Gene Francis Alan Pitney, born on February 17th, 1940, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S, was a singer-songwriter, musician, and sound engineer. Pitney had 16 US Top 40 hit singles, with 4 entering the Top 10, while in the UK he had 22 Top 40 hits, 11 making the Top 10. Gene also wrote the early '60s hits "Rubber Ball" recorded by Bobby Vee, "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals, and "Hello Mary Lou" by Ricky Nelson, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during 2002.