1940 video compilations

GENE PITNEY - She's A Heartbreaker
Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:14:14 -0800 by MusicMeanMachine

"SHE'S A HEARTBREAKER" - Released 1968. GENE FRANCIS ALAN PITNEY (February 17th 1940 April 5th 2006) was an American singer-songwriter. He was also an accomplished guitarist, pianist, drummer and skilled sound engineer. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed considerable success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic. As a performer, he charted 16 Top 40 hit singles in the U.S., four of which reached the Top Ten. In the UK, the figures were even more impressive: 22 top 40 hits, and 11 Top Tens. As a songwriter, he also penned the big 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 artists and acts such as Roy Orbison, Bobby Vinton, The Four Seasons, Jan and Dean, Jay and the Americans, The Beach Boys and The Supremes that continued to enjoy big radio hits after the British Invasion arrived in the United States in1964. Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He grew up in Rockville, now a part of the town of Vernon. His earlymusical influences were Clyde McPhatter and Doo Wop groups like The Crows. He attended Rockville High School from which he earned the name "The Rockville Rocket," and where he formed his first band called "Gene & the Genials." He also made a couple of records as part of a duo called "Jamie and Jane" with Ginny Arnell (who later had a solo hit of her own, "DumbHead"), and then released a single in 1959 under the name Billy Bryan. In 1961, Gene Pitney released his first chart single, "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away", on which he played several instruments and multi-tracked the vocals. This was followed by his first big hit, "Town Without Pity", that same year. This song, from the film of the same name starring Kirk Douglas, won the Golden Globe Award for Best Song in a Motion Picture and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Pitney was the first pop singer to perform at the Oscars, singing "Town Without Pity" at the 34th Annual Academy Awards on April 9, 1962. The song lost the Academy Award to "Moon River", although "Town Without Pity" was awarded The Golden Globe Award. Pitney helped his musical career by writing hit songs for others. Notable songs include "He's a Rebel" for The Crystals, Vikki Carr and Elkie Brooks, "Today's Teardrops" for Roy Orbison, "Rubber Ball" for Bobby Vee and "Hello Mary Lou" for Ricky Nelson. The Crystals' "He's A Rebel" kept Pitney's highest peaking Hot 100 record "Only Love Can Break a Heart" from being atop that chart on November 3, 1962. Pitney is also well remembered for "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", which was associated with the 1962 John Ford film of the same name, starring Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles and Lee Marvin. Pitney gave a strong and distinctive vocal performance of the song, penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Although it was a certified Top 10 hit for Pitney, peaking at #4 on the Billboard pop charts, it was never used in the movie due to a publishing squabble between Famous Music and Paramount Pictures. A theatrical trailer included with a DVD release mentions a forthcoming title track, but not by name. His 1963 hit "Mecca" is considered by some to be a precursor to psychedelia in its use of Indian musical influences, at least three years before The Beatles began incorporating these influences. The use of exotic musical instruments became something of a Pitney trademark, judging by the Mariachi trumpets employed in "Lonely Drifters", the ukuleles in "Hawaii", and the gypsy fiddle in "Golden Earrings". His ongoing popularity in the UK market was ensured by the chart success of "Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa" at the end of 1963/beginning of 1964, when in January the Bacharach-David song peaked at #4. "Tulsa" was also a big hit in the U.S. and would become the song that opened up Pitney's career to the international markets. Pitney died on April 5th 2006 at the age of 66. He was found dead by his tour manager in the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff, Wales U.K. in the middle of a UK tour. His final show at Worthing's Pavilion Theatre was deemed a huge success, with a standing ovation, ending the show with his 1961 hit "Town Without Pity". An autopsy confirmed the singer died of natural causes. Pitney was laid to rest on April 13th 2006 at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut, U.S.A.

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