Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 – April 5, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter and musician.

Pitney charted 16 top 40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top 40 hit singles, including 11 in the top ten. Among Pitney’s most famous hits are “Town Without Pity”, “(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance”, “Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa”, “I’m Gonna Be Strong”, “It Hurts to Be in Love”, and “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart”. He also wrote the early-1960s hits “Rubber Ball” recorded by Bobby Vee, “Hello Mary Lou” by Ricky Nelson, and “He’s a Rebel” by the Crystals. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pitney, who was midway through a UK tour, was discovered in his bed at the Cardiff Hilton on Wednesday morning (April 5, 2006). He had played a show at Cardiff St Davids Hall the previous night.