McLean was born in Montreal West, the eldest of three children to Australian immigrant parents, Andrew McLean and Margaret Godkin. His interest in radio programming developed during childhood when his father gifted him a Motorola radio to pass the time during an illness. This early fascination with radio persisted into adulthood, shaping McLean's career trajectory in media and journalism.
McLean married Linda Read, a potter, in 1982. They had two children together, Robert and Andrew, and McLean was stepfather to Read's son, Christopher Trowbridge, from her first marriage. McLean and Read later divorced in 2002.
During the 1980s and 1990s, he was a frequent contributor to and sometime guest host of Morningside, for which he often produced human interest documentaries and audio essays about everyday people and places. He would later characterize his Morningside work as celebrating "the importance of being unimportant", and as ultimately helping him find his own voice as a writer. Morningside host Peter Gzowski remembered fondly the work McLean did for the program: ”On the surface, they seemed inconsequential, but in fact they were exquisitely crafted pieces of journalism.”
Stuart McLean Archived February 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stuart-mclean
"Vinyl Cafe gets up close and personal; Stuart McLean tells the tales". Edmonton Journal, October 30, 1998. /wiki/Edmonton_Journal
"Telling tales: Stuart McLean is one of Canada's most beloved storytellers". Ottawa Citizen, January 29, 1999. /wiki/Ottawa_Citizen
"'The Vinyl Cafe' Radio Show Host Stuart McLean Dies at 68". The Hollywood Reporter, February 15, 2017. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stuart-mclean-dead-vinyl-cafe-radio-show-host-was-68-976551
"C'mon in to the Vinyl Cafe: CBC storyteller McLean brings make- believe and music to Montreal". Montreal Gazette, November 19, 1998. /wiki/Montreal_Gazette
"McLean, Stuart 1948-". Contemporary Authors, January 1, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20170219091812/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3480900234.html
"Stuart McLean dead at 68". CBC News. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/stuart-mclean-dead-at-68-1.3984826
Stuart McLean Archived February 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stuart-mclean
Bauch, Hubert (May 1, 2010). "A place that destroyed children". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2023 – via PressReader. https://www.pressreader.com/canada/montreal-gazette/20100501/286392715211503
"Stuart McLean dead at 68". CBC News. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/stuart-mclean-dead-at-68-1.3984826
Stuart McLean Archived February 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stuart-mclean
"Stuart McLean dead at 68". CBC News. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/stuart-mclean-dead-at-68-1.3984826
"McLean, Stuart 1948-". Contemporary Authors, January 1, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20170219091812/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3480900234.html
"Stuart McLean, Who Created Radio’s ‘The Vinyl Cafe,’ Dies at 68". The New York Times, February 17, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/arts/stuart-mclean-dead-vinyl-cafe-radio-host.html
"Stuart McLean's bent vision". The Globe and Mail, October 18, 2003. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/stuart-mcleans-bent-vision/article1047308/?page=all
"Stuart McLean, Canadian Radio Legend, Dies at 68". Billboard, February 15, 2017. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/7693454/stuart-mclean-canadian-radio-legend-obit
"Stuart McLean, Canadian Radio Legend, Dies at 68". Billboard, February 15, 2017. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/7693454/stuart-mclean-canadian-radio-legend-obit
"He's a radio junkie". Victoria Times-Colonist, November 8, 1998. /wiki/Victoria_Times-Colonist
"Stuart McLean, longtime host of CBC Radio’s ‘Vinyl Cafe,’ has died". Toronto Star, February 15, 2017. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/02/15/stuart-mclean-longtime-host-of-cbc-radios-vinyl-cafe-has-died.html
"CBC scores landslide in ACTRA awards" The Globe and Mail, April 5, 1979. /wiki/The_Globe_and_Mail
"CBC marriage works, as it happens". The Globe and Mail, November 28, 1981. /wiki/The_Globe_and_Mail
Stuart McLean Archived February 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stuart-mclean
"Stuart McLean, former Ryerson journalism professor, dead at 68 | Ryersonian.ca". ryersonian.ca. February 16, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018. http://ryersonian.ca/stuart-mclean-former-ryerson-journalism-professor-dead-at-68/
"Stuart McLean, longtime host of CBC Radio’s ‘Vinyl Cafe,’ has died". Toronto Star, February 15, 2017. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/02/15/stuart-mclean-longtime-host-of-cbc-radios-vinyl-cafe-has-died.html
"The ups and towns of being an author". The Globe and Mail, January 4, 1993. /wiki/The_Globe_and_Mail
"Gentle voices overheard at The Vinyl Cafe". Financial Post, January 27, 1996. /wiki/Financial_Post
"Stuart McLean, the man of a thousand stories". Toronto Star, December 6, 2013. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2013/12/06/stuart_mclean_the_man_of_a_thousand_stories.html
"From the Archives: A profile of Stuart McLean". Ottawa Citizen. February 16, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018. https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/from-the-archives-a-profile-of-stewart-mclean
"McLean's Morningside". Ottawa Citizen, January 20, 1990. /wiki/Ottawa_Citizen
Stuart McLean Archived February 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stuart-mclean
"Contest finalists announced". Toronto Star, February 28, 1990. /wiki/Toronto_Star
"From the Archives: A profile of Stuart McLean". Ottawa Citizen. February 16, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018. https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/from-the-archives-a-profile-of-stewart-mclean
"McLean`s book lifted by people". Calgary Herald, December 5, 1992. /wiki/Calgary_Herald
"Slice of life comes from smalltown Canada". Calgary Herald, October 22, 1993. /wiki/Calgary_Herald
"Stuart McLean dead at 68". CBC News. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/stuart-mclean-dead-at-68-1.3984826
"CBC revamps weekend schedule". Edmonton Journal, July 2, 1994. /wiki/Edmonton_Journal
"Vinyl Cafe a star vehicle for McLean". Kingston Whig-Standard, February 13, 1998. /wiki/Kingston_Whig-Standard
"Consummate storyteller unveils memorable collection". Kingston Whig-Standard, November 4, 1995. /wiki/Kingston_Whig-Standard
"CBC Radio changes name and schedule: Renaming of two networks reflects massive restructuring of programming". The Globe and Mail, August 20, 1997. /wiki/The_Globe_and_Mail
"Stuart McLean, longtime host of CBC Radio’s ‘Vinyl Cafe,’ has died". Toronto Star, February 15, 2017. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/02/15/stuart-mclean-longtime-host-of-cbc-radios-vinyl-cafe-has-died.html
"Vinyl Cafe a star vehicle for McLean". Kingston Whig-Standard, February 13, 1998. /wiki/Kingston_Whig-Standard
"Vinyl Cafe brings a new bird". Victoria Times-Colonist, November 22, 2012. /wiki/Victoria_Times-Colonist
"Vinyl Cafe's McLean returns to Grand". Kingston Whig-Standard, January 29, 1999. /wiki/Kingston_Whig-Standard
"Remembering Stuart: What everyday act of an ordinary person in your community do you think should be honoured?" Cross Country Checkup, February 19, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/radio/checkup/remembering-stuart-what-everyday-act-of-an-ordinary-person-in-your-community-do-you-think-should-be-honoured-1.3987950
Bruce DeMara, "McLean steps down from his Vinyl Cafe: CBC Radio host says year-long battle against melanoma is not going 'exactly as planned'". Toronto Star, December 14, 2016. /wiki/Toronto_Star
Stuart McLean Archived February 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stuart-mclean
"Stuart McLean cancels Vinyl Cafe Christmas tour due to melanoma". CBC News. November 21, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2016. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/stuart-mclean-vinylcafe-tour-cancelled-melanoma-1.3329413
Bruce DeMara, "McLean steps down from his Vinyl Cafe: CBC Radio host says year-long battle against melanoma is not going 'exactly as planned'". Toronto Star, December 14, 2016. /wiki/Toronto_Star
"Stuart McLean dead at 68". CBC News. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/stuart-mclean-dead-at-68-1.3984826
"Stuart McLean, bestselling author and host of CBC Radio's 'Vinyl Cafe,' has died". National Post. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017. http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/books/stuart-mclean-bestselling-author-and-host-of-cbc-radios-vinyl-cafe-has-died
"Stuart McLean's archives to live on at McMaster University". CBC News. Retrieved November 20, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/stuart-mclean-archives-1.4409455
"Canada's Storyteller: A Tribute to Stuart McLean". CBC News, February 16, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada-s-storyteller-a-tribute-to-stuart-mclean-1.3985501
"Celebrating a side of Stuart McLean you may not know: documentary maker". The Doc Project, February 16, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/radio/docproject/celebrating-a-side-of-stuart-mclean-you-may-not-know-documentary-maker-1.3962012
"Remembering Stuart: What everyday act of an ordinary person in your community do you think should be honoured?" Cross Country Checkup, February 19, 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/radio/checkup/remembering-stuart-what-everyday-act-of-an-ordinary-person-in-your-community-do-you-think-should-be-honoured-1.3987950
"Bringing back Stuart McLean's Arthur Awards: who would you nominate and why?". Cross Country Checkup, April 23, 2018. http://www.cbc.ca/radio/checkup/bringing-back-stuart-mclean-s-arthur-awards-who-would-you-nominate-and-why-1.4609176
McLean, Stuart (1989). The Morningside World of Stuart McLean. Penguin Books Canada. ISBN 9780140260663. 9780140260663
McLean, Stuart (1992). Welcome Home: Travels in Smalltown Canada. Penguin. ISBN 9780140157291. 9780140157291
McLean, Stuart (1995). Stories from the Vinyl Cafe. Penguin Books. ISBN 9780140251029. 9780140251029
McLean, Stuart (1996). When We Were Young: A Collection of Canadian Stories. Penguin Publishing. ISBN 9780670873289. 9780670873289
McLean, Stuart (1998). Home from the Vinyl Cafe. Viking. ISBN 9780670882168. 9780670882168
McLean, Stuart (2001). Vinyl Cafe Unplugged. Penguin Canada. ISBN 9780140299144. 9780140299144
McLean, Stuart (2003). Vinyl Cafe Diaries. Viking. ISBN 9780670044368. 9780670044368
McLean, Stuart (2005). Stories from the Vinyl Cafe 10th Anniversary Edition. Penguin Canada. ISBN 9780143050698. 9780143050698
McLean, Stuart (2006). Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe. Viking Canada. ISBN 9780670064465. 9780670064465
McLean, Stuart (2006). Dave Cooks the Turkey. Viking Canada. ISBN 9780670064458. 9780670064458
McLean, Stuart (2008). When We Were Young: An Anthology of Canadian Stories. Penguin Canada. ISBN 9780143169062. 9780143169062
McLean, Stuart (2009). Extreme Vinyl Café. Viking Canada. ISBN 9780670064472. 9780670064472
McLean, Stuart (2010). The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks. Viking Canada. ISBN 9780670064731. 9780670064731
McLean, Stuart (2012). Revenge of the Vinyl Cafe. Viking. ISBN 9780670064748. 9780670064748
McLean, Stuart (2013). Time Now for the Vinyl Cafe Story Exchange. Viking. ISBN 9780670064755. 9780670064755
McLean, Stuart (2015). Vinyl Cafe Turns the Page. Penguin Canada. ISBN 9780143193845. 9780143193845
McLean, Stuart (2017). Christmas at The Vinyl Cafe. Penguin Canada. ISBN 9780735235120. 9780735235120
McLean, Stuart (2021). Vinyl Cafe Celebrates. Penguin Canada. ISBN 9780735242647. 9780735242647
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Stuart McLean. A Story-Gram from Vinyl Cafe Inc. ISBN 9780968303191. 9780968303191
Stuart McLean discography at Discogs https://www.discogs.com/artist/Stuart+McLean
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Stuart McLean. Vinyl Cafe Storyland. ASIN B001GCENHW. ISBN 9780973896527. 9780973896527
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Discography of Stuart McLean at AllMusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0001701540/discography/all
Stuart McLean. Vinyl Cafe The Unreleased Stories. ASIN B074TJY3WG. /wiki/ASIN_(identifier)
"Slice of life comes from smalltown Canada". Calgary Herald, October 22, 1993. /wiki/Calgary_Herald
"Stuart McLean, longtime CBC Radio personality and bestselling author, has died". Quill & Quire, February 15, 2017. https://www.quillandquire.com/book-news/2017/02/15/stuart-mclean-longtime-cbc-radio-personality-has-died/
"Stuart McLean, longtime CBC Radio personality and bestselling author, has died". Quill & Quire, February 15, 2017. https://www.quillandquire.com/book-news/2017/02/15/stuart-mclean-longtime-cbc-radio-personality-has-died/
"CAA Jubilee Award for Short Stories". Retrieved March 26, 2011. http://www.canauthors.org/awards/stories.html
"Stuart McLean, longtime CBC Radio personality and bestselling author, has died". Quill & Quire, February 15, 2017. https://www.quillandquire.com/book-news/2017/02/15/stuart-mclean-longtime-cbc-radio-personality-has-died/
"Stuart McLean, longtime CBC Radio personality and bestselling author, has died". Quill & Quire, February 15, 2017. https://www.quillandquire.com/book-news/2017/02/15/stuart-mclean-longtime-cbc-radio-personality-has-died/