McLean’s ‘American Pie’ remains timeless
Special Photo: Keith Perry
By 2911 Media
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Feb. 3, 1959, a chartered aircraft crashed in Mason City, Iowa, just minutes after takeoff, claiming the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and the pilot, Roger Peterson. The fateful day was coined “The Day The Music Died” by iconic singer and songwriter Don McLean, in his hit song “American Pie.” As the 60th anniversary of the tragic plane crash approached earlier this year, McLean had not forgotten the day that inspired his magnum opus.
“Buddy Holly was only 22 years old when he died on Feb. 3, 1959,” McLean said. “By that time, he had recorded something like 60 songs … and most were hit records. Even the Beatles cannot compare to the magnitude of this contribution. The music he made, he invented himself, with very little help from others.”
“American Pie” was released in 1971 and spent four weeks at No. 1 in 1972. In 2001, thirty years later, the Recording Industry of America named it the fifth-greatest song of the 20th century.
In 2016, McLean re-released “American Pie” in celebration of the 45th anniversary. Music lovers can hear his classic songs in their original vinyl format. The single has been newly remastered from analog tape by Robert Vosgien and the lacquers cut by Ron McMaster, both at Capitol Studios in Hollywood.
One of McLean’s four handwritten copies of the lyrics to “American Pie” was auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Auctions on Jan. 26, 2017, with the bidding starting at $100,000. It is the second copy to be offered to the public, with the first being sold in 2015. The Harvard University Library has a copy, and the final copy is said to have been given to a close friend of McLean’s. The lyrics are on eight pages of McLean’s personal stationery in blue ink, featuring the “American Pie” album art of the gold thumbs up and his signature.
McLean is ending a monthslong tour with shows May 10 in East Greenwich, R.I., and may 11 in Peekskill, N.Y.
A New York native, McLean is one of the most respected songwriters in American history. After paying his dues in the New York club scene in the late ’60s, he went on to score hit records 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 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.
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