Cy McLean was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, in 1916. He was a pianist and bandleader who worked from the 1940s until the 1970s. He subsequently traveled to Toronto and received entry into a Russian music conservatory, which was unprecedented for a Black man at the time. McLean became the first Black performer on Yonge St. in Toronto, breaking the door open for future musicians.

After appearances across Toronto, he began creating a name for himself as a brilliant player. He ultimately formed Canada’s first full-fledged Black orchestra. McLean then went on to mentor several important Canadian jazz players. Although he and his band performed in non-union institutions, they were reasonably successful during World War II. They toured much of southern Ontario and established themselves as one of the first all-Black acts to perform in an all-white arena. His band was the first to open Toronto’s Colonial Tavern, a considerable feat given that Black musicians were previously barred from performing in Yonge Street clubs.

McLean died in 1986 at the age of 70. He is remembered for his innovative achievements as a Black musician in a turbulent time. Mark McLean and Lester McLean, his nephews, carry on the family history with their outstanding jazz performances.