By Kate Bartlett
This Saturday, November 11, legendary singer/songwriter and guitarist Don McClean will be performing at the Struthers Library Theatre in Warren, PA at 8pm. Known as “The American Troubadour” and “King of the Trail”, Don will be performing many of his famous hits including “American Pie,” “Vincent,” and “Castles in the Air” in what is sure to be a concert to remember.
Don McClean is arguably best known for his song “American Pie,” which has been named one of the top 5 songs of the 20th century, but his musical talent and abilities go far beyond the notes of that one song.
I had a chance to speak with him about his life and career.
Born and raised in New Rochelle, NY, Don had developed an interest in all forms of music by the age of 5. Don struggled with childhood asthma and missed long periods of school, which found him spending a lot of time at home. “I remember this record pile we had at home with just stacks and stacks of records. I would spend hours almost every day going through these records and listening to different music. I started to gain an appreciation for different genres, and this is where my love for music really began.”
As sort of a recluse, Don found comfort in these stacks of records, and the music itself. “I was terrible at school, and I didn’t have any friends. I’d watch the kids playing outside, but I couldn’t join them because of my asthma. The music and the records were how I’d spend my time.”
Don purchased his guitar as a teenager, took voice lessons, and learned to control his asthma through breath control learned by singing. “The guitar was the ultimate babe magnet,” Don jokes. “I suddenly gained a lot of attention and found something I was actually good at. I began to think I could really make a living at this.”
At the age of 16, Don was already making contacts in the music business. Determined to make a living as a professional musician and singer, he forged connections and recorded his first studio sessions in 1960’s. Invited to join various groups over the years, Don turned them down, viewing himself as a troubadour, a traveling solo artist.
Following the death of his father and the assignation of President Kennedy, Don found himself turning to his music more than ever. He found solace in his lyrics, and began writing various songs, including “American Pie.” “The world around me seemed to be falling apart,” Don recalls. “Music was my therapy.”
He recorded his first album “Tapestry,” in 1969 and quickly became a headline in nightclubs and colleges across the country. Don became even more internationally known with the release of “American Pie” in 1971. Thirty years later, the song was voted in the top 5 in a poll of the 365 “Songs of the Century” and hit #1 the Billboard Top 100 in 1972 where it stayed for 4 weeks.
“American Pie was definitely a milestone in my career,” recalls Don. “A song like that doesn’t just happen overnight, and it’s journey through the years (of creation and on the charts) is truly remarkable.” The lyrics were inspired by the death of Buddy Holly, and depict Don’s view of the world during this time.
A major career highlight for Don was performing “American Pie” at Garth Brooks’ Central Park concert (attended by over 500,000 people) alongside Billy Joel in an acoustic rendition by the trio. The song has been covered by many noteworthy artists, including Madonna, who brought the song to #1 on the Billboard Charts again.
Don encourages aspiring artists to stay determined and focused on their goal. “Musicians need to be disciplined. I performed with a lot of musicians who were just in ‘the biz’ for the party aspect, and they didn’t make it. Stay true to your music, be goal-oriented, work hard and you’ll get there.”
On November 11 in Warren, Don will play many of his classic hits, along with some holiday music. “No two shows are the same. I always play the crowd favorites, and I love to do this. The fact that people have embraced these songs and love the lyrics almost as much as I do is incredible, and I love it. But other than that, I just play whatever I’m inspired to play in the moment. It’s always a good time. Rock and Roll baby!”
For more information on Don visit https://donmclean.com/ and to purchase tickets visit https://www.strutherslibrarytheatre.org/.