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It takes outstanding talent to reach the pinnacle
of success in international show business and
stay firmly entrenched at the top for over 35
years. Such is the amazing talent of Gene Pitney.
A musician of rare versatility and a singer of
great range and perception, Gene is a supreme
professional at his chosen craft as well as a
prolific songwriter with a string of million selling
international hits to his credit. Gene Pitney's
unique voice and presentation have ensured that
songs like "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa", "Town
Without Pity", "I'm Gonna Be Strong" and "Lookin'
Through The Eyes of Love" still sound fresh, vibrant
and relevant in the new millennium. In a career
spanning over 30 years, he has worked with an
amazing range of artists and has maintained an
appeal encompassing every spectrum of the record
buying public. In 1990, he found success in an
entirely new contemporary market with his worldwide
No. 1 duet with Marc Almond, "Something's Gotten
Hold of My Heart". Surprisingly, the single gave
Gene his first No. 1 in the UK (his 1967 original
version only hit No. 5 on the British charts).
The success also resulted in a massive demand
from the contemporary market for Gene's 60s hits,
while older fans wanted new recordings; a pleasant
dilemma being solved with Gene returning to the
studio he built in his Connecticut home. Born
on February 17, 1941, and raised in Rockville,
Ct, Gene began playing in his own local band called
"Gene Pitney & The Genials" and began composing
songs in his teens. He also began his study of
electronic engineering at Wards Electronics School
but when his songwriting began interfering with
his studies, he soon realized music was taking
over his life. In 1959, he made several recordings,
both as part of a duet with a young girl named
Ginny Arnell and under the name "Billy Bryan".
When the record company wanted to him "Homer Muzzy",
Gene opted to use his real name, a name that would
soon become known worldwide. Opting to concentrate
on writing songs instead of singing them, Gene's
songs were soon recorded by some of the biggest
stars of the time, including Steve Lawrence, Tommy
Edwards, Billy Bland and Roy Orbison. "Rubber
Ball" became a worldwide hit for US artist Bobby
Vee and UK artist Marty Wilde. Each went on to
become million sellers. In heavy demand as a songwriter,
Gene soon realized he could sing his own songs
just as well or better than the artists who were
recording them. He made a demo of a song he wrote,
"I Wanna Love My Life Away" for about $30.00.
Although created on a shoestring budget, the record
had a very big sound. Gene experimented with multi-tracked
vocals and overdubbing, putting his electronics
experience to good use to create a mini masterpiece
in record production, revolutionizing recording
techniques in the process. He sang seven vocals
on the recording and played piano, guitar and
drums to keep session costs down. A remarkable
feat for 1961. The $30 demo was released as a
single and reached No. 39 in the US and No. 26
in Britain. Says Gene, "I had just turned 20 and
suddenly I was doing every television show, radio
show, and record hop they could book me into.
When the hits started coming, I was recording
and touring almost simultaneously." At the same
time, Gene's composition of "Hello Mary Lou" was
released by Rick Nelson and became a Top 5 hit.
Heady success for any young man! It sold two million
copies in America and Europe. After having been
performed over two millions times in the US market,
"Hello Mary Lou" received a second BMI Millionaire
Award in 1997. Gene scored his second hit with
"Every Breath I Take", produced by Phil Spector.
His first American Top 20 hit and million-selling
single was the title song from a movie of the
same name: "Town Without Pity". The song won the
Golden Globe for "Best Song in a Motion Picture"
and was nominated for an Oscar. Gene was the first
pop artist invited to perform at the Academy Awards
in Hollywood, firmly establishing his name throughout
America. "The film was initially a box office
disaster," Gene says, "but after the success of
the record, the film was rereleased and became
a huge hit. That's the kind of power records had
in those days." Another movie theme, "The Man
Who Shot Liberty Valance", gave him an immediate
followup hit, reaching No. 4 in the US and is
one of his most requested songs in concert performances
to this day. Gene's career skyrocketed as one
song after another topped the charts: "Only Love
Can Break A Heart" (his third million seller),
"If I Didn't Have A Dime" (the B-side of "Only
Love .." which made the US Top 100 on it's own
merits), "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", "Mecca",
"True Love Never Runs Smooth" and "It Hurts To
Be In Love". Gene and Phil Spector consolidated
their mutual admiration for each other's work
in the summer of 1962 when Spector's group, "The
Crystals," recorded Gene's composition, "He's
A Rebel". Within weeks, the song stormed its way
to No. 1, sold a million, and actually prevented
Gene's single "Only Love Can Break A Heart" from
passing No. 2! "He's A Rebel" received a BMI Millionaire
Award in 1998 for surpassing one million airplays
in the US. In 1963, Pitney had great success throughout
the world with his recording of "Twenty Four Hours
From Tulsa". This song was the beachhead from
which Gene's fame spread rapidly. He maintained
a simple but shrewd philosophy: If a record breaks
in any particular territory, then go there, show
yourself, meet people, and make as big an initial
impact as you possibly can. This has paid off
time and time again! Today, Gene is one of the
most traveled artists in international show business,
regularly doing concerts, cabaret, and television
appearances around the world. He has also enhanced
his popularity in many countries even further
by rerecording many of his English speaking hits
in various native tongues. On one such promotional
tour in November 1963, Gene appeared on the Thank
Your Lucky Star Program in England and met the
Rolling Stones. The Stones struck up an immediate
rapport with Gene, admiring his polish and professionalism.
They were also totally fascinated by his tremendous
knowledge of recording techniques. Gene liked
the group's freshness and gutsy attitude. Pitney's
endorsement of the group in America helped them
break through to US success shortly afterwards.
When Mick Jagger and Keith Richard penned Gene's
next UK and USA hit record, "That Girl Belongs
To Yesterday", this song became the first Jaggers
and Richard composition to hit the American Charts.
Gene returned the compliment by playing piano
on the Stones' "Little By Little", the flip side
of "Not Fade Away". For the next few years, Gene
embarked on an extensive series of sold out domestic
and international tours. Hit singles followed
with amazing regularity, reaching the charts not
only in America and Europe, but all over the world.
His albums also made large dents in international
Hit Parades, including "Just For You," "Blue Gene,"
"Gene Pitney's Big 16," and "I'm Gonna Be Strong."
In a unique marketing move, several albums were
recorded specifically for individual markets including
"Gene Espanol" and "Gene Italiano". Gene also
opened a brand new market by recording a number
of country and western albums, with such artists
as George Jones and Melba Montgomery, and had
the privilege of performing at the legendary Grand
Ole Opry in Nashville with some of country's greats,
such as Eddie Arnold, Buck Owens, Roy Clark, and
Connie Smith. Gene says, "I like things to keep
changing. I've seen too many artists left out
in the cold because they relied on the same old
sounds and same old type of songs." At one time,
as if to prove his point, he scored simultaneous
hits in Europe, Britain, and on the American Pop
and Country charts with 4 completely different
songs. Other career highlights include multiple
appearances at the celebrated San Remo Song Festival
in Italy. Twice Gene received second place awards,
the highest position awarded to a non-Italian
artist in the history of the festival - with songs
that were not only giant European hits but also
entered the American charts in the native language.
Gene also appeared at the Royal Variety Show in
London and was presented to the Queen Mother.
Several shows followed for such royals as Princess
Alexandra, Princess Margaret, and the Duchess
of Kent. After nearly a decade of breakneck touring,
Gene decided to drastically cut back on his touring
commitments in 1970 to spend more time with his
family, and decided to reduce his commitments
to 6 rather than 11 months. Without meaning to,
he found himself increasingly in countries other
than America due to his love of exotic travel.
"There is nothing more exciting to me than to
get on that airplane and know I'm going to get
off in a totally different country, in a different
part of the world." His annual tours of Britain,
Europe, and Australia became a way of life. With
every tour proving a sellout, the plan was an
outstanding success. In 1983, Gene embarked on
his first North American Tour in over a dozen
years. It became a huge personal triumph. He was
back "with a vengeance" even though he'd never
been away. He still keeps up a relentless touring
commitment which is a tribute to his professionalism.
His voice is now stronger than ever before. Gene
puts total commitment and energy into his emotion-charged
live performances and always comes off stage completely
drained. He stays fit by working out in his home
gym, with an exercise schedule that was devised
to keep him ready for the road. Gene's playdates
throughout the 90s included the prestigious Carnegie
Hall in 1993. He sold out the London Palladium
the same year. Gene has toured Australia extensively
several times, as well as England and has played
everywhere in the US from The Taj Mahal in Atlantic
City, NJ, the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.
shows in Vegas, Foxwoods Resort, St. Louis, Kansas
City, Boston, just to touch the tip of the iceberg.
The year 2000 was yet another milestone for Gene
with the PBS Video Recording of the live concert
at the Foxwoods Resort. National exposure to the
concert was in December 2001 on the PBS Network.
All the mixing and audio work on the concert were
done at Gene's Recording studio by son Todd, using
the fantastic Pro Tools system. Gene was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2002,
amidst a dizzying concert schedule that took him
all over the world. Wherever he appears, Gene's
loyal fanbase is sure to increase, as his extraordinary
voice and consummate style captivate audiences
everywhere.
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