McLean, Charlie

Charlie McLean was born in 1932 and raised in Scotland to a family of musicians. McLean’s dad started teaching him to play the saxophone when he was eight years old. By the time he was nine years old, he was performing in his father’s band, which included playing concerts for the munitions workers during World War II. When he was 15, McLean’s family migrated to the United States. Following graduating from high school, McLean was drafted and played with the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Club Band. After his service, he returned to attend college of the Government Issued (GI) Bill, while supporting himself and his pregnant wife by playing concerts and jazz clubs. When McLean came to Las Vegas, Nevada to visit friends who he used to play with on the road, he was impressed by their lifestyle and decided he could do that, too. McLean moved to Las Vegas in 1960 and since then has worked on productions such as “Sophisticated Ladies” and “Guys and Dolls.” He also has worked with countless famous musicians including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.