Martin Guitars Jam with Don McLean

Filmed on 5/15/2020 and shot for the Martin Guitar Jam in Place Series, Don jams out to a some of his favorite songs, and talks about his love for Martin Guitars.

Don McLean is a Grammy award honoree, a Songwriter Hall of Fame member, a BBC Lifetime Achievement award recipient, and his smash hit “American Pie” resides in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and was named by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) a top 5 song of the 20th Century. A New York native, Don McLean is one of the most revered and respected songwriters in American history. Don McLean’s incredible legacy spans music from virtually every genre including blues, country, folk and of course, pop. In addition to entertaining tens of millions of fans for six decades, Don McLean has influenced a variety of icons in the music world including such notables as George Michael, Madonna, Garth Brooks, Tupac Shakur and Elvis among many others. Don McLean continues to write and tour extensively and in 2021 will mark the 50th anniversary of “American Pie” with a world tour.

Connect with Don McLean

[rlaalsxo]

I always listen to 'Vincent' when I feel bad. Thank you for making this wonderful music.

[robertwjtaylor]

There will never be another Don McLean, love your sound, been listening to your music and amazing guitar playing since the 1960's, love ya, please keep on playing and giving lessons!

[JPs_Music_Channel]

I love this video. It feels like I am sitting in a living room with Don McLean learning about how to improve my guitar playing and hearing great stories about his life.

[joefairweatherblues]

Thank you Don !!! :) One late
afternoon back in the early 1970s walking home from work along College Street Sydney, (I was an apprenticed 17-year old letterpress and lithographic printer at the time), across the street in a small alcove grassed area in Hyde Park surrounded by tall hedges and flower beds, very close to the actual street in fact (passing motorists could clearly see the frenzied activity going on), and right opposite St. Mary's Cathedral, local radio station 2JJ roadies were busily setting up a stage, and they put up a banner which simply read, "Don McLean" if memory serves. The free impromptu concert was apparently a "thank you Sydney" from none other than yourself so along with quite a few other passersby I stuck around to watch and listen and it was a darn great show you put on! One song that you defiantly performed had apparently been banned from receiving radio airplay here. It contained the accentuated word "boxcar" or "boxcar Bertha" in the lyrics and it was quite bluesy, though the lyrics were great I thought even if they did contain clear "risqué" sexual innuendo, double entendre. This impromptu concert must have taken place in May 1973 at the end of your first ever Downunder tour following on the great success of American Pie, Vincent, and Castles In The Air. Would you happen to recall it Don? Take care ol' son, you're still our hero, :)
P.S. And yes, those Martin Dreadnoughts are great. Clapton also plays one. Wish I had one, though I do have an Ibanez copy (which my dad bought for me when I was 14, a little while ago now!) of the famous Gibson Hummingbird acoustic with sunburst finish. Great guitar too, plays great, though the local luthier, a very talented fellow indeed, makes 6 and 12 string acoustics in his spare time, was utterly filthy when I asked him to shave the underside of the bone nut I had him fit (in place of the standard plastic one that came fitted) in order to lower the strings at the 1st fret, making it easier to play a barred F chord, and the strings don't buzz, not the way I play it, softly, Scotty Moore style, ;)

[debbieosborn]

Don is a great talent. His voice range was amazing when he was younger! He did a great job on Crying ❤️

[thomaspick]

He’s definitely New York. Such confidence. A great performer.

[richardichard]

Just found these great videos from you sir, very humble s d generous of you. I bought a lovely steel string guitar when I was about 15...can’t remember how I got the cash, but I did...it was a Yamaha...1982 maybe...I was going to be the next Dylan...but it sat unused in my bedroom collecting dust for years, it was not a talent I possessed...Finally I gave it to a friend who is self taught, can’t read a note, and is brilliant. We fell out and I demanded my guitar back, he refused...haha...And I’m glad he did...havent spoken to him since then, maybe 10 years ago, but I’m happy to know that guitar is being loved and used no doubt daily. Please keep posting more of these sir, I love to see you smiling, you clearly love playing and singing....Thanks. Peace.

[andrewbowen]

Such nuance in your playing. Takes many years to achieve such mastery.

[fritzcat]

You are my hero! What a treat. Thanks for posting these personal videos. ❤

[DannyMcGowan]

Love you Don, thank you for sharing your secrets.. May God richly bless you.. You are a Legend. My favorite album is Don McLean.

[scottkaczinski]

So very good. Thanks Don. Saw you in Rock Island at Circa 21. It was fantastic. My favorites...Empty Chairs and Castles In the Air.

[GrandmasterGib]

I’ve started learning finger picking and struggling with working the thumb independently from the fingers. Watching you play gave me today’s motivation to keep trying - Thanks!

[windysblog]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and talent with us. My first guitar was a little Harmony too. Bought it off a friend for $ 10 in the 1970's 😊 wish I still had it.

[Nigel-iegy]

From someone that’s followed your music and playing from the beginning . Thank you

[AlexElectricSound]

Hello Don i am young musician and i learn very mutch from you thank you 🙂

[richardanthony]

thanks for putting this up.great musician and very humble.

[itaymer]

I love all Don's songs, but Homeless brother is my favorite.

[sheilasamu-doig]

Thankyou Don for sharing your knowledge of guitaring...I'm very much in awe of your style..😊

[Martn]

This is great thanks Don guitar lessons from a master. Interesting comments as well Hope you can discuss composing at some point

[imannonymous]

And we all thought led zeppelin wrote such an amazing song.
Don is a living legend and one of the last of the key keepers to a treasure trove of folk songs that inspired decades of popular music....pay attention.!