On This Day 04/04/2004 Hi-5

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On this day, 4 April 2006,American singer Gene Pitney played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall. It was to be his last ever performance as he was found dead in his hotel room by his agent the following day.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said that the body had yet to be formally identified. He added: “(The death) is not believed to be suspicious.” The Cardiff coroner has been informed.

Pitney’s tour manager James Kelly said the singer was found dead in his room by long-term friend and agent Geoff Clennell.

“We don’t have a cause of death at the moment but it looks like it was a very peaceful passing,” said Mr Kelly. “He was found fully-clothed, on his back, as if he had gone for a lie-down. It looks as if there was no pain whatsoever, which is nice.”

Mr Kelly added: “It’s terrible news and I’m still shaking. I just can’t believe it. There was no indication anything was wrong. It’s terribly sad.

“It wasn’t like a business relationship (with Gene) - he was a friend and that is why it has hit hard with everybody. It was almost like he had a family going around with him. He was a really nice person.”

Wendy Horton, a journalist who reviewed Pitney’s performance last night for the South Wales Echo newspaper, said that the singer had given one of his best ever shows but had appeared to be in some pain. “He did show a little discomfort on stage, which was well covered by the showman that he is. You could see a slight limp as he walked across the stage.”

She described how after he performed his last song - Town Without Pity - the audience gave him a standing ovation, and scores of fans rushed to the front of the stage to shake his hand and ask him to sign autographs.

“I couldn’t believe (the news of his death),” she said. “Last night at Cardiff he was so alive. When we came out (of the concert) I said ‘My God, he’s really got it all... I’ve seen him six times and I don’t think he’s ever been that enthusiastic’. He just wanted to please - and he did.”

In an interview at Christmas, Pitney spoke of his excitement at taking his show around the UK on the 23-date tour. He denied it was a gruelling schedule, saying: “I take care of myself. I can finish up the tour no problem whatsoever. I love doing what I’m doing - to pick and choose where I want to go and what I want to do.”

The singer was regarded as one of the hardest-working stars in showbusiness. Royalties from his string of hits had made him rich but he continued to perform around the world.

On This Day 15/02/1969 Joe Cocker and the Grease Band

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On this day, 15 February 1969, singer Joe Cocker played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre. All included on the bill were the headliner, Gene Pitney, Marmalade and Welsh band The Iveys, who later became Badfinger.

Cocker was about to release hie debut album With a Little Help from My Friends. Cocker had found commercial success with a rearrangement of "With a Little Help from My Friends", a Beatles cover, which, many years later, was used as the opening theme for The Wonder Years.

The recording features lead guitar from Jimmy Page, drumming by B. J. Wilson, backing vocals from Sue and Sunny, and Tommy Eyre on organ.

The single remained in the top ten of the UK Singles Chart for thirteen weeks before eventually reaching number one, on 9 November 1968. It also reached number 68 on the US charts.

Cocker was born on 20 May 1944 at 38 Tasker Road, Crookes, Sheffield. He was the youngest son of a civil servant, Harold Norman Cocker (1907-2001), at the time of his son's birth serving as an aircraftman in the Royal Air Force, and Madge (née Lee).

According to differing family stories, Cocker received his nickname of Joe either from playing a childhood game called "Cowboy Joe", or from a local window cleaner named Joe.[citation needed]

Cocker's main musical influences growing up were Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan. Cocker's first experience singing in public was at age 12 when his elder brother Victor invited him on stage to sing during a gig of his skiffle group. In 1960, along with three friends, Cocker formed his first group, the Cavaliers.

On this day 05/11/1965 Gene Pitney

On this day, 5 November 1965, American singing star Gene Pitney played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre.

Also on the bill were the Rockin' Berries, Lulu & The Luvvers, Peter & Gordon, Mike Cotton Sound, The Quiet Five, with Syd & Eddie (comperes).

In the United Kingdom, Pitney had 22 top 40 hits, and 11 singles in the top ten. Among his most famous hits are "Town Without Pity", "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance", "Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa", "I'm Gonna Be Strong", and "It Hurts To Be In Love". He also wrote the early 1960s hits "Rubber Ball" recorded by Bobby Vee, "Hello Mary Lou" by Rick Nelson, and "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pitney maintained a successful career in Britain and the rest of Europe into the 1970s, appearing regularly on UK charts as late as 1974.

Pitney was touring the UK in the spring of 2006 when his manager found him dead in his hotel room following a concert in Cardiff, Wales, on April 5.

An autopsy found the cause of death to be a heart attack and that he had severely occluded coronary arteries. His final show at Cardiff's St David's Hall had earned him a standing ovation; he ended with "Town Without Pity".

He was buried at Somers Center Cemetery in Somers, Connecticut.