Biography
Doc MacLean released the critically acclaimed CD, Narrow House, in September 2006. Produced by Colin Linden, the recording features bassist Larry Taylor and drummer percussionist Stephen Hodges, former section of the Tom Waits band. Driven by MacLean's distinctive vocals and bare fingers National guitar, Narrow House plots an emotional remapping of contemporary, Delta rooted music. (see Reviews for more info).
Post- release, MacLean has toured constantly, performing 200 plus dates each year. His legendary road trips in Canada are documented on a series of blogs—
http://centurybluestour.blogspot.com (2009)
http://nationalsteelblues.blogspot.com (2008) http://bigroadbluestour.blogspot.com (2007) http://www.transcanadabluestour.blogspot.com (2006)
MacLean's schedule has recently included openers for Guy Davis, Big Bill Morganfield, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, BB King, Duke Robillard, Lucky Peterson, Magic Slim, Tony Furtado, Downchild, Slick Ballinger, Colin Linden, Los Lobos, Johnny Winter and others. In Canada his relentless touring has reached nearly every area, and has seen him paired up with both Big Dave McLean and with Michael Pickett for theatre, concert, and festival appearances. (to hear a live track, play "Jimmie Lee Jackson's Blues" and "Feel Like Goin' Home.")
Son of a civil rights lawyer and a fiddle player, MacLean was by his early teens playing harmonica and washboard in coffeehouses and festivals, and was appearing on radio and television variety shows. In 1972 he formed a duo with another young musician, Colin Linden, and became a frequent and popular opener for Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Muddy Waters, and John Hammond.
In his travels Doc met and became friends with many older musicians including Son House, Tampa Red, 'Sippi Wallace, Yank Rachel, Robert Pete Williams, Rev Robert Wilkins and Bukka White. His work as an accompanist included tours and performances with Peg Leg Sam the Medicine Show Man, Blind John Davis, Sunnyland Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Rev Pearly Brown, the Carter Family and Sam Chatmon.
MacLean, who now resides in Toronto, has appeared at many of the larger North American folk and blues festivals. Radio and television appearances have included national programming such as CNN Today, PBS Morning Pro Musica, CBC 90 Minutes Live, Touch the Earth, Morningside, Canada Live, and Saturday Night Blues. Now appearing most often as a solo performer, he is equally comfortable at a folk festival workshop, priming a rowdy blues festival crowd, or telling a story in a hushed theatre. In his father's footsteps, Doc's concerns for social justice have lead him to perform in the prisons, soup kitchens, picket lines, and hospices of the many communities he passes through.
Doc MacLean remains a bit of a blues hobo, performing on the street when the opportunity presents itself. A constant traveler, he will come to your town if he is invited.
Instrumentation
Doc MacLean, National guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, washboard, bones, vocals.
sideman 1- stringbass
sideman 2- fiddle/mandolin/harmonica
sideman 3- small kit drums/percussion
Discography
Narrow House, CD, Sept 2006
Memphis Town, 45, 1989
Be What You Are, 45, 1987
Sam Chatmon & His BBQ Boys, LP, 1979
Links
| http://www.docmaclean.com |