| Clue | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US musician whose most famous song recalls "the day the music died" | The Times Specialist | 17 Feb 2025 |
| 'American Pie' singer (Russia) | Wall Street Journal | 13 Aug 2016 |
| Sang "American Pie" in '71 | ||
| Singer of the lyric formed by the ends of the answers to the four italicized clues |