From: Janelle Wuoristo

I just wanted to let you all know about an amazing piece of artwork available on Ebay! It is a painting of Don's left eye done by his daughter Jackie. It is part of a celebrity art auction conducted by the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, and all proceeds benefit the BSO and its programs. The easiest way to find the page is to visit http://www.bangorsymphony.com and click on the start bidding link, or go directly to e-bay and search for Don Mclean or the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. I hope you all enjoy it!!!!

Welcome to the Don McLean Journal and RSS feed combining the latest news direct from Don McLean with items of interest from the world's media and Don's fans.

The journal is available as an RSS feed so you can keep up-to-date with everything that's happening with Don McLean from your favourite RSS reader such as bloglines.com. The RSS link to add to your reader is http://www.don-mclean.com/rss/rss.asp

Fans can post comments in response to journal items or email us items of interest, including concert reviews, they'd like adding to the journal.

Don McLean's poem about Hopalong Cassidy played by William Boyd in over 66 films between 1938 and 1945 was included on the inside cover of the American Pie album.

So Long Hopalong Cassidy

No matter how scary life got I could depend on you
You had that easy smile and white, wavy hair
You were my favorite father figure with two guns blazing
Not even Victor Jory could stand up to those 44-40s you packed
And that stallion you rode, I think his name was Topper
He was so beautiful and white he even came when you whistled
I've always liked black and I loved your clothes
Black hat, black pants, and shirt
Silver spurs and two guns in black holsters with pearly-white handles
Black and white, that was you Hoppy
The bad men fell the good guys lived on
The ladies touched your hand but never kissed
Whenever John Carradine asked a question you'd say
"That comes under the heading of my business"
Then you'd call for another sarsparilla
I believed in you so much that I'd take my Stetson
off and put it over my heart whenever anybody died
My hat's off to you, Hoppy
Say good-bye to all the boys at the Bar-20
The black and white days are over
So long Hopalong Cassidy

Poem: Copyright Don McLean 1971

Photo: Copyright William Boyd Enterprises

Roger Hall has emailed us with details of his website http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/Hoppy.htm all about Hopalong Cassidy played by William Boyd.

From the Magic City Morning Star, Millinocket, ME:

"If you are hungry for lobster, you will want to mark your calendar for August 2nd. That is when the 59th annual Maine Lobster Festival gets underway in Harbor Park in Rockland. Festival organizers have lined up some great entertainment including legendary artists such as Don McLean and Aztec Two-Step, as well as some of today's most talented artists such as country stars Andy Griggs and Julie Roberts.

The biggest attraction of this festival, however, is the Maine lobster. Last year, festival-goers from around the world consumed more than 25,000 pounds of freshly cooked lobster!"

See Don live in concert at this famous lobtser festival!
Friday 8th August 2006 Rockland, ME Harbor Park. 8.00pm

For the fourth consecutive year, Don McLean will be in concert in Ireland this summer. He is performing a full set at the Midlands Music Festival at Ballinlough Castle in Athboy, Meath on Saturday July 29th.

For full information and to purchase tickets, visit the festival website at:

http://www.midlandsmusicfestival.ie/

Don McLean has been thrilling audiences across the US this year. Here are just a few of the comments received:

"Just got back from the Portsmouth, Ohio show at the Riffe Center at Shawnee State. Packed house, great job!! "

"We just saw Don in Cabazon, CA. Wonderful performance "

"When you sing your ballads you just blow us away. You are truly a class act."

"Thoroughly enjoyed last night's concert at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano"

"April 8th 2006...We saw Don McLean's concert in Henderson, NV at the Henderson Pavillion and it was awesome!"

"I saw Don play last night in Carmel, CA. I wanted to say how memorable it was and how awesome he was. And he signed cd's after. What a performer!!! "

"In the beautiful Californian town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, famous for its actor/former mayor Clint Eastwood, Don and the band 'went ahead and made my day!'" - read this full review by Tony Eagle: http://www.don-mclean.com/pdf/carmel2006.pdf.

Don's tour dates continue through the summer. As of April 27 these dates are:

Tue 05/02/06   Mashantucket, CT  Foxwoods Casino  
Wed 05/03/06   Mashantucket, CT  Foxwoods Casino  
Sat 06/03/06   Lebanon, NH  Lebanon Opera House  
Sat 07/29/06   Castle Pollard, IRE  Midlands Festival  
Tue 08/01/06   Ferndale, WA  Silver Reef Casino  
Wed 08/02/06   Ferndale, WA  Silver Reef Casino  
Fri 10/06/06   Annapolis, MD  Rams Head On Stage  
Sat 10/07/06   Carlisle, PA  Regional Performing Arts Center  
Sat 03/31/07   Springfield, MA  Symphony Hall  

OK! Magazine (North America) Issue #29. March 6 2006

A four page spread including an interview by Rob Chilton and photography by Jim Dugan (jimdugan.com). Here are some of the photos (there are even more in the feature itself):

On the show Don sang American Pie, Run Diana Run and Lovers Love the Spring

With interview and photos of Don and family at home in Maine.