Matt Andersen says he 'owes a lot' to Stuart McLean
New Brunswick bluesman says McLean was a champion for musicians
New Brunswick bluesman Matt Andersen says a lot of musicians, including himself, can thank Stuart McLean for helping to get their careers on track.
"I owe a lot of what I have to Stuart," Andersen said Thursday on Shift.
"I know The Vinyl Cafe is where a lot of people in the country first heard me."
-
Stuart McLean, CBC Radio host and award-winning humorist, dead at 68
-
Stuart McLean helped us understand Canada and ourselves: Shelagh Rogers
'Really sad'
McLean died Wednesday at age 68 after a battle with melanoma.
"It's really sad," Anderson said. "It's the only way to really put it."
Gonna miss you Stuart. I'll be forever grateful for the time we shared on and off the stage. You gave more than we could ever give back.
—@matt_andersenAndersen, from Perth-Andover, became friends with McLean during four tours with The Vinyl Cafe. He said McLean was "a champion" for musicians.
"I think Stuart got as much from seeing musicians on the show getting applause on the show as he did from getting applause himself."
Loved to laugh
Andersen said he'll remember McLean as a generous friend who loved to laugh and tell stories as much offstage as he did on it.
"Every time he told a story — even just backstage or on the bus — he had the same cadence," he said.
With files from Shift