The Don McLean Concert

Newsletter #24 Last one of the year!

Something About My Journey

You may recall in newsletter #19 Book Reviews and some Gift Ideas, I shared that I bought my husband tickets to a Don McLean concert for his birthday. Most of you know now that the song American Pie plays a part in my book AAAB2U. If you don’t, get buying or reading! On December 6th, we traveled to Tarrytown NY to see Don perform with the secondary goal of giving Don a copy of my book. It was a Friday night, and I babysat my 6-month-old grandson Thursday and Friday and hadn’t gotten much sleep….so I was tired. But our seats were fantastic—third row, center.

Shortly after we entered, my husband found out that there wasn’t an opening act which seemed to thrill folks sitting near us. I assume based on their age they had babysat grandchildren that day too. So, there I sat with my book gripped in my hand thinking about throwing it on stage during the performance, but I was worried I’d hit Don, miss the stage entirely, or at the very least scare him, so I kept his present in my lap.

The show was a qualified good. Qualified because a few people did ask when they heard we were going to see Don McLean, “Isn’t he dead?” He isn’t, but he is 79 years old, and though he put on a good show for a 79-year-old, he certainly isn’t a “young broncin’ buck” anymore!

Have you seen any “older” musicians perform? Did they stand the test of time? Please share in comments.

He sang Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) and did a few unnecessary Christmas songs, but it got the audience singing. Just before ten, without any real fanfare, he launched into American Pie stating, “Sing along.” He didn’t need to ask twice. The audience was up on their feet and singing like we were up on stage with the band. It was great. Don skipped a verse, which was a bit annoying as he knows this is the song most people are there for, and nine minutes just isn’t long enough.

After the song, Don played a quick encore and walked off stage. My husband and I wandered up to the edge of the stage to figure out how to get the book to Don. Two members of his band remained on stage, and I thought I had memorized the names of all the band members figuring this exact scenario may play out. So, I started calling out “Paul”, and the guy didn’t even look up. I assumed it’s because he’s pushing 80 and has been with Don for 40 years so his hearing is shot. A security guard came over and gently said, “They aren’t going to do any autographs.” Embarrassing. My husband finally called out, “Hey guys” and the piano player looked up and sauntered over. I explained this was a book I had written, and that American Pie played a big part in it, and we wanted to give the book to Don. He took it and seemed to understand the request.

At the same time, two women next to us were yelling, “Hey, do you know Bruce John?” If we thought our request was befuddling, this one was baffling to all of us. The piano player whose name is Tony (oops) finally said, “No, should I?” They explained that Bruce John was a pretty famous musician where they were from. My husband and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Bruce John is a fairly small-town musician from Willimantic CT, the town where I attended high school. His band was the Cuckoo Review if that helps paint the picture. Tony walked away I’m sure thinking, “What a bunch of nuts.”

My husband turned to the ladies and said, “We know Bruce John.” She immediately said, “I knew it. He really is famous.” We tried to explain we only knew him because we were from the area too, but it fell on deaf ears. We both went home that night holding on to our hopes. Mine—that Don was busy devouring my book in his hotel room and hers—that Bruce John really is world-renowned.

Rhodes’s First Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all my subscribers. I will look back on this year as a special one indeed. 2024 gave us our first grandson (see above) and being a grandparent is as spectacular as everyone said it would be. The new baby smell and the softness of his skin are things I’d forgotten about in these intervening twenty-four years. Like Rhodes, my book AAAB2U also was born into the world, and it has been an exciting four months. Thanks for being a supporter and a subscriber. I hope my newsletters have been enlightening and entertaining, and you’ve enjoyed reading them as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. Let me know with a like. I can’t wait to see what next year brings.