The American Pie Blog

I am an English Teacher in a NYC public middle school teacher. I hold a BA in Theater Arts from SUNY Oneonta and an MS in Education from Drexel University. I designed, owned and programmed Bluboo Radio, one of the Internet’s first on-demand radio programs, from 1997 to 2003. From 1998 to 2000, I was an on-air radio personality, producer and sidekick for Super 70’s Saturday Night on WDAQ-FM, Danbury, CT (as well as having my own A/C time slot and fill-ins).From 2000 to 2003, I “spun the Oldies” on WCZX-FM, Poughkeepsie, NY, as a part-time gig.

I graduated Iona Preparatory School in 1974, eleven years after Don McLean (I actually saw his yearbook picture in the library shortly after the release of American Pie. In fact, two of my teachers were classmates with McLean. Ralph Naversen passed away several years ago, and John Mulcahy is now at the University of Bridgeport. It was rumored that Mulcahy was really the “teenage broncin’ buck withy a pink carnation and a pick-up truck.”

After visiting Clear Lake, Iowa, on June 13, 2007, I really felt driven to do this page. I approached it like a research paper and have tried to substantiate my ideas and interpretations. This is not intended to be the definitive work, although I am proud to dispel some myths and give the only clue I have ever seen about “the sacred store.” The important thing is that “American Pie” has always been and always will be one of my favorite songs, and I regard it as a work of art. I hope you can find the same enjoyment it has given me.

And remember, poetry is whatever it means to you. Enjoy McLean’s incredibly diverse imagery and references … most of all, never forget about Buddy Holly and “the day the music died.”

Peace, love and happiness!