Good Friday will be a special occasion for fans of American music legend, Gene Pitney, as the man behind hits like '24 Hours From Tulsa' plays Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

Gene will be at the Opera House on Friday, April 14, as part of a 26 date UK tour which begins later this month.

Born and bred in Connecticut, Gene first found fame as a singer and songwriter in the 1960s, penning the title track for the film 'Town Without Pity' for which he was Oscar nominated and won a Golden Globe.

His big break internationally came with 1963's '24 Hours From Tulsa' and he became one of the world's best travelled musicians while also finding time to work with the likes of the Rolling Stones.

Throughout the 1970s his commitment to touring the world continued, regularly taking six month away from home to play shows internationally.

"There is nothing more exciting to me than to get on that airplane and know I'm going to get off in a totally different country in a different part of the world," he said.

In 1990 his music was introduced to a new audience when he teamed up with Marc Almond for the international number one duet 'Something's Gotten Hold of my Heart.'

To get your hand on tickets for the Winter Gardens date contact the box office on 01253 292029.