Gene Pitney

Singer-songwriter Gene Pitney is castaway by Sue Lawley.

Gene grew up in Rockville, Connecticut, the middle child of a large family. His father worked in the local mills and the family sold fruit and vegetables from their garden to supplement this income. A shy child, Gene says that performing couldn't have been further from his mind, although he enjoyed singing. His first solo performance at school resulted in an embarrassing whimper as Gene was petrified by the expectant audience.

In his teens he began to learn the guitar and piano, and formed a local band whilst at high school, finding that performing was a good way to overcome his shyness. Spotted by what Gene calls "the proverbial fat man with a cigar", he was taken to New York and recording contracts soon followed.

Soon his songs were being recorded by some of the biggest stars of the time - Hello Mary Lou was released by Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison recorded Today's Teardrops as the B-side to his million-selling single, Blue Angel, and Rubber Ball became a worldwide hit for US artist Bobby Vee and UK artist Marty Wilde. By the mid sixties Gene had found international success with the Bacharach song Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa. In 1990 he had his first number one in this country with Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart, a duet with Marc Almond.

DISC ONE: Elton John - The Last Song
DISC TWO: Chuck Willis - C C Rider
DISC THREE: Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven
DISC FOUR: Gillian Welch - Tear My Stillhouse Down
DISC FIVE: Israel Kamakawiwoʻole - Somewhere Over The Rainbow
DISC SIX: Norah Jones - Nightingale
DISC SEVEN: Gipsy Kings - Queda Te Aqui
DISC EIGHT: Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman - Con Te Partiro - Time to Say Goodbye

CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Elton John - The Last Song
BOOK CHOICE: The Giant Book of Mensa Puzzles - Robert Allen
LUXURY CHOICE: Case of Opus One wine

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2003.