Gene Pitney was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and sound engineer. He was one of the most successful singers of the 1960s, having charted 21 Top 40 hits in the United States alone. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Pitney's distinctive voice and style of singing earned him the nickname 'The Singer's Singer'. His songs often explored themes of heartache and loneliness, and he was known for his powerful ballads.