Gene Pitney

Gene Pitney
Pitney in 1967
Background information
Birth name	Gene Francis Alan Pitney
Also known as	Billy Bryan
Born	(1940-02-17)February 17, 1940 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Origin	Rockville, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	April 5, 2006(2006-04-05) (aged 66) Cardiff, Wales
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)	Guitar, piano, drums, vocals
Years active	1958–2006
Labels	Musicor, Columbia

Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 – April 5, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter and musician.^[1]

Pitney charted 16 top-40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. Among Pitney's most famous hits are "Town Without Pity", "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance", "Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa", "I'm Gonna Be Strong", "It Hurts to Be in Love", and "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". He also wrote the early-1960s hits "Rubber Ball" recorded by Bobby Vee, "Hello Mary Lou" by Ricky Nelson, and "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.