Don McLean & Judy Collins to Perform at bergenPAC, 4/9
By: Tyler Peterson Feb. 26, 2016
Two American giants join forces in one of this year's most exciting collaborations!
Don McLean is one of America's most enduring singer-songwriters and is forever associated with his classic hits "American Pie," "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)," "Castles in the Air," "And I Love You So," and "Crying". Since first hitting the charts in 1971, Don has amassed over 40 gold and platinum records world-wide and, in 2004, was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. His songs have been recorded by artists from every musical genre, most notably Madonna's No. 1 recording of "American Pie" in 2000 and George Michael's version of "The Grave" in 2003, sung in protest at the Iraq War.
In 2007, Don McLean shared his life story in Alan Howard's biography, The Don McLean Story: Killing Us Softly With His Songs. In June 2011 Don performed for an audience of 100,000 at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and in 2012 was also awarded the BBC Folk Music Lifetime Achievement Award.
Don continues to tour North America and the rest of the world.
Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 50-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century.
The award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions. Her stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" from her landmark 1967 album, Wildflowers, has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Judy's dreamy and sweetly intimate version of "Send in the Clowns," a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical A Little Night Music,won "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy Awards. She's garnered several top-ten hits gold- and platinum-selling albums. Recently, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Dolly Parton, Joan Baez, and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.
Judy Collins, now 76, is as creatively vigorous as ever, writing, touring worldwide, and nurturing fresh talent. She is a modern day Renaissance woman who is also an accomplished filmmaker, record label head, musical mentor, and an in-demand keynote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention. She continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.
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