Leave Your Tributes To Gene Pitney
Following the overwhelming reaction to the extremely sad news of Gene Pitney's passing on Wednesday 5th April, this forum has been created to allow those wishing to pay tribute to the legendary performer to do so.
Please feel free to leave your personal tributes, thoughts and memories of Gene here. Simply click on the 'Comments' link at the end of this text to post your own.
Thank you
Sanctuary Records
Please feel free to leave your personal tributes, thoughts and memories of Gene here. Simply click on the 'Comments' link at the end of this text to post your own.
Thank you
Sanctuary Records
posted by Sanctuary Records at 10:28 AM
20 Comments:
It was with great sorrow that we learnt of Gene's death.
All of us at Sanctuary Records who worked with him over the past few years found him to be a genuine personality with an endearing sense of humour (he cheered up many a day with his regular emails).
Gene was - and remains - a singing legend who also wrote some of pop's most memorable hits. Yet he was modest, down-to-earth and easy to be with. He was serious about his career and worked very hard to stay fit and healthy - and those who saw him during what will now be his last tour said his voice was stronger than ever.
The irony is that Sanctuary spoke with Gene at his London hotel barely a week ago with a view to record a brand new, cutting-edge studio album. Gene was totally enthusiastic, expressing an interest in working with artists like Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Rufus Wainwright. "I feel energised", he exclaimed at such a prospect.
He will be sorely missed.
All at Sanctuary Records
I first met Gene Pitney forty years ago. I was starting work for a local paper in Surrey and he was appearing locally in a package tour with the Beatles.
We remained firm friends over all of those years during which time I have written countless sleeve or liner notes for his albums and CDs. I worked closely with Pye and Bronze in the 1970s when we got two hits with '24 Sycamore' and 'Blue Angel' and I don't think I have missed seeing him on tour once since the early 70s. At the last count I had done 55 radio interviews with him!
The news of his death has come as a terrible shock to me and to my family. We were only with Gene last week in Hull, chatting in the dressing room ahead of one of his best-ever personal appearances. I feel such sadness for his family, his friends...and for all of his fans as well.
What I can say is I know Gene was proud of the work Sanctuary Records had done with his recordings. All four CD products serve as a slice of pop history, of an artist at his very best. And one who will be sorely missed.
Rodney Collins (Broadcaster/Journalist)
April 05 2006.
I first met Gene back in the early 70s when he was a regular visitor to Batley Variety Club, attracting capacity audiences of around 2,000 people who travelled far and wide to see him - he was a firm favourite with his Yorkshire fans, as indeed he was wherever he appeared. After working on the local newspaper in Batley I later moved to London, to write for the music trade magazine Music Week and I met and interviewed Gene on several occasions, as well as seeing him performing regularly in concert, including at the London Palladium. Gene was a perfect gent - and his performances were always extremely professional and polished, a lesson to many other aspiring performers, as well as his own contemporaries. His death is a tragedy to all who came into Gene's orbit, and of course to his many thousands of fans. My deepest sympathy goes to his family, his friends and colleagues, and indeed to all whose lives were affected his music and personality.
Chris White (Writer/Journalist)
My first meeting with GP was in late 1969 at the City Hall in Hull when I interviewed him (on a Phillips compact cassette recorder) and sent the audio to Dutch DJ Rob Out, who used it on Radio Veronica. The station also used a bit of it to introduce Gene's then new single ' A Street called Hope" - that was my first voice bit used on offshore radio, I'm pretty proud of that link (the connection; not the dialogue itself!).
Gene was so helpful, and remembered that first meeting each of the five times or so we met down the years. He was recently looking forward to hosting programmes on our new national station from the Isle of Man this year and Im sure he would have been a huge success as he has such an eaasy going manner, its just like talking to a real friend.
He was universally respected in the radio world as he always made interviews so easy, the ultimate consumate professional. To see him having fans of literally all ages eating out of his hand at concerts is a real lesson for any budding performer. An all round good guy, great singer, and a wonderful writer. What kind of a gig God must organising up there to take such a superb artist so early.
Paul Rusling
As a teenager in the 60's I admired many of the musical "Greats" that becme legends, Gene was certainly worthy of that title.
Gene's passing is especially sad for me as I had tickets to see him in Edinburgh this Sunday and for some reason was looking forward to that show even more than usual.
His musical legacy will live on, but for now my thoughts are with his family. I do know how they feel as the same thing happened to my father.
God Bless Gene and thank you.
As a teenager in the 60's I grew up listening to all the singers who would become Legends, Gene was no exception.
Over the years I have seen Gene in concert several times and he always gave 100%.
Although "Angels" was Robbie Williams song, I will always remember Gene's version as he paid tribute to Robbie when he peformed the song.
I am especially sas at Gene's passing as I had tickets to see him this Sunday in Edinburgh.
My thoughts are with his family as I know how they are feeling having experienced the same thing with my own father.
Thank you Gene for the music, God bless!
Gene Pitney was a one-off, an artist who was close to his fans and never gave less than 100pc.
It is a terrible loss.
I must have seen Gene Pitney a dozen times and never did he do a bad show. In a pop world full of dross he stood out for more than four decades recording and writing quality material and, more than anything else, being one of the nice guys in an industry full of self-important people. A great guy -I feel so sorry for his family and those that worked with him year after year.
Andrew Leeming
I think I have all of his records that were ever issued in the UK or America, thanks to a big colection of singles from the 60's and then some help from a couple of the Castle Music releases recently.
A wonderful singer. Still can't believe he's gone.
Pauline
He was Twenty four Hours from Tulsa when something got hold of his heart,... In a cardiff hotel room in april,...The world and Gene Pitney would part...In a Town Without Pity,Yesterdays Hero, stood Tower Tall,...As Teardrop by Teardrop,...He,d watched the others fall,...His Love my Life Away,Rubber Ball,and Hello Mary Lou ,He,s a Rebel,and of course Louisiana Mama too,...Over forty years,on A Street Called Hope,...He sang those songs,and won our vote,...Well Gene Backstage now guess we,ll be lonely,...But We,re gonna be Strong you,ll find,...While all us DJs around the world,...Will play those great songs,...The Legacy that you left behind.......
I stood in the wings and watched him sing some of the most unique songs of our time. I wanted to learn from the best. I'm sorry I won't see him again. Having a friend for 43 years...it's hard to say goodbye
Lou Christie
April 2006
Wonderful tribute to Gene at www.offshoremusicradio.com right now and everyone should have two Sanctuary collections - the Ultimate and Blue Angel CD's to remember this great artist by. I met Gene in a reception at the Orchard, Dartford in the 90.s. Mick.
Even after nine months i still cant believe its really happened..there are singers whose music you enjoy, and then is occasionally someone who comes along, and the first time you them sing, your world changes, without even knowing it, they eases things when time are tough. they lift you when you are sad, and they really give you something special to hang on to.
Then one day your world changes again, only this time for ever...so badly missed that you cant even explain it, just feel it...what more can be said...
I have known Gene and his wonderful wife Lynne for nearly 50 years...
Lynne was a member of my car pool when we both worked at The Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford in the 60's... I remember those long rides into Hartford and Lynne telling us where Gene was this week, and where he was going to be next week. She was always so warm and friendly (still is) and they were the perfect couple... She completed him, and vice-versa.
We were all blessed to live in an era that included Gene and his wonderful music! His music is still with us, and so is the family he treasured so much! I am so thankful we had him for as long as we did... and will greatly miss what he would have given us had he stayed with us longer. He was creating more music to share with the world and would have continued as long as he lived because that is what he loved to do.
I am now co-chairing, with Brian Frederick, Gene's archivist and friend, a GENE PITNEY COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE for the Town of Vernon (Rockville) in Connecticut that will be building a lasting memorial to Gene in many forms... There will be a Memorial Plaque, a Museum, an Annual Music Scholarship at the High School, a Street named after him, possibly a new Peforming Arts Bandshell constructed in his name and numerous other permanent memoriums to come. It is our wish to ensure that future generations never forget how much this talented man meant to his hometown... his own Town Without Pitney... and to appreciate his contributions to the world.
He was our ROCKVILLE ROCKET! We loved him!
gene pitney was the greatest singer that ever lived so very sorry that he died it was awful terrible news
gene pitney will always be in our thoughts and in our hearts i been a live long gene pitney fan all my life and he wasand always the greatest singer that ever lived its so very sad that he's gone R.L.P GENE we always love you
Gene pitney was and always will be the greatest singer there ever lived he was talented and above all the best ever it is so sad that he died it was terrible news R.I.P. GENE we all love you sleep well
gene pitney was and still is and always will be the greatest singer that ever lived he was talented and unique im a life long gene pitney fan he was taken from this world so early in life that so very sad he will be close to my heart rest in peace gene i always love you gene gone too soon from a sad fan
[ continued] i almost forgot love and kisses gene xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Not a day goes by when I do not feel sad about Genes death. When I listen to his great voice it tells me what a great talent we have lost. I loved seeing his shows here in Australia. He left us too soon and although his music will always live on there is a place that will never be filled. Other fans cam contact me at walkerjf63@hotmail.com jennifer
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