Just booked: Music legend Don McLean is coming to York Barbican

York can tuck into a slice of American Pie – after it was announced today that music legend Don McLean is coming to the city.

Don will play York Barbican on Friday 24 September 2022. It is part of his tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his most famous album, American Pie.

The musician was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. His songs American Pie and Vincent have had more than eight million airplays collectively.

Tickets go on sale this Friday – 24 September – at 10am on the York Barbican website.

Born in New Rochelle, New York in 1945, Don developed an interest in music at an early age.

In 1969, Don recorded his first album, Tapestry. The transition to international stardom began in 1971 with the release of American Pie, recorded in May that year.

It went to number one in the US and number 2 in the UK. Thirty years later, American Pie was voted number 5 in a poll of the 365 Songs of the Century compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America.

The second single, Vincent, went to number one in the UK, and the album stayed at the top of the British charts for seven weeks.

Artists as varied as Garth Brooks, Madonna, Drake, George Michael, Josh Groban and Weird Al Yankovic, and others have recorded songs written by Don.

“As a songwriter your songs are like your children, and you are hopeful everyone loves them as much as you do, but rarely is that the case. I am so grateful that songs I have written have touched so many lives and have been recorded by so many great artists,” he said.