AMERICAN singer Gene Pitney, who often performed concerts in Kent during his long career, has been found dead in his bed in a Cardiff hotel. He was 65.

The cause of death is not yet known but is not thought to be suspicious.

Pitney, best known for the song Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa, was pronounced dead at the Hilton hotel.

He is survived by his wife, Lynne, and three sons who live in his native Connecticut.

Music expert Alan Cackett, editor of one of Britain's leading country music magazines, Maverick, who lives in Maidstone, said: "Gene Pitney possessed one of the most distinctive voices in all of pop music.

"I first discovered his music in 1961 when he recorded the country-flavoured I Wanna Love My Life Away.

"But it was to be the big dramatic ballads like I’m Gonna Be Strong, I Must be Seeing Things, Looking Through the Eyes of Love, That Girls Belongs To Yesterday (an early song written by Rolling Stone Mick Jagger and Keith Richard) and of course Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa on which he built his legendary status.

"He was born and raise in Hartford, Connecticut and made his first impact as a songwriter with such songs as Hello Mary Lou (Ricky Nelson), He’s A Rebel (The Crystals), Rubber Ball (Bobby Vee and Marty Wilde), and Today’s Teardrops (Roy Orbison).

"He was a talented and versatile vocalist who was at home with country music, uptempo soul tunes, soft ballads and operatic pieces.

"I remember going on an early package holiday to Italy in the mid 1960s and hearing Gene Pitney’s records (all sung in Italian) on the radio and in all the record stores.

"Down through the years I saw Gene in concert on numerous occasions, the last time at Dartford a couple of years ago. I also got to sit down and talk to him at length about his country connections.

"In the mid 1960s he travelled to Nashville to record a couple of duet albums with George Jones and a third with Melba Montgomery.

"In his own right he enjoyed several country hits and was very knowledgeable about country music and its history."

Jean Levy, a regular promoter of Pitney's UK tours, said: "Gene's death has come as a great shock. He was a fine performer and charming man who was always easy to get along with."