ROCK HALL INDUCTEE GENE PITNEY NOT LIVING IN PAST

ROCK HALL INDUCTEE GENE PITNEY NOT LIVING IN PAST



SOMERS, Conn. (Wireless Flash) – Sixties-era rock singer Gene Pitney may be one of the newest inductees in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, but he says he doesn’t want to live in the past. As a singer, 60-year-old Pitney is best known for his 1961 hit “Town Without Pity,” but he also wrote “He’s A Rebel” for the Crystals and “Hello Mary Lou” for Ricky Nelson. Pitney says he’s thrilled to be inducted into the Hall after being nominated eight times, but would prefer to be remembered for the new songs he’s currently writing with son, Todd. He says his current music is closer to acoustic pop – like British singer David Gray – than his lush ’60s ballads, but he’s confident that it’s as good as anything he’s done in the past. No word on the exact release date of Pitney’s next recording, but he’ll be officially inducted into the Hall in New York on March 18, 2002.

Fri 12-14-01