Don McLean, (born October 2, 1945 in New Rochelle, New York) is an American singer-songwriter, most famous for his 1971 ballad "American Pie".
Other well-known songs include
- "Vincent" (a tribute to the 19th century Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh)
- "Castles in the Air"
- "Winterwood"
A poem about McLean, "Killing Me Softly With His Blues" by Lori Lieberman , was reworked into a song called "Killing Me Softly" by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. Lieberman was the first to record it (in 1971), but the song has two far better-known covers. The first major hit version was by Roberta Flack in 1973; nearly a quarter-century later (1996), another version was a major hit for The Fugees.
In 1981, he had an international number one hit with the Roy Orbison classic, "Crying". Orbison himself once described him as "the voice of the century", and a subsequent rerecording of the song saw him embrace the remake.
Not to be confused with actor and comedian Don MacLean.
Discography
- "Tapestry"- 1970
- "American Pie"- 1971
- "Don McLean"- 1972
- "Playin' Favorites"- 1973
- "Homeless Brother"- 1974
- "Solo"- 1976 {LIVE}
- "Prime Time"- 1977
- "Chain Lightning"- 1978
- "Believers"- 1981
- "Dominion"- 1982 {LIVE}
- "For The Memories I & II"- 1986-7
- "Love Tracks"- 1987
- "Headroom"- 1990
- "Favourites and Rarities"- 1993
- "River of Love"- 1995
- "Don McLean Sings Marty Robbins"- 2001
- "Starry Starry Night"- 2001 {LIVE}
- "You've Got To Share"- 2003 ("The Kid's Album")
- "The Western Album"- 2003
- "Christmastime!"-2004
External link