Don McLean

DON McLEAN. American folk-rock singer-songwriter best known for his worldwide hit American Pie. This was originally recorded and released on his 1971 American Pie album ; the single was a No1 US hit (for four weeks in 1972) and in the UK it reached No2 (on its original 1972 release), it then went to No12 (following its reissue in 1991). The song is a recounting of "The Day The Music Died" — referring to the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly / Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper and its aftermath. The song is listed as the No5 song on the RIAA list of songs of the century ..... and remains his signature tune ....