Big Dave McLean

Big Dave McLean (born August 23, 1952) is a Canadian blues guitarist, harmonicist, singer and songwriter. A veteran performer, his work has had an influence on many western Canadian blues musicians, including Colin James and Wide Mouth Mason.[1][2] Notable McLean songs include "She's Got the Stuff", "Kanadiana", "Up On Waverly", and "St. Mary At Main".[3]

Not to be confused with Big Lean.
Big Dave McLean
Born (1952-08-23) August 23, 1952
Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada
OriginWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
GenresBlues[1]
Occupation(s)Guitarist, harmonicist, singer and songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, harmonica, vocals
Years active1970s–present
LabelsStony Plain Records, Black Hen Music

Billboard noted that "Big Dave's been the quintessential behind-the-scene bluesman. He's done more to shape the Western Canadian blues scene than perhaps any other artist".[4]

In 2019, Big Dave McLean was awarded the Order of Canada for his musical influence of Delta and Chicago blues and for mentoring musicians.[5]

Life and career

McLean was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada,[1] to a concert pianist mother, and a Presbyterian minister father.[6] They later lived in Moose Jaw, before relocating to Winnipeg, Manitoba when Dave was at the age of 10.[2] Introduced to the blues as a teenager via his older brother's record collection, the two siblings travelled to the Mariposa Folk Festival in Toronto in 1969. Whilst there, John P. Hammond gave McLean an impromptu lesson on guitar playing, to supplement the latter's rudimentary efforts thus far at playing the harmonica.[1][2] This meeting saw McLean learning how to play Bo Diddley's, "I'm a Man".[1] McLean much later recalled the incident stating that Hammond was "one of the most courteous gentlemen on this planet, you know, totally helpful, inspiring".[7]

McLean starting playing at the Regina Folk Club,[1] and at the Winnipeg Folk Festival,[6] where he gained experience before releasing his debut album, Muddy Waters For President (1989), which was recorded at the Bud's On Broadway club in Saskatoon.[1] McLean had previously opened for his musical hero, Muddy Waters.[8]

The follow up was For The Blues... Always (1998), an attempt to spread his music to a wider audience.[2] The album was produced by Colin James and recorded in Vancouver, with musicians James (guitar), Norm Fisher (bass), Eric Webster (piano) and Chris Norquiest (drums), all augmenting McLean's work. The track listing included McLean's cover versions of "Little Red Rooster" (Willie Dixon), "Just Your Fool" (Little Walter), "Dust My Broom" (Elmore James), "Rollin' and Tumblin'" (Muddy Waters) and "Cakewalk Into Town" (Taj Mahal). The three-day recording's budget was only $1,600.[1] In addition to performing and recording, McLean spent around 20 years regularly doing odd jobs, such as construction work, to supplement his income.[6]

In 1998, he played in a duo with Tim Williams at the Calgary Folk Music Festival. McLean has also appeared solo at the Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Fest.

Blues from the Middle (2003) was his second Stony Plains release, and included guest contributions from Sue Foley and Duke Robillard.[9] It was followed by Acoustic Blues (Got 'Em From The Bottom) in 2008.[10]

Faded But Not Gone was released in 2014 on Black Hen Music, and dealt with the aftermath of the deaths of McLean's mother and brother.[8] Recorded in Nashville, the album contained contributions from Colin Linden, Colin James, and Kevin McKendree, with Ann and Regina McCrary on backing vocals.[8][11]

In 2015, McLean starred in a low budget film documentary, Ain't About the Money, exploring the trials and tribulations in performing the blues.[12]

Other ventures

Patrick Friesen wrote Singer, a docu-drama on Richard Manuel for CBC Radio Manitoba (1989), which featured McLean; as well as Voice, a 1996 radio documentary (featuring McLean and Tracey Dahl), by CBC Radio Manitoba and produced by Andrea Ratuski.

In 1991, Saturday Night Blues, a compilation album of recordings by Canadian blues performers, was released by Stony Plain Records and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It contained the Big Dave McLean and the Muddy-Tones track, "T.V. Preacher Blues".[13] In 2006, McLean contributed the track "Howlin' for My Baby" to Saturday Night Blues: 20 Years, a double compilation album also released by CBC.[14]

In 2005, The Perpetrators contributed to a tribute album to McLean, entitled We Best Choose to Pick the Blues.

Awards
  • Whisky Award, 2005
    • Runner-up for Singer Of The Year
  • Western Canadian Music Award, 2004
    • Outstanding Blues Recording - Blues from the Middle
  • Prairie Music Award, 1999
    • Outstanding Blues Recording - For the Blues... Always
  • Great Canadian Blues Award, 1998
  • Juno Award
  • Maple Blues Award nominations:
    • Acoustic Act Of The Year, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2003
    • Blues With A Feeling Award, 2007 (winner)
  • Toronto Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award[7]
  • Order of Canada, 2019[5]

Discography

Solo albums
YearTitleRecord label
1989Muddy Waters for PresidentKings Alley Records
1998For the Blues... AlwaysStony Plain Records
2003Blues from the MiddleStony Plain Records
2008Acoustic Blues (Got 'Em From The Bottom)Stony Plain Records
2014Faded But Not GoneBlack Hen Music
2016Better The Devil You KnowBlack Hen Music
2019Pocket Full of Nothin'Black Hen Music

[10]

gollark: We actually transferred your entry to phase space.
gollark: Ah. This means it's now the waxing crescent phase.
gollark: I already *did* all my phases, repeatedly.
gollark: Esobot executed 758 of my phases in the past 5 seconds, so I'm fine.
gollark: That's nice. Does it contain Macron?

See also

References
  1. "Big Dave McLean | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  2. "Big Dave McLean's Biography — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  3. "Big Dave McLean Discography at CD Universe". Cduniverse.com. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  4. "Big Dave McLean Plays the WAG's Jazz on the Rooftop | Media Releases | Winnipeg Art Gallery". Wag.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  5. "Toronto Blues Society | » October 2019 – Big Dave McLean". Torontobluessociety.com. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  6. Bowman, Ryan (2014-08-15). "BBQ & Blues Festival: Big Dave McLean". MyToba.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  7. "Stony Plain Records: Big Dave McLean". Stonyplainrecords.com. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  8. "Big Dave McLean". Black Hen Music. Archived from the original on 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  9. "Blues from the Middle - Big Dave McLean | Credits". AllMusic. 2003-09-23. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  10. "Big Dave McLean | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  11. "Big Dave McLean – Faded But Not Gone | Album Review". Blues Blast Magazine. 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  12. "Upcoming Events – "Ain't About The Money" featuring Big Dave McLean – The Park Theatre". Myparktheatre.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  13. Chip Renner. "Saturday Night Blues - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  14. "Saturday Night Blues: 20 Years - Various Artists | Credits". AllMusic. 2006-11-28. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
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