Gene Pitney - "Only Love Can Break A Heart" (1962)

Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 -- April 5, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and sound engineer. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic. As a performer, Pitney singles charted 16 "Top 40" hits in the U.S., four in the "Top 10". In the UK he had 22 "Top 40" hits, and 11 "Top Tens"! He wrote the early 1960s hits "He's a Rebel", by The Crystals, and "Hello Mary Lou", by Rick Nelson.

Pitney was among a small group of early 1960s American acts such as Roy Orbison, Bobby Vinton, The Four Seasons, Jan and Dean, Jay and the Americans, The Beach Boys, and The Supremes who continued to enjoy hits after the British Invasion in the U.S. in 1964.

Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in Rockville, now part of Vernon. His early influences were Clyde McPhatter, country-blues singer Moon Mullican and doo-wop groups like The Crows. He attended Rockville High School, at which he was named "the Rockville Rocket," and where he formed his first band, Gene & the Genials. He made records as part of a duo called Jamie and Jane with Ginny Arnell (who later had a solo hit , DumbHead), and in 1959 made a single as Billy Bryan. The first of the two Decca 45s as Jamie and Jane was "Snuggle Up, Baby", a cover of a song Charlie Gracie recorded at Cameo 1957 or early 1958 which remained unreleased until London Records released Gracie's original version in Europe in 1978.

Signed to songwriter Aaron Schroeder's newly formed Musicor label in 1961, Pitney scored his first chart single, "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away". For this song, he played several instruments and multi-tracked the vocals. This was followed that same year by his first hit, "Town Without Pity". This song, from the film of the same name starring Kirk Douglas, won a Golden Globe Award for best movie song and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Pitney was the first pop singer to perform at the Oscars ceremony, singing "Town Without Pity" on 9 April 1962. The song lost the Academy Award to "Moon River".

Pitney wrote songs for others. Notable examples are "He's a Rebel" for The Crystals, Vikki Carr, and Elkie Brooks, "Today's Teardrops" for Roy Orbison, "Rubber Ball" for Bobby Vee and also for Marty Wilde, and "Hello Mary Lou" for Ricky Nelson. Ironically, The Crystals' "He's A Rebel" kept Pitney's highest peaking Hot 100 record, "Only Love Can Break a Heart", from the top of that chart on 3 November 1962.

Pitney is remembered for "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", which was associated with the 1962 John Ford film of the same name starring James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles and Lee Marvin. Pitney gave a strong performance of the song, which was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Although it was peaked at number 4 on the Billboard pop charts, it was never used in the movie because of a publishing dispute between Famous Music and Paramount Pictures.

His 1963 hit, "Mecca", is a precursor to psychedelia in its use of Indian music three years before The Beatles. Exotic instruments became a Pitney trademark, such as the mariachi trumpets in "Lonely Drifter", the ukuleles in "Hawaii", and the gypsy fiddle in "Golden Earrings".

His popularity in the UK market was ensured by the success of "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa", by Bacharach-David, at the end of 1963. It reached number 4 at the start of 1964. It was also a hit in the U.S.

Pitney died on April 5, 2006, aged 66. His tour manager found him dead in the Hilton Hotel, in Cardiff, Wales, in the middle of a UK tour. His final show at Cardiff's St. David's Hall was a success, with a standing ovation, ending the show with "Town Without Pity". An autopsy confirmed heart disease, caused by atherosclerosis. He was survived by his wife, Lynne, and three sons, Todd, Chris and David.

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Music

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[TheBacmaster]

Be sure to check out the Video Response sent by my suscriber,"bze2ntz4". This 1997 interview, will give you more insight on Gene Pitney's life and career.

[srercrcr]

@cynthia6637 Quit stalking these people!! Shame on you.!!

[LoisHaywood]

I was sorry to hear that the great Gene Pitney passed on. I spent many an hour listening to his recordings as a teen and now have one of his greatest hits CDs. My favorite is "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". Thanks for the thorough bio.

[5julia10]

Beautiful song by Gene Pitney and vidoe is very good. Julia

[moppendoosje]

Lieffffffffffffffffffffff

[Plymouthfury1000]

Why didn't they mention the duets he had with THE GREAT GEORGE JONES at Musicor?

[AnaJilK]

Fantastic video! I was smiling through the tears when watching it. Sweet images make this song still warmer... Thousands of thanks my friend who shared this video with me, and thousands of stars to Joe for his wonderful job! ♫♪♥♫♪

[cynthia6637]

Beautiful Video to go with this wonderful Song

I have every song he has ever had!!

One of the BEST!!

Thanks very much

Cynthia

[cynthia6637]

Beautiful Song by Gene Pitney!

Great singer,

Thanks

Cynthia

[UnGrandeAmore2]

very beautiful

[anitashelby]

Ahhh This Is Absolutely Beautiful & Very Romantic!!! Gene Pitney Was One Of My Favorites & Still Is!!!...I Still Miss Him Very Much!!!..5*s+ Thankyou Joe...Anita..:)