A Phenomenon

Don McLean still has much to accomplish

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

After 50 years of performing the hit “American Pie,” Don McLean is still unsure why it resonates with audiences.

“What I can tell you is the song was always a phenomenon of some sort and it continues to be. It is what it has been,” McLean says.

This year, he’s embracing the song and the album with a tour that stops at the Fox Tucson Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 24.

McLean’s “American Pie” was dubbed the No. 5 “Song of the Century” by RIAA. Upon its release in 1972, it hit No. 1.

The album of the same name also topped the Billboard charts.

In 2015, one of his four handwritten manuscripts of the lyrics of “American Pie” was auctioned at Christie’s for $1.2 million. Other notable hit records among his many recordings include “Vincent (Starry Starry Night),” “And I Love You So,” “Castles in the Air” and “Crying.”

McLean has amassed over 40 gold and platinum records worldwide and, in 2004, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His songs have been recorded by artists from every musical genre, most notably Madonna’s No. 1 recording of “American Pie” in 2000 and George Michael’s version of “The Grave” in 2003, in addition to recordings by Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, “Weird” Al Yankovic and Josh Groban.

In 2012, McLean was awarded the BBC Folk Music Lifetime Achievement Award and saw the release of “American Troubadour” on CD and DVD and the worldwide broadcast of the documentary of this name, charting his life and career.

In January 2018, BMI certifi ed that “American Pie” and “Vincent” had reached 5 million and 3 million airplays, respectively.

Late last year, Taylor Swift’s release of a 10-minute version of her song “All Too Well” broke McLean’s record of having the longest song in the No. 1 spot. “American Pie” clocks in at 8 minutes and 37 seconds.

“There was a ton of publicity about that,” he says.

“Many others have done the song, too. The a cappella group Home Free did a version of the song. The video was No. 1 for eight weeks on the country video charts.

“Things have just happened. I also have a children’s book and a documentary coming out.”

The 76-year-old musician is speaking of “The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie.’”

“It’s coming out in a couple months,” says McLean, who will soon push “American Boys Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll,” his next album. “Viacom is bankrolling the documentary. The tour goes along with all of that.”

After all that success, he still has goals to accomplish, like playing Istanbul or Montenegro.

“I’ve been on the road for 50 years,” McLean says. “I’ve played every kind of city — small and large — all over the world pretty much. Of course, there is a lot I haven’t done. It’s just a matter of getting a job there.”

One thing is guaranteed with McLean, he says. Each show is slightly diff erent.

“I spent many years as an opening act back in the ’60s when I was a teenager,” he says. “I’m 76 years old now. Back in those days, I would see acts for three shows a night. I would see headliners get up and they would do the same thing every night. If you play with a guy for a week, you hear the same chatter between every song.

“It was mind-numbing to watch this. And I just couldn’t do that to myself, let alone the audience. I just made it my business to know my repertoire very well so I could play any song.”

In January 2018, BMI certifi ed that Don McLean’s “American Pie” and “Vincent” had reached 5 million and 3 million airplays, respectively. (Photo courtesy of Don McLean)

MORE INFO

What: Don McLean and Al Stewart When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 24 Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street Cost: Tickets start at $38 Info: 547-3040, foxtucson.com