大象传媒

Legendary recording artist Don McLean - best known for American Pie - chooses the Tracks of My Years all week with Ken.

Now 50 years old, American Pie was both a remarkable and unusual hit: more than eight minutes long, it reflected the experiences of the American generation which lived through the painful transition from the innocent 50s to the turbulent 70s. Combining a rousing chorus with cryptic, poetic verses, the song transfixed an entire culture and, along with its follow-up single Vincent, made Don an international star.

Don was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. and American Pie has also been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2001 it was named the fifth most historically significant song of the 20th Century by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Endowment for the Arts. It was performed by Garth Brooks at Barack Obama's pre-inauguration concert and Madonna's cover version topped charts in 2000.

More recently, the 大象传媒 Radio 2 Folk Awards honoured Don McLean with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his great contribution to songwriting. This autumn, Don will kick off the UK leg of his 50th Anniversary American Pie Tour.

The first two tracks Don has chosen come from Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly.

Ken also has the daily love song, record and album of the week plus another round of PopMaster.