In 8½ minutes, singer-songwriter Don McLean defined an entire generation’s fears, disillusionment, grief, and even hope with the epic tapestry of the song “American Pie.”
By Judy Shields
Hollywood, California (The Hollywood Times) 06/15/2023
It was a great honor to have the opportunity to speak with Don McLean. We had a great conversation about his career and of course his famous song “American Pie” and everything he has been doing to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of “American Pie.” I had read that Don had written a poem about actor William Boyd aka Hopalong Cassidy, that was put on the CD sleeves. That was an interesting conversation. I have to say that Don was quite honest about his feelings of being a songwriter and his “American Pie” song. If you haven’t seen the documentary, you should, it really was a great way for Don McLean to tell us all about that famous song “America Pie” and all your questions about that song will be answered! He also told me he has a new album coming out and also a second children’s book later this year.
Put on your earbuds or headphones, grab a drink of your choice and enjoy our telephone conversation. I have to say though his voice was somewhat low compared to mine and he joked, prior to the record button being pressed, that was because he had an iPhone and my was a Samsung, the Rivalry!
On June 23, during the song’s yearlong 50th-anniversary celebration, noted film and music producer Spencer Proffer’s THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED: The Story of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie,’ offering stunning insight and remarkable context for the enduringly popular song, will be available to own on Blu-ray and DVD, through Bob Frank Distribution/The Orchard, following its acclaimed premiere last year on Paramount+. Then, on June 27, the film will also be available to buy and rent on digital platforms from Paramount Home Entertainment.
The DVD and Blu-ray disc release of THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED will be accompanied by exclusive bonus materials that include covers of “American Pie” by Latin Grammy®-winning Maffio with JenCarlos; NME Award-winning performer Jade Bird; and by crossover country a capella group Home Free in a duet with McLean.
Unique among music documentaries, THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED goes far deeper than exploring an artist’s career, but takes an in-depth, cinematic look at the inspiration, creation, and influence of “American Pie,” and the way McLean’s song has become a touchstone that continues to inspire artists and music lovers today.
Beginning with the February 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson – an event that becomes an integral part of McLean’s song – THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED: The Story of Don McLean’s American Pie highlights cultural moments in America’s history and tells the stories of the people who were a part of this tumultuous time. The film reveals the secrets and meanings behind McLean’s astonishing lyrics, and their influence in the past, today, and into the future.
Called “mandatory viewing for McLean fans or anyone who has marveled at his sonic treasure” by the Associated Press, THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED “provides invaluable context to one of the most enduring and original pieces of pop music ever composed” (Chicago Sun-Times, Richard Roeper). Music bible Billboard says THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED “will delight the song’s fans … neither the song nor McLean, have lost any of their potency a half-century later.”
THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED: The Story of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ is produced by Spencer Proffer, whose career as a music producer has spanned decades and included some of the most iconic acts in rock history. Proffer and his production company Meteor 17 bring dazzling audiovisual storytelling techniques to the film, reimagining the music for a modern audience. The film, which debuted in cinemas and on Paramount+ in 2022, is executive produced by Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming and Events, Paramount, and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+.
About Don McLean:
Don McLean is a Grammy award honoree, a Songwriter Hall of Fame member, and a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, his smash hit “American Pie” resides in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and was named a top 5 song of the 20th Century by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA).
A New York native, Don McLean is one of the most revered and respected songwriters in American history. After paying his dues in the New York club scene in the late ‘60s, he went on to score mega-hits like “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air” and many more. His catalog of songs has been recorded by Madonna, Garth Brooks, Josh Groban, Drake, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and countless others. In 2015, McLean’s handwritten manuscript of the lyrics to “American Pie” was auctioned by Christies, selling for just over $1.2 Million. 2019 honored Don with a star on the Las Vegas Walkway of Stars and his song “And I Love You So” was the theme for Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s wedding. Don landed a new recording contract with Time Life in 2020, with whom he released a catalog of recordings as well as a new album Still Playin’ Favorites. In 2021, Don’s “American Pie” was featured in the Avengers’ Black Widow and the Tom Hanks movie Finch.
McLean received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, celebrated the 50th anniversary of “American Pie,” and recorded a version of the song with a cappella group Home Free. In 2022, McLean received six Telly Awards for his collaboration with international heavyweight Tyson Fury, released American Pie: A Fable children’s book, and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. Now in 2023, the Telly award-winning documentary ‘The Day The Music Died’ comes out on DVD and Blue-Ray, and he will receive a star in the Music City Walk of Fame. In unexpected news, President Yoon of South Korea sang “American Pie” for an elated audience of White House guests in Washington D.C. For more information, visit donmclean.com.
About Paramount Home Entertainment:
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. The PHE division oversees PPC’s home entertainment and transactional digital distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television Studios, Paramount Players, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles. PHE additionally manages global licensing of studio content and transactional distribution across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile, and portable devices and emerging technologies.
About Bob Frank Distribution/Sony Orchard:
Bob Frank Distribution was formed in 2012 as a boutique independent music distributor with a global sub-distribution arrangement with The Orchard. BFD currently represents over fifty labels and artists with thousands of masters including earMUSIC, MPS, Charly, Absolute, Righteous Babe, Astor Place Recordings, Once Upon A Time, Cleveland International Records, Peak Records, SGM Records, Woodward Avenue Records, The Atlantic Screen Group (Filmtrax), REMT, Bad Dog/PRA Records, UFO, as well as artist-owned labels and catalogs including Charlie Daniels’ Blue Hat Records, Crystal Gayle, Dale Watson, Dave Davies, Anthony Gomes, Mark Collie, Darryl Worley, Lee Roy Parnell, Trini Lopez and many others.
About Meteor 17:
Headquartered in Los Angeles, this convergence and production venture is helmed by innovative media and music producer, Spencer Proffer. M17 is producing and developing an ambitious slate of projects across music, TV, film, internet, live event, and other platforms, integrating brand marketing and music as organic components. M17 is a full-service organization that actively participates from conception and architecture through all phases of deal-making, production, marketing, and distribution entities highlighted on meteor17.com.
