Michael McLean

Michael McLean: More than 20 years making music. More than 25 albums recorded. More than one million tapes and CDs sold. He is a songwriter, composer, author, performer, playwright, film producer, and director.

He released his first album, You’re Not Alone in 1983 and from there Michael McLean began a best-selling legacy that continued with albums such as Stay with Me, Celebrating the Light, A New Kind of Love Song, One Heart in the Right Place, The Collection Volumes 1 and 2, and The Forgotten Carols.  He provided the music for the 2004 independent feature film The Best Two Years, and is ready to roll once again with his most recent release, As I Am, in stores September 2005. Returning to the format that launched his career, As I Am is filled with inspirational songs written by McLean arranged and performed by his musician friends.

In addition to music, McLean has written three books with accompanying CDs – Distant Serenade, Hold on the Light Will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me, and The Forgotten Carols.  Since its release in 1991, McLean has performed his theatrical adaptation of The Forgotten Carols in sold-out performances across the country. Celebrating the Light, another of McLean’s musicals, ran for five seasons at the Promised Valley Playhouse in Salt Lake City and The Garden, an allegorical oratorio written with Merrill Jenson and Bryce Neubert, opened in Jerusalem and has been performed across the country as well as in France, South America, and Russia. 

Almost simultaneously with the release of As I Am, McLean will enjoy the New York City debut of his musical The Ark, a fresh, contemporary production that tells the classic story of Noah and his family. The sea-faring production is slated to open November 2005.
 
With a background in film, McLean began early in his career making commercials for radio and television, receiving numerous national and international awards for advertising.  Such awards include the prestigious Clio Award, National Addy Award, New York Ad Club’s Andy Award, two National Emmy Finalists Awards, and the Bronze Lion at the Cannes Film Festival.  McLean used his film experience to produce and direct several films including Nora’s Christmas Gift, Together Forever, What is Real?, The Prodigal Son, and Mr. Krueger’s Christmas starring film legend Jimmy Stewart.

“I’m a bit embarrassed to confess this, but I will anyway,” McLean says. “With the release of each new record I’d say something like, ‘I think this might be the greatest thing I’ve ever done.’ … But after several albums … I finally stopped saying this because if writing songs is the ‘greatest thing’ I’ve ever done then I’ve really missed the point, haven’t I?  The things in life that really matter have to do with relationships and character.”

McLean and his wife Lynne have three children and live in California.

Musical Style:                        Piano driven inspirational

Current Residence:               California

Latest Album:                        As I Am (2005

Record Label:                        Shadow Mountain Music Group

Website:                                 www.MichaelMcLeanMusic.com

Points of Note:.

Michael has written music and lyrics for more than 20 albums and has sold more than one million tapes and CDs since 1983.

His sea-faring musical, The Ark, will debut in New York City, November 2005, with an all-star cast, crew, and director.

He has written three books, each with accompanying CDs: Distant Serenade, Hold on the Light Will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me, and The Forgotten Carols.

As a filmmaker, Michael was the original story writer, producer and director of the film, Nora’s Christmas Gift, and was the producer and original story co-writer of the classic, Mr. Krueger’s Christmas. Other films written and directed by Michael are Together Forever, What is Real?, and The Prodigal Son.

Michael has received numerous national and international awards for advertising including the prestigious Clio Award, National Addy Award, New York Ad Club's Andy Award, two National Emmy Finalist awards, as well as the Bronze Lion at the Cannes Film Festival.