Don McLean Biography

Don McLean, well known for his hit song "American Pie," began his career in New York City's folk clubs in the mid-1960s. In 1970, he composed a musical homage to painter Vincent Van Gogh, which was roundly rejected by several companies, however MediaArts did grant him a deal to record a number of his other songs under the title Tapestry. The album did not do well, but Perry Como had a hit with a rendition of the song And I Love You So, leading United Artists to pick up McLean's contract. In 1971, he reappeared with American Pie; the title track, an elegiac eight-and-a-half-minute folk-pop epic inspired by Buddy Holly's sad death, became a No. 1 hit, and the album quickly reached the top of the charts as well. The follow-up, Vincent, was likewise a triumph, and McLean was even the subject of Roberta Flack's single Killing Me Softly with His Song; nevertheless, to his credit, the singer refused to allow the success of American Pie limit his career. Subsequent albums, such as 1972's self-titled debut and 1974's Playin' Favorites, eschewed any attempt to recreate the American Pie taste. His sales fell, as expected. Following the failures of 1974's Homeless Brother and 1976's Solo, United Artists terminated McLean's contract; he returned on Arista the following year with Prime Time, but when it, too, failed, he spent the next several years without a label. McLean experienced a sort of resurgence with 1980's Chain Lightning, his first top 30 LP in over a decade. It generated a top 10 hit with its version of Roy Orbison's classic Crying, as well as his originals Castles in the Air and Since I Don't Have You, both of which reached the top 40. However, Believers failed to maintain the comeback, and with 1983's Dominion, he was once again left without label support. McLean spent the rest of his career on the road, reluctantly restoring American Pie to his set list and drawing inspiration from the country market; in addition to a number of live sets and re-recordings of old favorites, he also returned to the studio for projects like 1990's For the Memories (a collection of classic pop, country, and jazz covers) and 1995's River of Love (an LP of original material).

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