On Thursday’s Morning Focus Alan Morrissey was speaking with Dave McGrath about becoming a fan of Gene Pitney’s music, working with and becoming friends with the star, his newly released books and his trip to Clare later this month.
Gene Pitney has been described as the Frank Sinatra of his generation.
The American singer was one of the biggest stars of the ‘60s, with hit after hit, including Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa, Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart, Town Without Pity and (The Man Who) Shot Liberty Valance.
One man who knew Gene Pitney better than most is Dave McGrath. Dave grew up idolising Gene’s music, before going one better, by eventually becoming his friend, business partner, and confidante for over twenty years. Indeed, the two were so close that Gene Pitney was Best Man at McGrath’s wedding in 1998 while McGrath was a pallbearer at Pitney’s funeral in 2006.
Dave has written two books: Gene Pitney: The Singer, the Songs, the Songwriters and Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa, a fiction book based on Gene Pitney.
You can listen to the full interview below.
