NEW ROCHELLE, NY (January 22, 2026) — Rob Rothstein, known professionally as Rob Stoner, a New Rochelle native whose father was the renowned photojournalist Arthur Rothstein, has shared vivid memories on his Facebook page of his role as bassist and harmony singer on another New Rochelle native, Don McLean’s, landmark 1971 recording “American Pie.”
The recollections surface as the American Pie album began its seven-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. albums chart this week in 1972, and the single held the No. 1 position 54 years ago this week.
The song itself refers to growing up in New Rochelle, and the two musicians’ shared local connections add layers to the track’s backstory as the *American Pie* album began its seven-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. albums chart this week in 1972, with the single holding the No. 1 position 54 years ago this week.
McLean grew up in New Rochelle, graduated from Iona Preparatory School in 1963, and later attended night school at Iona College, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1968.
Rothstein, whose father was the renowned photojournalist Arthur Rothstein, said none of the players anticipated the song’s massive success. “It was too long for AM radio and the slow intro followed by the rocking middle and slow outro were definitely not commercially popular arranging strategies, although the enigmatic nature of the cryptic lyric and catchy chorus sections held promise.”
He identified himself as the voice singing the high part on all the “Bye bye…” duet sections, urging listeners to “listen and you’ll hear my vocal.”
The basic track was captured live in a single three-hour afternoon session at New York City’s Record Plant, though the slow intro and ending were later redone with just vocal and piano. Producer Ed Freeman stood behind him during the session, with Tom Flye and Ed Freeman handling engineering and production. Jack Douglas, a Nyack neighbor who went on to produce for Aerosmith and John Lennon, served as assistant engineer. George Marino mastered the recordings.
Pianist Paul Griffin emerged as the hero of the session by devising the rubato intro and coda sections, his driving Gospel chops forming the heart of the track. Griffin previously played on several Bob Dylan albums, including “Like a Rolling Stone.”
Lead guitarist David Spinozza has recorded with Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Drummer Roy Markowitz toured with Janis Joplin, referred to in the lyric as “the girl who sang the blues.”
By pure coincidence, every musician on the session is connected to characters referenced in McLean’s lyric, Rothstein noted.
Rothstein detailed his own tangential connections to figures in the song. “The Bible Tells Me So” was a 1955 hit by Dale Evans, whose husband Roy Rogers and he did a modeling job together in 1952. He played with members of “the quartet” and the Byrds, including working with Roger McGuinn on Dylan tours and on McGuinn’s solo album “Cardiff Rose.” Ringo Starr did a Rolling Thunder gig, and both appeared on a Kinky Friedman album; he also worked with “the Jester.”
Each musician received union scale pay of about $70.
Rothstein first collaborated with McLean on his debut album *Tapestry*, and both frequented the same record shop in New Rochelle—the “sacred store”—though they attended different high schools and never met there. The Levee was a bar in New Rochelle that hired his band. He and McLean hung out at a bar in Rye, NY, where McLean told him not to pronounce the “d” in “whiskey and rye,” so it sounded like “drinkin’ whiskey in Rye.” McLean did not own a Chevy; he drove a Saab.
The melody of “American Pie” is based on Buddy Holly’s “I’m Gonna Love You Too,” whose demise inspired the lyric.
Rothstein has enjoyed a prolific career as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader spanning more than five decades. His highlights include serving as Bob Dylan’s bassist, harmony singer, musical director, and bandleader for three major tours: the legendary 1975-1976 Rolling Thunder Revue (featured in Martin Scorsese’s 2019 Netflix documentary *Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story*), as well as contributing to Dylan’s 1976 album *Desire* (on which he played bass and sang) and later the 1978 Far East leg of Dylan’s World Tour, with involvement in live albums like *Hard Rain* and *Live at Budokan*.
Visit: Robstoner.org
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This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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