His dueling partners included Gene Ammons, Tom Archia, Von Freeman[3] and, on several occasions, his idol Lester Young.
McLin's high visibility on the South Side club scene eventually led to recording opportunities with Aristocrat and Chess.
[citation needed] In 1952, McLin, who was having trouble finding enough engagements in Chicago to support his family, moved to Los Angeles, where for a decade his combos found steady work.
In 1958 he recorded two singles for Golden Tone with the organ trio lineup that was then coming into fashion, and two blues for Dootsie Williams' Dootone label in 1958.
He retired from music in the late 1960s, when popular demand for jazz had reached a low point, and worked other jobs in the Los Angeles area for the rest of his life.