Gene F. Pitney - Somers, CT
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 41° 59.129 W 072° 26.720
18T E 711627 N 4651321
A dedicated bench in memory Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer, songwriter, and former Somers resident Gene F. Pitney is located in front of Piedmont Hall at 604 Main Street, SR 190, in Somers, CT.
Waymark Code: WMWJB6
Location: Connecticut, United States
Date Posted: 09/11/2017
Views: 0
A polished, gray granite bench is set on a concrete platform in front of Piedmont Hall which houses the Somers Cultural Commission in Somers Ct. The back of the bench is inscribed:
IN MEMORY OF GENE F. PITNEY 1940 - 2006
BORN AND RAISED IN ROCKVILLE, CT.
LONGTIME SOMERS, CT. RESIDENT
HOMETOWN BOY WHO BECAME A ROCK AND ROLL
HALL OF FAME INTERNATIONAL RECORDING STAR
Eugene Francis Pitney was born in Hartford, CT on February 17, 1940 and grew up in Rockville, CT. He began his singing career while a student at Rockville High School. During his recording career he wrote and performed 16 top 40 hit in the United Sates as well as 22 top 40 hits in the UK. Between 1962 and 2003 he released 39 albums. He also wrote several songs made famous by other singers, most notably "Rubber Ball" by Bobby Vee, "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals, and "Hello Mary Lou" by Ricky Nelson. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Gene Pitney died shortly after performing a concert in Cardiff, Wales on April 5, 2006.
U.S. top 40 hits written and performed by Gene Pitney:
"(I Wanna) Love My Life Away"
"Town without Pity"
"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance"
"Only Love Can Break a Heart"
"Half Heaven – Half Heartache"
"Mecca"
"True Love Never Runs Smooth"
"Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa"
"It Hurts to Be in Love"
"I'm Gonna Be Strong"
"I Must Be Seeing Things"
"Last Chance to Turn Around"
"Looking Through the Eyes of Love"
"Princess in Rags"
"Backstage"
"She's a Heartbreaker"