NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Don McLean, one of America's best-known singer-songwriters, was recently honored with two awards from BMI (Broadcast Music,Inc.), recognizing his long-standing career and outstanding contributions to the music industry through the iconic hits "American Pie” and “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night).”
Don was presented with his Million-Air certifications at the BMI offices in Nashville, Tennessee and accepted the coveted awards from BMI executives Jody Williams, (VP, Creative) and Mason Hunter (Assistant VP, Creative). A Million-Air Award is given to songwriters, composers, and publishers whose songs accumulate over one million U.S. broadcast performances. The acknowledgement is a mark of praise. The two tracks honored, played back-to-back, would total nearly 56 years of continuous airplay.
Among the honors he received were five (5) million certified airplays for “American Pie” and three (3) million certified airplays for “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night).”
“I was delighted to receive certifications from BMI of these millions of airplays for my songs ‘Vincent’ and ‘American Pie,’ says McLean. “I sincerely thank the radio folks out there and the public for their loyalty to me and my music for so many years. I am very thankful to everybody.”
“It was a pleasure to present Don with his Million Air certificates. He is one of the cornerstones of the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s,” says Mason Hunter, AVP, Creative with BMI. “‘American Pie’ is one of those songs that everyone has an emotional reaction to and we were proud to acknowledge both it and ‘Vincent.’”
“American Pie” was recorded and made its debut in 1971. It quickly became a nostalgic staple in American music songwriting with its evocative popularization of the phrase “The Day the Music Died,” referencing the 1959 plane crash of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and “The Big Bopper” J.P. Richardson.
Forty-seven years after its release, there has never been another song quite like “American Pie.” While a product of its era, pinpointing a precise moment of cultural change in the shattered hopes of baby boomers, its impact continues to reverberate down the years with a poignancy and relevance that hasn't diminished.
“Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” also was released in 1971, and is a tribute to the late Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh’s painting The Starry Night. The song reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 12 in the US. It also peaked at No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart.
The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville recently unveiled McLean’s rare composition manuscript pages of “American Pie” and “Vincent” lyrics, as well as his custom Martin D-40DM signature acoustic guitar, as part of their permanent Sing Me Back Home exhibit. The display will be available to view through June.