For other people named Don McLean, see Don McLean (disambiguation).
Don McLean
McLean performing at Sage Gateshead in May 2018
Background information
Birth name
Donald McLean III
Born
(1945-10-02) October 2, 1945 (age 78) New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Genres
Folk
rock
folk rock
Occupation(s)
Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
Vocals
guitar
Years active
1964–present
Labels
United Artists
EMI
Curb
Capitol
Website
don-mclean.com
Musical artist
Donald McLean III/məˈkleɪn/ (born October 2, 1945)[1] is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Known to fans as the "American Troubadour" or "King of the Trail",[2][3] he is best known for his 1971 hit song "American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone"[4] about the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation.[5] His other hit singles include "Vincent" (about Vincent van Gogh), "Dreidel", and "Wonderful Baby"; as well as his renditions of Roy Orbison's "Crying" and the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You".
McLean's song "And I Love You So" has been recorded by Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, Glen Campbell, and others. In 2000, Madonna had a hit with a rendition of "American Pie".
In 2004, McLean was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In January 2018, BMI certified that "American Pie" had reached five million airplays and "Vincent" three million.[6]
^Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (first ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 1578/9. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
^"Don McLean on his hit American Pie, touring and intending to die on stage". NewsChain. October 21, 2021.
^"DON MCLEAN: 'American Pie is about the soul of a country and it is eternal'". www.newsletter.co.uk. November 19, 2021.
^Perone, James E. (2016). Smash Hits: The 100 Songs That Defined America. ABC-CLIO. p. 230. ISBN 9781440834691.
^"Understanding American Pie – Interpretation of Don McLean's epic anthem to the passing of an era". UnderstandingAmericanPie.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2003. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
^musicmattersmagazine (January 24, 2018). "Don McLean becomes a BMI multi million-air!". Retrieved January 17, 2019.
note to DonMcLean after breaking his record for longest song". Today. Retrieved January 2, 2022. "DonMcLean: Official Website". Don-mclean.com. April...
November 15, 2023. "Canadian certifications – DonMcLean". Music Canada. Retrieved November 15, 2023. "DonMclean - American Pie (album)". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved...
given the opportunity to perform as opening act for "American Pie" singer DonMcLean, with whom he shared management. The two did not get along, and a feud...
Legendary Songs of DonMcLean is a compilation album by DonMcLean. The album was released on March 25, 2003. Words and Music - 3:05 American Pie - 8:33...
also a member of The Johnny Cash Show band, and toured extensively with DonMcLean. In June 2023, Marx was inducted into the South Carolina Entertainment...
is a parody song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It parodies "American Pie" by DonMcLean, with lyrics that humorously summarize the plot of the film Star Wars:...
MacLean, also spelt Maclean and McLean, is a Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Gille Eathain, or, Mac Giolla Eóin in Irish Gaelic), Eóin being a Gaelic form...
to: "American Pie" (song), a 1971 song by DonMcLean American Pie (DonMcLean album), the 1971 DonMcLean album which included the namesake song American...
Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson in a tragedy later referred to by DonMcLean as "The Day the Music Died" in his song "American Pie." During his short...
part of the "Warner Archive Collection". The opening song is sung by DonMcLean. In an age of medieval fantasy populated by fantastic creatures, the Green...
1972. That year, 18 acts earned their first number one song, such as DonMcLean, Al Green, Nilsson, Neil Young, America, Roberta Flack, The Chi-Lites...
written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman after she was inspired by a DonMcLean performance in late 1971. Denied writing credit by Fox and Gimbel, Lieberman...
The Very Best of DonMcLean is the first greatest hits album by American singer and guitarist DonMcLean. It features 15 of McLean's songs. American Pie...
event became known as "The Day the Music Died" after singer-songwriter DonMcLean referred to it as such in his 1971 song "American Pie". At the time, Holly...
Kenneth McLean (born 8 January 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder or left midfielder for EFL Championship club...
with many artists, among them Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, John Prine, DonMcLean, Jimmy Buffett, Dolores Keane, Willie Nelson, Adam Duritz (singer of Counting...
Global Information