He also wrote for roy orbison and.
Gene pitney rubber ball.
As a writer he penned hello mary lou for ricky nelson and rubber ball for bobby vee.
In 1962 he wrote he s a rebel for the crystals and became friends with producer phil spector.
Gene francis alan pitney february 17 1940 april 5 2006 was an american singer songwriter musician and sound engineer.
Pitney didn t just sing but played several of the instruments and multi tracked the vocals.
Singer gene pitney is inducted into the rock n roll hall of fame in 2002.
Gene once claimed that after the song started to sell big time he had to quickly fly home and teach his mother the lyrics just in case she was ever.
Pitney had to use his mother s maiden name orlowski on the song as he was a writer for bmi whereas rubber ball was a song registered by aaron schroeder with the rival ascap organisation.
I m like a rubber ball baby that s all that i am to you bouncy bouncy boun.
The song was recorded on august 12 1960 in a four song three hour.
Gene pitney biography life interesting facts.
The first big breakthrough came when roy orbison recorded today s teardrops as the b side to blue angel.
Pitney broke into the music business as a songwriter in his late teens getting his first taste of success when rick nelson had a hit with hello mary lou and rubber ball for bobby vee in 1961.
In the united kingdom he had 22 top 40 hits and 11 singles in the top ten.
Bobby vee singles chronology devil or angel 1960 rubber ball 1960 stayin in 1961 rubber ball was an early 1961 hit for bobby vee on liberty records.
With limited success as an artist gene began to find more success as a songwriter.
It was the record which made vee an international star.
A 6 hit in 1960 on the u s.
Rubber ball another pitney song became a hit for bobby vee in the us and marty wilde in the uk.
He was a prolific songwriter who penned hits for other musicians such as roy orbison s today s teardrops bobby vee s rubber ball ricky nelson s hello mary lou and the crystals he s a rebel.
Pitney charted 16 top 40 hits in the united states four in the top ten.
He is well known for his chart making hit songs and recordings.
Gene pitney was the man with one of the unique voices in music history awesomely talented and brilliant.
