Wednesday, February 15, 2017

STUART McLEAN: MY FAVORITE CANADIAN STORY TELLER

    Today we lost a Canadian classic: Stuart McLean a beloved Canadian storyteller.

     Stuart had a radio show, the Vinyl Cafe. where he read his own stories about a fictional family of Dave, Morley , Stephany , Sam ,Arthur the dog and a whole neighborhood of various  neighbors. You felt as if you were part of this neighborhood and listened every Sunday for the episode.  Most people could see themselves and many people they knew in his stories.

    The stories usually centered around some inept behavior that brought about mayhem. One of Canada's favorite stories was "Dave Cooks the Turkey." It was read at every Christmas season.

    Stuart also included some unique Canadian music. He loved to find great performers who were not well known. I discovered some interesting music by listening to Vinyl Cafe.

    Stuart also took his show on the road. It was extremely popular. I went to see him when he visited our town.

    Stuart published a number of books with his stories. I have "When We Were Young" and have read several other of his books.

    Stuart has won a number of literary awards and an Order of Canada.

    I will miss Stuart McLean. He sort of glued us together as a Canadian society.

Stuart McLean's The Vinyl Cafe, features music and humor, often regaling stories by McLean about Dave, the owner of a second-hand record store, his wife Morley and their children, Sam and Stephanie.

32 comments:

  1. He sounds a lot like our Garrison Keeler.
    Storytelling is becoming a lost art.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stuart McLean and Garrison Kiellor are very much alike. I like Kiellor and have listened to him and read some of his books.

      Delete
  2. I loved his stories! What a great story teller! He will be sorely missed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He used the inept to make his stories humorous.

      Delete
  3. I hadn't heard this news before reading your post. A lot of people liked his humour. He was just sixty-eight according to CBC and that is way too young to go. It's sad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People who liked him, really were big fans.

      Delete
  4. I don't know Stuart McLean but I'll have to check out his work. He sounds like Canada's Garrison Keillor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. McLean is very similar to Kieilor. I've listened to Keillor and read some of his books.

      Delete
  5. Anyone who has the ability to grip an audience with stories is rather special in my book. Story-telling is surely the oldest art form of all. It is a pity that the last chapter of Stuart's own story was stolen away by cancer. RIP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He put on shows around the country and these were broadcast later on. I attended one of his shows.

      Delete
  6. That is sad that people you like so much die. I have the same feeling with people of our generation that suddenly pass away and you never be able to listen to them anymore or to read them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was not aware that he was sick so it came as a surprise.

      Delete
  7. I will look for his books and check him out. Sounds very interesting, down here we listen to Garrison Keller in his fictional town of Lake Wobegone

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is very similar to Keillor. I've listened to Keillor and read some of his books.

      Delete
  8. I listened to him on our PBS station in the car every week. I am so sorry to hear he died. What a tragedy, Red. I will miss him, too. I will have to go and find out why he passed away at such a young age. :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think he put a show on at Bellingham at one time.,.

      Delete
  9. It's hard losing an icon from our times, and in this case, identity.

    ReplyDelete
  10. He was a great Canadian - I know such a wide range of people who loved his stories and his show.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Replies
    1. He certainly had a very loyal following.

      Delete
  12. This is the first I'm hearing of him. He sounds quite entertaining.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. McLean is very similar to Garrison Keillor.

      Delete
  13. Replies
    1. I did not know he was sick so I was very surprised.

      Delete
  14. I did not know either was surprised to hear on the news.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think that storytelling like that is something we all, deep down, crave and usually don't get in this modern frenetic age. It's sad to hear of your (Canada's) loss.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It sounds like he was an amazing man.
    Condolences.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Red, The Vinyl Cafe is excellent listening. By the way, should you wish to listen to old shows here is the archive http://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/arts-culture/vinyl-cafe-stories/ Hope you are having a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  18. So sad he is gone. He was a national treasure!

    ReplyDelete