By Bob Berry
It’s truly one of the most remarkable songs in rock and roll history.
8 and a half minutes long, with a ton of complicated lyrics (but a nice chorus); and if it was on “Rate A Record“, it only got a 79, because you can’t dance to it.
“American Pie”, written by Don McLean, released in late November of 1971, by early 1972 it was Number One (as was his album of the same name) with a bullet. And stayed there for 4 weeks!
And all the while we wondered: who was the King, who was the jester? A song referring to the Book of Marx and a fall-out shelter? What?
Enter Bob Dearborn of WCFL/Chicago. As the story goes, Bob’s listeners had been asking for his insight, or analysis of the lyrics. And simple as that, with a lot of listening, and 5 typewritten pages, his amazing interpretation of “American Pie” was born. And distributed to over 100,000 listeners!
As for the Keener connection? We knew Bob as Mark Allen, who came to Keener in 1968, replacing Sean Conrad on the 7-10pm shift. Bob/Mark later moved to mornings (with distinguished success) thru early 1970, when he migrated to the Windy City.
It’s Don McLean’s birthday tomorrow (10/2). We at Keener thank him for ensuring the memory of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper.
