Kenny MacLean
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Irving MacLean was a Scottish
-Canadian
musician, best known as a former member of the multi-platinum selling band Platinum Blonde
.
MacLean was born in Glasgow
. A former hairdresser, he was a member of the group The Hairdressers, and then was a founding member of The Suspects in 1979. That band changed its name to The Deserters in 1981, and released two albums, The Deserters and Siberian Nightlife.
Drummer Chris Steffler, who had worked with MacLean in Toronto
bands The Next and The Suspects, recruited MacLean to join Platinum Blonde. MacLean was bassist and keyboardist, and songwriter for some songs, on their 1985 album Alien Shores
. He was also part of the band for Contact
in 1987, and for their 1990 album Yeah Yeah Yeah, when the band was re-named The Blondes. MacLean then released two solo albums in the 1990s, without the backing of major-label financing. In 1990, his solo debut Don't Look Back was released on a new label, Justin, and it won him a SOCAN Award for songwriting, as well as a Juno Award
nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1991.
In 2006, MacLean spent time in Saint John, New Brunswick
, working as a teacher at the city's new School of Rock and Film. MacLean created the music company hMh Music, and was its artistic director. An academy officially opened in Toronto
on September 2, 2008, and featured programs such as audio engineering and DJ arts.
MacLean was found dead on November 24, 2008 of a heart related problem. His third solo CD, Completely, was released at a concert three days before his death.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician, best known as a former member of the multi-platinum selling band Platinum Blonde
Platinum Blonde (band)
Platinum Blonde is a Canadian New Wave group in the mid 1980s-early 1990s. The band originally consisted of Mark Holmes from Scarborough on vocals and bass, Sergio Galli on guitar and Chris Steffler on drums. Scottish musician Kenny MacLean later joined the group as the bassist. The name of the...
.
MacLean was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. A former hairdresser, he was a member of the group The Hairdressers, and then was a founding member of The Suspects in 1979. That band changed its name to The Deserters in 1981, and released two albums, The Deserters and Siberian Nightlife.
Drummer Chris Steffler, who had worked with MacLean in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
bands The Next and The Suspects, recruited MacLean to join Platinum Blonde. MacLean was bassist and keyboardist, and songwriter for some songs, on their 1985 album Alien Shores
Alien Shores
Alien Shores was Platinum Blonde's 1985 follow up to their debut album Standing in the Dark. Released by Columbia/CBS Records Canada in 1985, it contained one of the band's biggest Canadian hits with "Crying Over You" and their only US hit, "Somebody Somewhere".This album was the first to feature...
. He was also part of the band for Contact
Contact (Platinum Blonde album)
Contact, the 3rd album from the new wave band Platinum Blonde, was released in 1987. Canadian sales of Alien Shores and Contact exceeded 100,000 copies....
in 1987, and for their 1990 album Yeah Yeah Yeah, when the band was re-named The Blondes. MacLean then released two solo albums in the 1990s, without the backing of major-label financing. In 1990, his solo debut Don't Look Back was released on a new label, Justin, and it won him a SOCAN Award for songwriting, as well as a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1991.
In 2006, MacLean spent time in Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, working as a teacher at the city's new School of Rock and Film. MacLean created the music company hMh Music, and was its artistic director. An academy officially opened in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
on September 2, 2008, and featured programs such as audio engineering and DJ arts.
MacLean was found dead on November 24, 2008 of a heart related problem. His third solo CD, Completely, was released at a concert three days before his death.