Don McLean marks the 55th anniversary of "American Pie" with Statue Planned

Tue, February 3, 2026 at 8:57 AM

Don McLean marks the 55th anniversary of "American Pie" with Statue Planned

Fifty-five years after its release, Don McLean's "American Pie" remains one of the most enduring anthems in American music - a sweeping, eight-minute epic that captured a nation in transition and immortalized the phrase "the day the music died." Today, as "American Pie" turns 55 (1971-2026), McLean is celebrating the milestone on tour while also helping propel a new chapter of preservation at the Surf Ballroom & Museum in Clear Lake, Iowa.

The Surf Ballroom - the National Historic Landmark where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson performed on February 2, 1959 as part of the Winter Dance Party tour - announced that a life-size bronze statue honoring McLean will be erected on-site in 2027. The statue will stand as a permanent tribute to the songwriter whose work helped carry the story of that night into global cultural memory, bridging generations of listeners, historians and music fans.

The new statue is inspired from an existing life-size bronze portrait created by acclaimed sculptor Zenos Frudakis (Philadelphia). Originally completed in 1989, the portrait was featured on the cover of McLean's album 'Classics'. Frudakis, an acclaimed portrait sculptor and lifelong friend of McLean, is known the world over for his statues of Muhammad Ali, Nina Simone, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and many more. He is creating an entirely new statue for public display at the Surf, adding a new landmark for visitors to the historic ballroom and its adjacent museum experiences.

The announcement comes on February 3 on the heels of the 2026 Winter Dance Party at the Surf - the anniversary of the 1959 plane crash that claimed the lives of Holly, Valens and Richardson - a date forever intertwined with McLean's songwriting.

"The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation is thrilled that one of our most iconic ambassadors is being honored with a statue at The Surf Ballroom, the site of Buddy Holly's final performance," said Rick French, chairman of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation and a national trustee of the famed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "While American Pie was famously inspired by the plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson on February 3, 1959 , it has stood for more than half a century as an anthem to the cultural shifts of our country and is as relevant today as it has ever been."

The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation (TBHEF) works to extend musical education - including songwriting, production, arranging, orchestration and performance - to new generations regardless of income or learning levels. The Foundation also supports emerging artists through mentoring and songwriting retreats, and its Ambassadors receive a replica of Buddy Holly's own Gibson J-45 to encourage new music in his memory.

"To this day Don remains one of Maria Elena Holly's closest friends and she was overjoyed to learn a statue is being cast in his honor," added Peter Bradley, Jr., vice chairman of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, who is working closely with McLean, his management team and Jeff Nichols at the Surf Ballroom to plan a blockbuster unveiling of the statue upon completion.

First opened in 1933 (and rebuilt in 1948 after a fire), the Surf Ballroom continues to host concerts and special events year-round and welcomes visitors to explore the site's museum offerings. In recent years, the Surf expanded its educational mission with new immersive experiences honoring the artists and cultural moments that shaped early rock 'n' roll - ensuring that the 'Winter Dance Party' story is preserved not only as history, but as a living, visitable place.

DON McLEAN 2026 TOUR DATES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

Fri, Feb 06 - Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, Calif.

Sat, Feb 07 - Saban Theatre - Beverly Hills, Calif.

Fri, Mar 20 - Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee - Immokalee, Fla.

Sat, Mar 21 - Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts - Melbourne, Fla.

Sun, Mar 22 - Savannah Center - The Villages, Fla.

Mon, Mar 23 - Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre - Clearwater, Fla.

Sat, May 16 - Honeywell Center - Wabash, Ind.

Fri, May 22 - Edmond Town Hall - Newton, Ct.

Thu, May 28 - Riviera Theatre - North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Fri, May 29 - Caesars Circus Maximus Theater - Atlantic City, N.J.

Sat, Jun 06 - Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino - Las Vegas, Nev.