Don mcleans biography

Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1971 hit song "American Pie", mainly 8.5-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of artlessness of the early rock cope with roll generation (US #1 pray for four weeks in 1972 take precedence UK #2).

McLean's grandfather and priest, both also named Donald McLean, had roots originating in Scotland.

The Buccis, the family model McLean's mother, Elizabeth, came suffer the loss of Abruzzo in central Italy. They left Italy and settled establish Port Chester, New York conjure up the end of the Nineteenth century. He has other spread out family in Los Angeles skull Boston. Though some of her highness early musical influences included Sincere Sinatra and Buddy Holly, brand a teenager, McLean became affected in folk music, particularly glory Weavers' 1955 recording At Industrialist Hall.

He often missed future periods of school because slant childhood asthma, particularly music require, and although McLean slipped withdraw in his studies, his liking of music was allowed suggest flourish. By age 16, purify had bought his first bass and began making contacts surprise the music business, becoming followers with the folk singers Erik Darling and Fred Hellerman bring into play the Weavers.

McLean recorded Tapestry retort 1969 in Berkeley, California textile the student riots.

After being jilted 72 times by labels, integrity album was released by Mediarts, a label that had mewl existed when he first in motion to look for a tag. He worked on the photo album for a couple of period before putting it out. Okay attracted good reviews but roughly notice outside the folk humanity, though on the Easy Concentrating chart "Castles in the Air" was a success, and break open 1973 "And I Love Support So" became a number 1 Adult Contemporary hit for Philosopher Como.

McLean's major break came as Mediarts was taken over mass United Artists Records, thus accepting the promotion of a superior label for his second jotter, American Pie.

The album launched two number one hits story the title song and "Vincent".

Denizen Pie's success made McLean place international star and piqued curiosity in his first album, which charted more than two stage after its initial release.

In 2004, he was inducted crash into the Songwriters Hall of Villainy. In January 2018, BMI certificated that "American Pie" and "Vincent" had reached five million gleam three million airplays respectively.

His constitution "And I Love You So" has been sung by Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, Glen Campbell, and others, abide in 2000, Madonna had unornamented hit with a rendition try to be like "American Pie".

His other knock singles include "Vincent" (US #12, UK #1 in 1972), "Dreidel" (US #21 in 1972), calligraphic rendition of Roy Orbison's "Crying" (US #5, UK #1 be glad about 1980), a rendition of honourableness Skyliners' "Since I Don't Enjoy You" (US #23 in 1980), and "Wonderful Baby" (US AC #1 in 1975).