Concert promoter Sue McLean, 63

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http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2013/05/sue_mclean_has_died_concert_promoter.php

Concert promoter Sue McLean has died


By Reed FischerFri., May 17 2013 at 8:00 PM

Sue McLean, an independent Twin Cities concert promoter, passed Friday
afternoon after a battle with cancer. Any regular show-goer in the
region has attended countless shows booked by McLean over the past
four decades. McLean is responsible for booking the Basilica Block
Party since it began in 1995, the Minnesota Zoo's extensive summer
concert schedule each year, the O'Shaughnessy's Women of Substance
Series, and dozens of other shows in nearly every club and theater in
the Twin Cities. She was 63.


Raised in Dayton, Minnesota, McLean's work in the local music business
began after she graduated from St. Cloud State in 1973 with a degree
in speech and communication. In her early years she worked for rock
promoter Randy Levy, and secured bookings for the Suicide Commandos
and Curtiss A, before moving on to become a talent buyer for Duffy's
Nightclub. Her first booking ever: jazz bassist Charles Mingus at the
Bronco Bar in Chanhassen.


Later, she worked at the Guthrie Theater for a decade, and became
their special events director -- and retained concert booking gig ever
since. She set off on her own in the mid-'90s as an independent
promoter, and Sue McLean & Associates was launched in 1998.

As a regular advertisements and music coverage for McLean's shows,
City Pages has worked closely with her for years, and McLean's office
booked our upcoming 10 Thousand Sounds Festival, as well. "She was
super helpful, and totally behind it," says CP Advertising Director
Mary Erickson.

Former ad rep Tim Dickson relished in-person visits to McLean's
office, located a few blocks from City Pages above Bunker's in the
Warehouse District. "If you found her in her office she'd be on the
phone," he recalls. "But she'd always say 'hi' and get the word on the
street. She was one-of-a-kind. She was such a hard worker and she made
it look easy."

Dickson says last year's John Prine show at the Zoo said a lot about
McLean's character, and drive. The country-folk artist had raised
concert-goers' (and her) ire when he was 40 minutes late for the
regimented start of the show. When he finally did arrive, he
apologized to "puppet master" McLean, and made a dedication to her. It
speaks to her lengthy relationships with booking high-profile artists,
including Etta James, Adele, Brandi Carlile, the Avett Brothers, and
umpteen others.

Star Tribune's Jon Bream wrote an excellent profile of McLean last
year, which highlighted her prowess in a male- and corporation-
dominated industry. Her 2011 Pollstar ranking was 97th in the world
with 126,000 tickets sold for 130 shows and nearly $3.7 million
grossed. She cited a 2010 Jack Johnson show in Somerset, Wisconsin
that drew 17,000 people as her most successful event.

Her niece Patricia McLean has been training in for months, and is
taking over McLean & Associates.


In addition to her day job, McLean ran a rock 'n' roll summer camp for
girls called Tweentown. She is survived by her daughter Lilly, brother
Terry (and his wife Joan), sister-in-law Marilyn, and many nieces and
nephews.



Ray Arthur