A veteran performer, his work has had an influence on many western Canadian blues musicians, including Colin James and Wide Mouth Mason.
[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.
[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.
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).
[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.
[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.