early life of gene pitney

[johnsam38]

does anyone know about the early life of gene pitney as his biography starts when he began singing and writing music

[Machecoul]

Born on February 17, 1941, and raised in the small New England village of ROCKVILLE, CT, GENE initially did not have any real ambitions to be a singer. He was more at home collecting stamps and coins, trapping mink and muskrat, and experimenting with electronics. However, he played in his own local band called "GENE PITNEY & THE GENIALS." At this point, he began to compose songs, gleaning inspiration from the beautiful countryside of New England. An excellent student, GENE attended WARDS ELECTRONICS SCHOOL where he began his study of electronic engineering. Music would stop the electronics career but not before GENE would gain an insight into how the technical side of a recording studio worked.

GENE'S spare time was devoted to music, but when his songwriting began interfering with his electronics theory classes, he soon realized that music was taking over his life. In 1959, he began singing with a young girl named GINNY ARNELL and, shortly afterwards, made his first single recording entitled CLASSICAL ROCK & ROLL. On the B-side was a duet called STROLLIN' THROUGH THE PARK. Says GENE, "We called ourselves 'JAMIE AND JANE.' I knew, however, that I didn't want a professional career in music with only a first name or as half of a duet, so I moved on to record CRADLE OF MY ARMS the following year under the name of 'BILLY BRYAN.' In fact, the record company wanted to call me 'HOMER MUZZY.' Well, that was it. I wasn't going to go through life with a name like that! I decided it was time to start using my real name, GENE PITNEY!"

This was from his official website which I found using google!

[loulou80]

somethings gotten hold of my heart,dragging my soul and my senses apart!