In Oct., 1971, 26 y/o Don McLean premiered “American Pie,” an American music masterpiece.
In a 2001 polling by The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts), hundreds of music industry insiders, media, teachers and students voted for the Top 365 songs of the 20th Century, with a focus on historical importance.
“American Pie” ranked #5, topped by “Respect”(Otis Redding), “This Land Is Your Land” (Woody Guthrie),”White Christmas” (Irving Berlin), and #1, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg).
McLean turns 76 tomorrow. Long live “American Pie.”