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FYI

My Oh My, It's Mr. American Pie

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of American Pie, the album and single, Don McLean was recently presented with a plaque for multi-platinum certifications for American Pie and a platinum certi

My Oh My, It's Mr. American Pie

By FYI Staff

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of American Pie, the album and single, Don McLean was recently presented with a plaque for multi-platinum certifications for American Pie and a platinum certification for Vincent.


The celebrated Songwriter Hall of Fame member was honoured by Universal Music Canada’s Ivar Hamilton, VP Catalogue Marketing; Warren Stewart, Director of Catalogue Marketing; and Mark O’Keeffe, Catalogue Marketing Coordinator, backstage at the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto.

The song, of course, is an ode to the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, who died in a plane crash in 1959, and references a changing of the guard with “the Jester” being a veiled reference to Bob Dylan.

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Once asked what "American Pie" meant, McLean replied, "It means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to.”

Released in 1971, American Pie was a number-one US hit for four weeks at the beginning of 1972. McLean is now promoting the 50th anniversary of the song with an extended album release and a tour.

McLean has had many other hits, including Vincent, And I Love You So, and Castles in the Air, but American Pie has taken on a life of its own, earning him as much as $500K in annual royalties, according to one UK source.

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Neil Young participates in a press conference during Farm Aid at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center on September 23, 2023 in Noblesville, Indiana.
Gary Miller/Getty Images

Neil Young participates in a press conference during Farm Aid at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center on September 23, 2023 in Noblesville, Indiana.

Rock

Neil Young Endorses Kamala Harris For President: ‘Cast Your Vote For a Beautiful Future For Your Family’

The rocker joins a long list of artists supporting the sitting VP in her race against Donald Trump.

Neil Young has made it clear he’s no fan of Donald Trump. The “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World” guitar hero has threatened to sue twice impeached convicted felon Trump before for playing his songs at campaign rallies, and over the weekend Young made it clear that he does not want to give the former President a second chance in Washington.

“Kamala Harris — She is an honest forthright truth teller who is experienced in the White House, free from ambiguity or evasiveness, who goes straight to the point,” wrote Young on his Archives site on Friday about the sitting Vice President, who is less than a month away from possibly becoming the nation’s first female President.

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