American Pie Author Don McLean Coming With Band To Newton Theatre

BY GEORGE J. DACRE

Dated: 29/05/2015Don McLean in performance at The Sage Gateshead
Dated: 29/05/2015Don McLean in performance at The Sage Gateshead

Don McLean, who in the 1960s was known as the Hudson Valley Troubadour as one of the first crew members of the Sloop Clearwater and a compatriot of Pete Seeger, tells the Rockland County Times that he is working on more protest songs especially about all the wars going on in the world.

McLean, born in New Rochelle, New York, lived in Cold Springs for several years and played his first gig in a coffee house in New York City. His epic “American Pie,” which Rocklander Rob Stoner also played on, was about the day the music died, when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens all died in a plane crash, McLean said.

He said “American Pie” was also meant to paint a photograph of America in the 1970s that he “tried to capture in words and music…about the state of society heading in a wrong direction at that time.”

There is no shortage of material to write about in the 2000s, McLean noted.

McLean will appear at the Newton, New Jersey Theatre Saturday, December 5, 8 p.m. with his five piece band. “We change the music every appearance,” says the 70-year-old McLean, who resides with his family in Maine.

McLean still travels the world singing his songs, which have made him a millionaire and one of the icons of country-folk music. McLean is working on a Public Broadcasting System special and will be making some new albums this decade, he confirmed.

Tickets and information on McLeans Newton, New Jersey Theatre performance at 973-383-3700 or visit www.TheNewtonTheatre.com.

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