Gene Pitney 's biography :
hard cover , 280 pages , 16 pages full color:
As a child Gene Pitney sang song s in school, song s
in church, and song s at home. While in high school, Gene listened to R&B song s from
Buffalo, New York. Pitney 's passion for rock music in high school honed his skills. In
March 1958, Pitney , as lead singer , formed the rock band, the Genials
. The band played rock music from the radio and
current hit song s
from records. After graduation, in September 1958, Pitney started his song writing career.
He used back-up harmony from Hartford's Embers to record his five doo-wop song s.
The biography continues. In 1959, manager Marty Kugell gave Gene Pitney the chance to
record his tremendous voice. With Kugell, Gene went on to record four rock and roll 45s
for national labels. Of the eight song s, Gene was the songwriter or co-
songwriter for three
. While in New York City, recording, he went to New York's
Brill Building, to peddle the song s he wrote. As described in the biography , Gene Pitney
met Aaron Schroeder, songwriter for Elvis Presley. Aaron was astounded by Gene Pitney 's
versility so Aaron started Music or
Records with Gene as lead rock singer and helpful songwriter
. Gene's
first success was composing song s: "Rubber Ball" to Bobby Vee, "Hello Mary
Lou" to Ricky Nelson, and later, "He's A Rebel" for the Crystals. In the
process he composed his first rock hit , "I Wanna Love My Life Away." Aaron
suggested Gene release the song through Music or under his own name. Gene 's hit song
peeked the interest of leading songwriter s,
music directors, and music producers in New York. Phil Spector joined Gene Pitney and the
result was the Gerry Goffin / Carole King rock hit : "Every Little Breath I
Take." Gene Pitney 's next song , "Town Without Pity" proved Gene Pitney
was a national rock and roll success. Gene received the Golden Globe for the song and
became the first rock star to sing at the Academy Awards . In the biography , Gene is
shown performing at the 1962 Academy Awards. Aftrer "Town Without Pity,"
Gene 's became the favorite singer of Bert Bacharach / Hall David blockbusters, clinching
fame and
recognition in the U.S.A. With the release of "24 Hours from Tulsa," Gene toured
the world, singing song after song through Britain. With Phil Spector , Gene Pitney met
and recorded songs with the Rolling Stones . With the Rolling Stones being a fledgling
band at the time Andrew Loog Oldham asked Gene Pitney to be the Rolling Stones manager in
the US. Gene only needed to pay for the air fare for the band to reach the States. Gene
chose to continue his own career as a songwriter and singer , returning with the first
Rolling Stones song to become a hit in the U.S. "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday"
was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones
. Knowing no boundaries, Gene continued to
tour the world for four decades, achieving recognition as a singing sensation in the US,
UK, and Europe. Book ed
for tour after tour in the UK and Australia, Gene Pitney 's MC always announced, "now
for Gene Pitney and his music ." Finally, in 2002, Gene Pitney received the
recognition he so rightly deserved: Gene Pitney sings music on worldwide television, as a
formal member of the rock and roll hall of fame . All this and more can be found in this
book , Gene Pitney ' only biography .
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