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Okay, this is a little bitter-sweet. This month marks the release of a SILVER ANNIVERSARY boxed set of my songs. Six CDs combining “best of” songs from albums I’ve created over the last 25 years along with brand new songs hot off the recording presses. The sweet part is realizing that I’ve been lucky enough to make music for a living for a quarter century and how exciting it is to share my newest songs with my friends who’ve been encouraging me to keep writing all these years. The bitter part is the realization that it’s been a “quarter century”. That’s OLD!!! When my folks celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary I was so happy they were still in love and going strong given their “advancing” years. They were younger then than I am now and I thought they were ancient.

Well, I guess it’s true that time flies when you’re having fun. The latest collection is divided by themes: Hope Hiding, Tender Mercies, The Other Side of Sorrow, Changed, See Us Shine and It’s Not Love Til It’s Been Through A Storm. I’m pleased that Shadow Mountain Music is releasing the albums individually as well as in the boxed set. This way if you, or someone you love needs some songs about hope or love or friendship they’ll be easy to find and easier to share. I do hope you enjoy the offering and that you’ll let me know if any of the new songs will be added to your favorites collection.WordPress

The 2007 tour is officially underway, and I couldn’t be happier. The show this year feels very personal to me this season and I think It might have something to do with our recent experience with the wild fires. Before the tour began I wrote this for the program notes: “Until a few weeks ago I would have never associated wild fires in Southern California with a Christmas story like THE FORGOTTEN CAROLS. But having lived through the recent fires I see a very real connection, and I’m sure it will affect tonight’s performance. When Lynne and I were evacuated from our home at the end of October an instant sense of vulnerability overwhelmed us. We weren’t in control, though we desperately wanted to be to preserve things that were important to us. We, like Nurse Chamberlain, found it hard to let go. As evacuees we experienced being “homeless” and had a new perspective on the lines from the song, “it’s HOW we live, not WHERE”. We were the recipients of great kindness and concern and discovered that we were loved and cared for more than we knew, just like Connie Lou. And then we realized all over the country various people are battling the wild fires that nobody sees…the emotional, spiritual and psychological ones that are consuming hope and destroying faith.

A greater sense of urgency to be like Uncle John for those we know who are in particular need of the healing power of love this holiday season has certainly filled the McLeans. Ironically, our experience in Malibu has lit a fire within our hearts to spread the spirit of Christmas to those who may need it this year more than ever. We hope the show tonight reflects the gratitude, comfort, peace and joy we received an extra measure of during a difficult time in 2007. And we hope tonight our performance can add to the flame that burns brightly in hearts that bear the name of the One whose birth we celebrate this time of year.

Merry Christmas ” PS I’m really excited by the wonderful response we’ve had to the release of the DVD of The Forgotten Carols Live Stage Show. So many people who’ve made coming to the show a part of their Christmas tradition have told us how much they wished they could share the experience with their family and friends who live well beyond the cities we tour each year. I’m glad we have something to offer, and truly hope that the show, along with the special features I added as “behind the scenes” insights about the evolution of this show, make it a gift worth sharing. So please, come to the show if you can, and if not, take it home with you and join us as we remind each other of some of the carols (and truths about the season) that have been forgotten .

For 25 years Michael McLean has been changing lives with his tender songs and candid messages. He has shared the “hard stories” — those from his own life and those of others — and has sung us all the way to light at the end of the tunnel. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that for every person, twist, or turn along life’s path, Michael McLean has the perfect song.

McLean released his debut album, You’re Not Alone, in 1983 and with every song that followed, his lyrics filled voids, encouraged love, and offered hope. Now, more than 25 albums later, his musical legacy has not only resonated in the hearts of thousands, but continues to be a standard for those seeking meaning and peace.

To celebrate this exciting anniversary, McLean released a boxed set of six albums in 2008. The definitive collection, 25, is filled with his most beloved songs from the last 25 years, many of which were out-of-print, as well as a handful of brand-new songs on each album.

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 included 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. He later used his film experience to produce and direct several films including, Together Forever, The Prodigal Son, and Mr. Krueger’s Christmas starring film legend Jimmy Stewart.

Ever the engaging performer and master storyteller, McLean has shared his beloved Christmas musical, The Forgotten Carols, with more than a half-million people across the country since 2001. With humor and heart, “The Carols” has become a beloved tradition for thousands of families who mark the beginning of their holiday season with this magical musical.

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. His popular sea-faring musical The Ark enjoyed a New York City debut in 2005.

In addition to his music and films, McLean has also authored four books with accompanying CDs – Distant Serenade, Hold on the Light Will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me, The Forgotten Carols, and most recently, From God’s Arms to My Arms to Yours.

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


Musical Style: Piano driven inspirational

Current Residence: California

Discography: Please see the music page for a full discography

Points of Note: Michael has written music and lyrics for more than 25 albums which have sold more than one million copies since 1983.

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

He has written four books, each with accompanying CDs: Distant Serenade, Hold on the Light Will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me, The Forgotten Carols, and From God’s Arms to My Arms to Yours.

As a filmmaker, Michael has produced and directed several films including, Together Forever, The Prodigal Son, and Mr. Krueger’s Christmas starring film legend Jimmy Stewart.

He 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.

Record Label: Shadow Mountain Music Group - 801.534.1515 - ShadowMountainRecords.com

Media/Publicity: Krista Q. Maurer - 801.517.3371 - kmaurer@deseretbook.com

Website: www.michaelmcleanmusic.com

Click Here to Find Michael McLean Music on iTunes

Title: Albums

25 – Boxed Set (2008)

Hope Hiding (2008)

Tender Mercies (2008)

See Us Shine (2008)

Changed (2008)

The Other Side of Sorrow (2008)

It’s Not Love ‘Til It’s Been Through a Storm (2008)

The Ark Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording

As I Am (2005)

The Best Two Years (2004)

Something’s Changed (2002)

Safe Harbors (1999)

Michael McLean: The Collection Vol. 2 (1997)

The Garden (1995)

Michael McLean: The Collection Vol. 1 (1994)

The Forgotten Carols (1991)
Original Recording

One Heart in the Right Place (1990)

Time Out with Michael & Jeff McLean

Stay With Me (1984)

Albums Out of Print

Arise and Shine Forth (2001)
Connie Lou’s Christmas (2000)
Michael Sings McLean (2000)
The Ark: Original Recording (1998)
Father and Son (1997)
Celebrating the Light Soundtrack (1995)
Our Unspoken Song (1995)
Soundtracks (1994)
You’ve Always Been There For Me (1992)
A New Kind of Love Song (1988)
Celebrating the Light (1985)
You’re Not Alone (1983)

Title: The Forgotten Carols

The Forgotten Carols DVD (2007)

The Forgotten Carols Hardcover Gift Edition

The Forgotten Carols CD Original Recording (1991)

The Forgotten Carols CD Anniversary Edition (2001)

The Forgotten Carols Book Hardcover

The Forgotten Carols Book Paperback

The Forgotten Carols Songbook Revised Edition

The Official Forgotten Carols Scarf

Title: Books

From God’s Arms to My Arms to Yours (2007)

Hold On, the Light will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me (2003)

The Forgotten Carols Hardcover Gift Edition

The Forgotten Carols Hardcover Book

The Forgotten Carols Paperback

Title: Songbooks

The Michael McLean Songbook

The Forgotten Carols Revised Songbook

The Forgotten Carols Hardcover Gift Edition

Songbooks Out of Print

The Ark: Songbook (1998)

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