Don McLean

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Cover of the ''American Pie album.

For the British comedian see Don Maclean.

Don McLean, (born October 2, 1945 in New Rochelle, New York) is an American singer-songwriter, most famous for his 1971 ballad "American Pie", about an event known as The Day the Music Died.

Other well-known songs include

"And I Love You So" - covered by Elvis Presley, a 1973 hit for Perry Como
"Vincent" (a tribute to the 19th century Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh)
"Castles in the Air"
"Winterwood"
"Wonderful Baby" (a tribute to Fred Astaire)
"Superman's Ghost" (a tribute to George Reeves, who portrayed Superman on TV in the 1950's)

Early in his career, McLean was mentored by the folk legend Pete Seeger, and accompanied Seeger on his Clearwater boat up the Hudson River in 1969 to protest environmental pollution in the river. The Clearwater campaign was widely credited for improving water quality in the Hudson River.

The album American Pie features a version of the religious folk song 'Babylon'. This is the same song that Boney M would have a number one hit in the UK with seven years later under the title Rivers of Babylon, although the two renditions are so different it is not immediately noticeable that they are versions of the same song.

A poem about McLean, "Killing Me Softly With His Blues" by Lori Lieberman, was reworked into a song called "Killing Me Softly" by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. Lieberman was the first to record it (in 1972), but the song has two far better-known covers. The first major hit version was by Roberta Flack in 1973; nearly a quarter-century later (1996), another version was a major hit for The Fugees.

In 1981, McLean had an international number one hit with the Roy Orbison classic, "Crying". Orbison himself once described McLean as "the voice of the century", and a subsequent re-recording of the song saw Orbison incorporate elements of McLean's version.

In 1991, Don McLean returned to the UK top-10 with a re-issue of "American Pie", which nine years later became a worldwide smash all over again thanks to Madonna's controversial cover.

In 2003, George Michael covered Don's anti-war song "The Grave" from the "American Pie" album in protest at the imminent invasion of Iraq by the US and allied forces.

In 2006, Don continues to tour extensively both in the US and Europe. His new album "Addicted to Black" is due out later this year, along with his much anticipated biography "Killing Us Softly: The Don McLean Story".

Discography

Tapestry (1970)
American Pie (1971)
Don McLean (1972)
Playin' Favorites (1973)
Homeless Brother (1974)
Solo (1976) (LIVE)
Prime Time (1977)
Chain Lightning (1978)
Believers (1981)
Dominion (1982) (LIVE)
For The Memories I & II (1986-7)
Love Tracks (1987)
And I Love You So (1989) (UK release)
Headroom (1990)
Christmas (1991)
Favourites and Rarities (1993)
The River of Love (1995)
Christmas Dreams (1997)
Don McLean Sings Marty Robbins (2001)
Starry Starry Night (2001)
You've Got To Share (2003) ("The Kid's Album")
The Western Album (2003)
Christmastime! (2004) (collects Christmas & Christmas Dreams)
Rearview Mirror (2005)

External links

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