Don McLean

Don McLean - Autographed - More Posters & Photos »

Fact Sheet

Occupation	Singer, Songwriter
Birthday	2 October 1945 (64)
Sign	Libra
Birthplace	USA

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); Roberta Flack had the hit version in 1973.

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.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, radio conglomerate Clear Channel Communications sent out of a list of 150 songs that were recommended to be pulled from airplay. "American Pie" was among those listed.

Tell us what you think in the Don McLean forum ...