R.I.P Ernie Mclean

[dreadpirate]

I just read that Ernie Mclean (long time Disneyland guitarist) died. I would frequently watch him play his guitar, he made it look so effortless, and would always smile and nod in our direction. My prayers go out to his family.

[adrianne]

I will miss him SO much. Hearing his music was one of my favorite parts of visiting New Orleans Square. I feel like part of my childhood died.

[Aurorasmiles]

RIP Ernie and keep making that beautiful music! I remember my Dad and I stopping to listen to Ernie for awhile when visiting New Orleans Square on our Disneyland outings. This is sad indeed, to lose a legend.

[Tom Morrow]

Disneyland guitarist Ernie McLean dies

Longtime Disneyland guitarist passes away Orange County Register Ernie McLean, a longtime fixture in New Orleans Square, passed away, he was 87. McLean was reportedly the last entertainer personally hired by Walt Disney. He was one of the first members of the Royal Street Bachelors that played regularly in the theme park. McLean was a guitarist and played at the theme park solo in recent years. McLean was at the park since the opening of New Orleans Square, lending credibility to the jazz music featured in the then new land. by Mark Eades complete article

Related Article:

Last person Walt Disney hired was a guitarist
Rock Your Guitar

Submitted by Ezra

[dreadpirate]

^Thanks for that Tom, the related article has a very nice video of him playing. There was also an interview with him on the Disney parks blog.

---------- Post added 02-25-2012 at 06:44 AM ----------

Aurora, I too would watch him with my family, I would often watch him tickle his strings effortlessly while I waited for my wife as she was using the restroom. I would take the stroller over with my boys and we'd watch him play. He would always smile at my boys. I'm sure he did that for everybody, but it made me feel special.

[jawknee]

So sad. My favorite part about friends using the restrooms in that area was waiting for them while watching him play. Then having them come out from the restrooms and join me in awe. Very, very sad.

[disneylover]

So sad. RIP Ernie...thank you for all the smiles

[heehee]

He gave an ambiance to the park that cannot be found anywhere else in Disneyland, no other land had such a soulful sound...Rest in Peace Ernie, I am guessing you are gifting everyone up there with your beautiful bluesy music, you will be missed

[Ezra]

Every time I come down to Disneyland, I always look for Ernie. Whenever I've said "I don't want to rush, I want the freedom and time to stop and listen to the musicians playing", it was Ernie I was thinking of. All the Disneyland musicians are good, but he was jaw-droppingly good.

This is especially sad because I found an old Disneyland Pana-Vue slide called "The Charm of Old New Orleans" feauting the original Royal Street Bachelors playing New Orleans Square. I was going to have a print made and framed to give to him the next time I come down, just to show how much I've enjoyed and appreciated his music. Now I won't have that opportunity. Here the slide (apologies, I left it a bit on the large side, so you can get the scale of the whole environment):
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Here's a detail of Ernie from that slide:
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And here's a photo that I took myself in 2007:
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Also for many years, there was only one LP of theme park music: The Official Album of Disneyland/Walt Disney World. I wore the grooves off this thing as a kid. Here's the Royal Street Bachelors cut from that album. The banjo is Ernie.
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I missed my opportunity to tell you how much I enjoyed your music, Ernie. I'm sorry.

[Aurorasmiles]

^I got teary-eyed reading your post and looking at the slide. That slide seems worlds away, that's what gets me. Thanks for sharing. Sorry you couldn't get this to Ernie, it's would have been a beautiful gesture. It still is.

[Ezra]

I mentioned this to a friend of mine, who'd only been to Disneyland a few times in the 60s — and she remembered him with the Royal Street Bachelors from 1967 or '68!

[Aurorasmiles]

^That's pretty cool.

What struck me about Ernie's playing is that he didn't have to speak his music did that. I sorta felt a sense of peace when I'd see him playing solo in New Orleans Square.

[Executioner]

I have 2 versions of that same record Ezra!!!!

Sad... Very sad day. 2 legends gone. I am shocked. I will thoroughly miss Ernie's playing in NOS. What a guitarist he was. Not many people left that knew and worked with Walt personally.