Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Gene Pitney, whose 1960s hits included Town Without Pity, It Hurts to Be in Love, and Only Love Can Break a Heart, has died from apparent natural causes in his hotel room in Cardiff, Wales, after a performance. He was 65. Pitney was on a concert tour of England, Scotland and Wales.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Pitney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. He is best known for his emotional and plaintive wail, but his musical talents were many. In addition to singing, he also composed or recorded over a dozen pop hits, and played the guitar, drums and piano.

Pitney first made his indelible mark on the music world in 1961 both as a singer and a song writer. Pitney's classic, Rubber Ball became a Top 10 hit for Bobby Vee and Hello Mary Lou, recorded by Ricky Nelson, was equally popular. He also enjoyed his first success as a performer that same year with (I Wanna) Love My Life Away. His singing success in the 1960s continued with hits that included, 24 Hours From Tulsa, (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance, Mecca and Half Heaven, Half Heartache. In 1962, Only Love Can Break a Heart was Pitney's biggest hit as a performer, peaking at No. 2 in U.S. Charts, at the same time as his He's a Rebel, performed by The Crystals, was at the top of the charts.

Pitney is survived by his wife of 39 years, Lynne, and their three sons.