Pitney was a superb, gifted writer with an incredible voice.
I watched him on TV a couple of days ago - he looked just the same; only the hair colour had changed! And he was not so vain as to dye it (and he looked great with it).
Very very sad.
One of the best ever ever ever!
RIP Gene and thanks for the hundreds of great tracks.

I met him several times. We are broken hearted here in his home state.

Can't I cry? A little bit
There's nobody to notice it
Can't I cry if I want to
No one cares

Why can't I pretend
That you love me again
All I've had has been taken from me
Now I'm crying and tears don't become me

Just one smile the pain's forgiven
Just one kiss the hurt's all gone
Just one smile to make my life worth living
A little dream to build my world upon

How I wish I could say
All the things that I want to say
If some way you could see what's in my heart
I don't ask for much
A look, a smile, a touch
Try to forget Lord knows I'm trying
But it's hard to forget when your whole world is dying

Just one smile the pain's forgiven
Just one kiss the hurt's all gone
Just one smile to make my life worth living
A little dream to build my world upon

I'm told he pased away with a smile on his face and the sound of applause and a Cardiff standing ovation ringing in his ears.

..and it ends with a cliche, but that is fine in this case.
"A musician is only as good as his last gig....."

Apparently, last night was an absolute belter.