340 - Don McLean: Why You Should Follow Your Instincts

Don McLean is a singer and songwriter best known for the song, "American Pie." But he’s so much more than just this one hit. He’s sold 40 platinum and gold records and he’s still touring(!). And now he’s kicking off his 2 year tour for his new album, "Botanical Gardens." Don has decades and decades of experience and he’s always had an instinct about what he’s wanted to do... what he wanted to create. He transforms nostalgia into music and art. And in this interview he told me how  I think I was asking for every artist. Or anyone listening who still wants to become one

 

Links and Resources

Check out Don’s newest album Botanical Gardens 

Don’s Albums we talk about:

American Pie Playing Favorites PrimeTime (Don’s worst selling album)

Don’s Songs we talk about:

Vincent Dreidel (on the top 20) Mountains O’Mourne (Don’s song that went to #1 in UK and Ireland) Castles in the Air Crying The Wrong Thing to Do When a Good Thing Goes Bad Drake sampled these two songs for his own song “Doing It Wrong” in 2011 Wonderful Baby Superman’s Ghost (the story of George Reeves)  

Check out Don’s website for tour dates

Also Mentioned

Steve Martin - Don told a story where he showed up on his doorstep in 1972 (before he was anyone) to talk about the banjo

Penn Jillette - he came on the podcast!

Larry Butler

Buddy Holly

The Weavers

Steve Allen

Pete Seeger

Bob Dylan

 

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