Legendary American singer, songwriter and performer Don McLean recently helped raise funds for Teen Cancer America (TCA) and UCLA Health. At the Backyard Concert 2018, McLean joined Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Van Morrison and Roger Daltrey, as well as GRAMMY Award winner Ed Sheeran and others for a once-in-a-generation private concert and live auction. During the concert Don McLean joined Sheeran for a special duet performance of his hit “Vincent”.
Photo by Lorenzo
“I have been aware of the philanthropic work of Roger Daltrey for many years, and that motivated me to participate,” said McLean. “I enjoyed all the music very much, and Ed Sheeran is very delightful to know and work with. Van Morrison put on a beautiful, swinging show and his band was very refined. Everyone gave their best, and it was a stellar musical evening that raised money for a good cause.”
WATCH: Ed Sheeran & Don McLean rehearsal of “Vincent”
The invite-only event, the fifth in a series that began a decade ago to raise awareness and funds for UCLA Health’s Autism program, launched the Daltrey-Townshend Teen and Young Adult Cancer Program at UCLA and spearheaded the establishment of Teen Cancer America.
Judd Apatow served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening and Howie Mandel as auctioneer for the live auction of a rare collection of music memorabilia and art that was auctioned off throughout the evening. Included in the auction lot was a guitar donated by The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation that experts are saying may be the most valuable ever built for a charity event. The handcrafted guitar, inspired by the Holly classic song, “Learning The Game,” is signed by 75 of the greatest living musicians including Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Brian May, Bruce Springsteen, Don McLean, Donovan, Brian Wilson, Keith Richards, Dion, Peter Frampton, Graham Nash, Don Everly and Elvis Costello, just to name a few. Peter Bradley Jr. of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation has spent the last 18 months traveling the world capturing the signatures and stories about how Holly inspired other artists, in preparation for donating the guitar to Teen Cancer America as part of a newly established partnership between the two organizations.
Photo by: Lorenzo
Other auction items included a mechanically and electrically refurbished Bally Pinball Wizard Machine built in 1975 to coincide with the release of the movie/rock opera “Tommy.” It was autographed for the event by most of the stars of the film, including Daltrey, Townsend, Elton John, Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson, and Ann-Margret. Additional auction items included a first off the production line, limited edition The Who motorized scooter and high-value art from famed contemporary street-artist RETNA. The auction was being conducted live, and online at www.ha.com, by Heritage Auctions.
Photo by: Lorenzo
The first four Backyard Concert events raised close to $10 million, with event expenses totaling less than 10 percent of the funds raised. Friday’s concert and auction raised over $3.5 Million for the charities.
Backyard Concert continues to build on this momentum to provide transformative care of kids, teens, young adults and families impacted by the frightening diagnosis of cancer or autism. Support from the event funds a multitude of programs, services and resources provided by both UCLA Health and Teen Cancer America for these young patients. If you would like to make a donation in support of this great cause, please contact Carmen Garcia at 310-255-7721.
Photo by: Lorenzo
Key 2018 event sponsors included Douglas Emmett, Merrill Lynch Private Banking & Investment Group, Eastdil Secured, AEG, Eloise & J.P. DeJoria, Goldenvoice, ABM Parking Services and Patron Tequila.
About UCLA Health:
UCLA Health is among the most comprehensive and advanced health care systems in the world. Together, UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA redefine standards of excellence in health care. Consistently ranked among the best in the nation, UCLA Health is on the cutting edge of biomedical research, and their doctors and scientists do pioneering work across an astounding range of disciplines, from organ transplantation and cardiac surgery to neurosurgery, comprehensive cancer treatment, autism and a multitude of other physical and neuropsychiatric conditions and diseases. Support of this event will provide funding for a number of UCLA Health high-touch patient programs and support services specific to cancer treatment and autism. For more information, visit UCLAHealth.org.
About Teen Cancer America:
Every hour another 13-25 year old is diagnosed with cancer in America. Teen Cancer America transforms the lives for this under-served patient population by working with our country’s leading cancer treatment and research centers. They create specialized clinical care programs, offer therapeutic experiences and provide access to individualized support and resources. This completely unique organization works with the leading healthcare institutions to build state-of-the-art Teen and Young Adult “Social Zones” for both in-patient and out-patient treatment settings. The work of Teen Cancer America has impacted over 5,000 young people and their families nationwide during the last six years. For more information, visit TeenCancerAmerica.org.
About Don McLean:
A New York native, Don McLean is one of the most revered and respected songwriters in American history. After paying his dues in the New York club scene in the late ‘60s, he went on to score mega-hits like “American Pie,” “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air” and many more. In 2004, McLean was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame by country superstar Garth Brooks. “American Pie” has brought great happiness and hope to millions of people through the years and continues to be honored for its success. In 2000, the song was named one of the Top 5 Songs of the 20th Century by the RIAA and in 2002 was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 2017 brought a huge honor when the iconic song was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, joining less than 500 works including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” classical music compositions, famous live broadcasts, and similar recordings.
With over 40 gold and platinum records worldwide, his prowess for writing timeless songs is once again captured on Botanical Gardens, as he artfully weaves country, Americana, folk, and boot stomping rock for an eclectic, yet American sound that he is known for.
Don McLean On Tour:
AUG 23 Vilar Performing Arts Center / Beaver Creek, Colo.
AUG 24 Strings Music Pavilion / Steamboat Springs, Colo.
SEPT 08 NYCB Theater/ Westbury, N.Y.
SEPT 22 Tupelo Music Hall / Derry, N.H.
OCT 01 Lichtburg Essen / Essen, Germany
OCT 02 Fabrik Hamburg / Hamburg, Germany
OCT 04 Theater 11 / Zürich, Switzerland
OCT 05 Festhalle Harmonie Heilbronn / Heilbronn, Germany
OCT 06 Stadtga / Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
OCT 08 Passionskirche Kreuzberg / Berlin, Germany
OCT 10 De Oosterpoort / Groningen, Netherlands
OCT 12 Muziekgebouw Eindhoven / Eindhoven, Netherlands
OCT 13 TivoliVredenburg / Utrecht, Netherlands
OCT 18 Savoy-teatteri / Helsinki, Finland
OCT 21 Sentrum Scene / Oslo, Norway
OCT 22 Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen / København S, Denmark
OCT 23 Cirkus / Stockholm, Sweden
NOV 09 Arlington Music Hall / Arlington, Texas
NOV 15 The Wilbur / Boston, Mass.
NOV 16 TBA / Rutland, Vt.
NOV 17 Tarrytown Music Hall / Tarrytown, N.Y.
NOV 30 City Winery / Atlanta, Ga.
DEC 07 Avalaon Theater/ Easton, Md.
DEC 08 Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts / Harrisburg, Pa.
DEC 09 State Theatre of Ithaca / Ithaca, N.Y.
DEC 27 Blue Note Hawaii / Honolulu, Hawaii
2019
JAN 15 Yoshi’s Oakland / Oakland, Calif.
JAN 19 Lewis Family Playhouse / Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
JAN 25 Fox Tucson Theater / Tucson, Ariz.
FEB 01 Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center / The Villages, Fla.
FEB 02 Oxford Performing Arts Center / Oxford, Ala.
FEB 09 Infinity Hall / Hartford, Conn.
MAR 22 TBA / Cerritos, Calif.
MAR 23 TBA / Beverly Hills, Calif.
APR 05 TBA / Alexandria, Va.
APR 06 TBA / Riverhead, N.Y.
MAY 10 TBA / East Greenwich, R.I.
MAY 11 TBA / Peekskill, N.Y.
Click here for Don’s entire tour calendar
