It would have been Gene Pitney’s birthday today, he would have been eighty-five years old having been born in 1940 in Hartford Connecticut, but sadly he died when he was sixty-six, on tour in Wales. I was a teenager when I saw him on tour in Cambridge, his most popular song over here in the UK at that time was ‘Twenty-four hours from Tulsa‘ although he had written and co-written many, many other well-known and hit records. It was my first ever gig, and I think Gene was supported by The Swinging Blue Jeans, and someone else, but all I really remember was him. He looked so tiny on the stage – I was up in the circle, and I remember everyone screaming and screaming – did I scream? I don’t think so, but I remember the build up to his appearance and excitement (and screams!) building up inside me but whether I emitted more than squeaks, I have no idea.
Gene’s first hit, obviously in the USA, was ‘Love my life away‘ (no, I’ve never heard of it either) in 1961 – and not only did he sing, and sing the background vocals, he played several instruments. Many other hits followed from multi-talented Gene, but it was ‘Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa’ which became his big hit reaching #5 in the charts over here. He had such an unusual voice, such clear diction, and told such an engaging story through that song, that it became so popular, and even if it wasn’t charting, it would constantly heard on the radio and juke-boxes.
Gene’s last hit over here was in 1989 with Marc Almond, ‘Something’s gotten hold of my heart’ which became his first UK #1. Tragically it was on tour here, in Wales that Gene died, from a heart attack in his hotel room in Cardiff after a gig. I was so sad when I heard the news, as no doubt many other people were, and whenever I hear one of his songs, or hear anything about him – as today, finding out it would have been his birthday, I remember his wonderful voice and that first gig where I almost screamed.
Lois Elsden 