Don guarantees ‘American Pie’ and extra nostalgic slices

US music legend Don McLean will probably be in Canberra this weekend together with his “ American Pie” fiftieth anniversary tour, supported by Aussie singer/songwriter, Andrew Farriss.

Partly marking “The Day the Music Died” – February 3, 1959, when American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and “The Huge Bopper” J P Richardson had been killed in a airplane crash — the eight-and-a-half-minute ballad, “American Pie,” has remained within the repertoire since its launch in 1971.

Alongside songs by different icons akin to Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Woody Guthrie and Aretha Franklin, McLean’s composition was additionally named “Music of the twentieth Century”.

Through the years, the track has been coated by Madonna and Garth Brooks. Rapper Drake sampled McLean tunes and hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur additionally cited him as an affect. Handwritten lyrics to the track had been auctioned off for greater than $1.2 million in 2015, and the composition was added to the Library of Congress Nationwide Recording Registry two years later.

In fact, Don McLean will sing “American Pie”, however the 76-year-old composer has written and sung quite a few different big hits, with “Castles within the Air”, “And I Love You So”, “Cryin’” and “Vincent (Starry Starry Evening)”, all of which will probably be heard on Sunday.

Earlier this yr, McLean celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of “Vincent” by releasing an intimate efficiency that was recorded on the immersive “Van Gogh” exhibit.

Farriss and his band will assist McLean with hits, together with alternatives from his time with the legendary rock band, INXS.

“American Pie” fiftieth anniversary live performance, Llewellyn Corridor, ANU, 7pm, April 16.