital, Cardiff, UK. In high school, he was part of the band "Gene Pitney … I got the news a couple of hours ago and I'm flabbergasted.". If anything, his popularity was greater in the UK and Europe than it was in his native US. DAVE'S DIARY - 14 APRIL 2006 - GENE PITNEY OBITUARY. Where did Gene Pitney die? South Wales police were called to the hotel room shortly before 9am, but are not treating the death as suspicious. His other hits included Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart, which reached number one in the UK when he re-released it as a duet with Marc Almond in 1989, and he worked with pop luminaries including the songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David and the producer Phil Spector. Gene Pitney was born on February 17, 1940 and died on April 5, 2006. As in the way Haggard sang "Sing a Sad Song" without going into falsetto. In 1989, he hit the UK number one slot with a recording of, 'Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart,' a remake of one of his 1960s singles he did with singer Marc Almond. The 65-year-old musician - nicknamed the Rockville Rocket after the town in which he spent his teenage years - was a key bridge between 50s rock'n'roll and 60s pop. "It was an honour to have worked with him. "Last night was one of the best performances, not vocally, but from the enthusiasm. American superstar Gene Pitney has been found dead aged 65 in his bed in a Cardiff hotel. He had 11 top 10 hits in the UK including "That Girl Belongs To Yesterday" and "Looking Thru The Eyes of Love.". "I am deeply saddened and shocked by the death of Gene Pitney," Almond said today. The 65-year-old American star was found dead just after 10am today at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff. Pitney, 65, was the voice behind such classics such as 'Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa' and 'Something Got A Hold Of My Heart'.He performed the latter alongside former Soft Cell … He did not leave anybody out. I had one of his albums where he sang a song that was a hit for Jay and the Americans called Cara Mia. Singer Gene Pitney has died in the middle of his UK tour, his agent said today. "He did a good show last night at St. David's Hall and it was wonderful," he said. He lived on Crystal Lake in Ellington, Connecticut. I loved Gene Pitney. COPIOUS COUNTRY IN GENE'S GENES . The cause of death was a heart attack and severely occluded coronary arteries. (Orlowsky) and Harold F. Pitney, a lathe operator. Pitney, who became known as The Rockville Rocket, … After a successful singing career spanning five decades, at the age of 66, he was found dead of natural causes, while in the middle of a sellout UK tour. What was the location of death? On 18 March 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His naval career was ended following … "Last night was generally one of the happiest and most exuberant performances we've seen out of him. He quit school at the age of 17 to join the Navy. Discover (and save!) Together they had three Sons, Todd, Chris, and David. CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. He was found this morning, at around 10am, at the Cardiff Hilton. Anyhoo, when Jay got to the high notes, he sang falsetto. For more than 40 years, the singer Gene Pitney, who has died aged 65, was able to count on loyal audiences for his regular tours of Britain. The American singer-songwriter Gene Pitney, whose biggest hit was Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa, has been found dead in a hotel room in Cardiff, it was announced today. In 2002 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever. His final show at Cardiff's St David's Hall had earned him a standing ovation; he ended with "Town Without Pity". His maternal grandparents were Polish. Gene talks to Johnnie Walker and slow dances with Sally Boazman, who he rather seems to like! On April 5, 2006, during his UK tour, he was found dead in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales, by his manager after a concert. He seems to have died of natural causes while asleep. Gene was 66 years old at the time of death. He signed autographs. "He had a standing ovation. Pitney rose to fame in the 1960s and was introduced to a new generation of fans in 1989 when he duetted with Marc Almond on "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart," the UK's Press Association reported. He said it was the best tour he had done for quite a few years.". He worked with the Rolling Stones and was credited with helping them find fame in the U.S., according to PA. "He was found fully-clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie down. Gene Pitney Rearview Mirror 2020. Pitney died while on tour in the UK on the 5th of April, 2006.His manager found him dead in his hotel room. Rock 'n' roll pioneer Gene Vincent was born Eugene Vincent Craddock (Vincent Eugene according to some biographers) on February 11, 1935 in Norfolk, Virginia. Issues of Time. South Wales police said they had been called to a hotel at 9.50 a.m. on Wednesday morning and that the death was not being treated as suspicious. Bobby Gene Pitney, 72, of Gravel Switch, died Monday, July 22, 2013. Pitney who began his music career in 1961, had several songs on both the Top 20 and Top 40 music charts. The night before his body was discovered in … Although moved to the pop sidelines by the so-called "British invasion" of the mid-60s and considered by some to be a lightweight figure, his influence and reputation grew considerably in recent decades. Pitney played at St David's Hall in Cardiff last night, a performance one spectator described as one of his best. Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Pitney's song Mecca, with its eastern-inspired melodies, is considered to have been a key influence on psychedelic pop, while (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance went a long way towards bringing country music into the pop mainstream. One of the most interesting and difficult-to-categorize singers in '60s pop, Gene Pitney had a long run of hits distinguished by his pained, one-of-a-kind melodramatic wail. His last U.S. hit was "She's a Heartbreaker" in 1968. 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