Don McLean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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 79) New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Genres	Folk rock folk rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1964–present
Labels	United Artists EMI Curb Capitol

Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is famous for his hit songs "American Pie" and "Vincent. People sometimes call him the "American Troubadour."

In 2004, Don McLean joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame. By 2018, "American Pie" had been played on the radio five million times. "Vincent" had been played three million times.

Don McLean's Early Life

Don McLean grew up in New Rochelle, New York. His family came from Scotland and Italy. As a boy, he delivered newspapers.

How Don McLean Started in Music

When Don was a teenager, he loved folk music. He had asthma as a child, which sometimes made him miss school. But this gave him more time to focus on music.

He bought his first guitar at age 16. Then he started reaching out to people in the music world. When Don was 15, his father passed away. His father had asked him to finish school, and Don did. He graduated from Iona Preparatory School in 1963.

After high school, he went to Villanova Univeristy for a short time. But he soon left to start his music career. He worked with his manager, Herb Gart, for 18 years. Don played music in many big cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Don also went to night school at Iona College. He earned a degree in business in 1968. He even turned down a scholarship to a famous university. He wanted to focus on being a singer-songwriter instead. Later that year, he got a grant to perform along the Hudson River.

Don McLean's Recording Career

His First Big Success

Don McLean recorded his first album, Tapestry, in 1969. Many record labels said no to his album, 72 times! Finally, a new company called Mediarts released it.

His big break came when United Artists Records took over Mediarts. They released his second album, American Pie. This album made him a global star. It had two number-one hit songs: "American Pie" and "Vincent."

The Story Behind "American Pie"

"American Pie" is one of Don McLean's most famous songs. It was partly inspired by a sad event in 1959. Three musicians, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, died in a plane crash. This event is often called "The Day the Music Died." The song also talks about changes in American youth culture. Don McLean didn't talk much about the song's meaning until 1978.

In 2001, "American Pie" was voted number 5 in a list of the 365 Songs of the Century. This list was put together by the Recording Industry Association of America.

"Vincent (Starry Starry Night)"

"Vincent" is a song that honors the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. Don McLean was inspired to write it one morning. He was looking at a book about Van Gogh and saw a picture of his painting The Starry Night. He realized he could write a song about the artist through his art.

Other Popular Songs by Don McLean

Don McLean has written many other well-known songs:

• "And I Love You So" was on his first album, Tapestry. Many artists have covered this song, including Elvis Presley. It was even played at the royal wedding reception of Prince Harry in 2018.
• "Dreidel" and "If We Try" were also on the Tapestry album.
• He recorded "Castles in the Air" twice. His 1981 version was a top-40 hit.
• "Wonderful Baby" was a song he wrote for Fred Astaire. It became a number 1 hit on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.

Don McLean's Concerts

Don McLean became a very popular concert performer. He played in the United States and other countries. His first concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Albert Hall in London in 1972 were highly praised.

He still tours today in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In 2023, for the 50th anniversary of "American Pie," he had a big tour. It included 24 shows in Australia and New Zealand.

Later Achievements and Awards

Many artists have recorded Don McLean's songs over the years. These include Garth Brooks, Madonna, Drake, and Josh Groban. In 1971, Don McLean also inspired Lori Lieberman to co-write "Killing Me Softly with His Song."

His old college, Iona College, gave him an honorary doctorate degree in 2001.

In 2002, "American Pie" was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Don McLean was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.

A book about his life, The Don McLean Story: Killing Us Softly With His Songs, was published in 2007. It's the only full book about his life so far.

In 2019, Don McLean received many awards for his music sales. These included gold, platinum, and multi-platinum plaques from the United States and other countries.

Don McLean performing with Home Free at the Nashville Musicians Hall of Fame induction.

Don McLean receiving a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.

In 2021, to celebrate 50 years of "American Pie," Don McLean recorded an A cappella version with the band Home Free. He continues to perform alone and with other musicians. On August 16, 2021, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In June 2022, Don McLean published a children's book. It's called American Pie: A Fable. The book tells the story of a newspaper delivery boy in the 1950s. He learns about friendship and music, and that he's never alone when he finds what makes him happy.

The children's book American Pie: A Fable

On November 22, 2022, Don McLean was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.

Don McLean's Family Life

Don McLean's mother was Catholic, and his father was Protestant. His father died when Don was 15. Don McLean has been married twice and has two children, Jackie and Wyatt. He also has two grandchildren, Rosa and Mya.

Don McLean is an ambassador for Teen Cancer America. He also set up The Don McLean Foundation. This charity uses money from his income to help people in need, especially in Maine and across the United States.

Don McLean's Albums

Interesting Facts About Don McLean

• Don McLean is known for his amazing live performances.
• He won a folk-singing contest at the 1964 Worlds Fair in New York.
• His special guitar playing style adds a lot to his live shows.
• He often writes songs about love, loss, and looking back at the past.
• During concerts, he connects with his audience. He shares stories about how his songs were created.
• His hit song "American Pie" has many hidden meanings that people love to discuss.
• His song "And I Love You So" was covered by the famous singer Elvis Presley.
• Don McLean's songs have been used in many movies and TV shows.
• His song "Vincent" helped inspire the creation of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Don McLean's Famous Quotes

• “I don’t relate to what’s left of the music business. The business that I grew up in and loved, we made records a different way—there were record companies, there were stores where you could buy albums.”
• “Before the Beatles, America was musically a very conservative country. That was the America that I started getting interested in musically.”
• “I’m glad that my music has helped other people as it’s helped me. It makes me glad that I did what I did with my life.”
• "It's the little things in life that make the biggest difference."

See also

In Spanish: Don McLean para niños