Eugene Pitt, American doo-wop singer-songwriter (The Jive Five)
Eugene Sampson Pitt (November 6, 1937 – June 29, 2018) was a black American musician and the founding member of The Jive Five. He formed a group with some school friends in 1954 called the Genies, in which he was the lead singer. There were no recordings from this group.
In 1959, he, together with Jerome Hanna, Richard Harris, Norman Johnson, and Billy Prophet formed The Jive Five. Among their classic doo-wop recordings, released on Bel-tone Records, were "My True Story", "Never, Never", and "What Time Is It?".
In 1985, they sang doo wop on the children's cable television network Nickelodeon. Pitt and The Jive Five were introduced to New York-based MTV Networks (now Paramount Media Networks) branding consultants Fred Seibert and Alan Goodman by his latest producer, Ambient Sound's Marty Pekar. Together, they embarked on an almost 10-year relationship, creating and singing the a cappella signature sound of the children's television network. Terry Stewart, President & CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, called Pitt "the most underrated soul singer in America".Eugene's cousin, Elijah Pitts, was an NFL running back and long-time assistant coach.On June 29, 2018, Pitt died at the age of 80 due to complications from diabetes.
1937Nov, 6
Eugene Pitt
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Events on 1937
- 23Jan
Leon Trotsky
The trial of the anti-Soviet Trotskyist center sees seventeen mid-level Communists accused of sympathizing with Leon Trotsky and plotting to overthrow Joseph Stalin's regime. - 21Feb
Spanish Civil War
The League of Nations bans foreign national "volunteers" in the Spanish Civil War. - 12May
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Duke and Duchess of York are crowned as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Westminster Abbey. - 27May
Golden Gate Bridge
In California, the Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic, creating a vital link between San Francisco and Marin County, California. - 22Jul
Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937
New Deal: The United States Senate votes down President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court of the United States.