Kenneth Pitt
Kenneth Pitt | |
---|---|
Born | Kenneth Cooper Pitt 10 November 1922 |
Died | 25 February 2019 Hertfordshire, England | (aged 96)
Nationality | British |
Occupation(s) | Talent manager, publicist |
Known for | Manager of David Bowie, c.1965-1970 |
Kenneth Cooper Pitt (10 November 1922 – 25 February 2019)[1] was a British publicist and talent manager, who managed the career of musicians including David Bowie in the late 1960s.
Biography
Pitt was born in Uxbridge, Middlesex.[2] In the 1950s, he was responsible for publicising American musicians and bands touring the UK, including Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, and Jerry Lee Lewis. His first venture into management was with Romani street singer Danny Purches, but he had more success in the early 1960s with the band Manfred Mann, whom he persuaded to record the Barry and Greenwich song "Do Wah Diddy Diddy". He also managed singer Crispian St. Peters and American group Goldie and the Gingerbreads.[3]
In 1965, Pitt was approached by Ralph Horton with a view to co-managing singer David Jones, who had yet to change his name to David Bowie. Pitt agreed, and in early 1967 became Bowie's sole manager. Pitt ensured that Bowie recorded a wide range of music at that time, and on one occasion, after returning from a trip to the US, introduced Bowie to the
Pitt gave up artist management at that time, remaining as a consultant to acts touring in the UK. He published a book, Bowie: The Pitt Report,[5] in 1985.[3]
Kenneth Pitt died at his home in Hertfordshire, England, on 25 February 2019, aged 96.[1][6]
References
- ^ a b "RIP Kenneth Pit", DavidBowie.com, 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019
- ^ Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007. Retrieved 28 February 2019
- ^ a b c Richie Unterberger. "Kenneth Pitt : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ Kenneth Pitt, IMDb.com. Retrieved 28 February 2019
- ISBN 978-0711906198.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 February 2021.