Cordova Bay Records, a record label based in Victoria, celebrated a monumental achievement this weekend by winning its first-ever Juno Award.
Big Dave McLean took home the Juno for Blues Album of the Year for his album This Old Life.
Cordova Bay Records, active for 26 years, now boasts a total of nine Juno nominations, with this win marking a new chapter in the label's storied history.
Jocelyn Greenwood, president of Cordova Bay Records, says the company focuses on finding good people, and McLean is one of them.
“We try to find people we can work with, live with, and be happy together with for a long time," Greenwood explained in a media release.
McLean is known for his deep roots in blues, having picked up the guitar in 1969. He released his debut album in 1989 and has since become a revered figure in Canadian blues music. In recognition of his contributions to Delta and Chicago blues, McLean was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2019.
Over the years, McLean has collaborated with several renowned artists, including Canadian blues legend Colin James, and has been a major influence in the genre for decades.
The 14-track album This Old Life was recorded in true traditionalist style, completed in just four days and capturing the raw energy of live performances using vintage instruments and equipment.
One of McLean's biggest supporters, Juno-winning musician Steve Marriner, praised McLean’s authenticity.
“He is as genuine a bluesman as it gets, and I’ve been dying to capture Dave and present him to the rest of the world in the way I’ve always heard him: raw and real," Marriner said.
Four other Vancouver Island-based artists – Spiritbox, David Gogo, Mother Mother, and Eric Bearclaw – received Juno nominations, but McLean’s victory was the only win with Island ties this year.
