Bitty McLean

Bitty McLean (born 8 August 1972,^[1] Birmingham, England) is a British/Jamaican reggae, lovers rock and ragga musician. He is best known for his three UK Top 10 hits in 1993 and 1994, including his debut offering "It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)".

Career[edit]

The youngest of six children, Delroy McLean was nicknamed "Bitty" due to his small stature.^[2] As a teenager he performed with local sound systems, and after studying sound engineering at college, he was employed by UB40 as an engineer and producer, and occasionally also sang with the band.^[1]

He was most popular around the mid 1990s with cover versions of songs including The Shirelles' "Dedicated to the One I Love" (UK #6^[3]) and Fats Domino's "It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)" (1993), which was his biggest UK hit, peaking at #2.^[3] McLean's song "It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)" topped the charts in New Zealand and theNetherlands in 1993. McLean also played on three UK arena tours supporting UB40, Wet Wet Wet and Simply Redrespectively.^[2]

In 2004, he released the album On Bond Street KGN. JA., which featured his vocals recorded over vintage Tommy McCook and Duke Reid-produced, Treasure Isle rhythms from the rocksteady era, most with new lyrics of his own, but also using David Ruffin's "Walk Away From Love" and David Gates' "Make It With You".^[1] He recorded a studio albumin 2007, entitled Movin' On, with Sly and Robbie at their One Pop studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Movin' On was released on Taxi / Silent River / Mideya label in Europe and the US, while JVC released it in Japan. McLean and Sly & Robbie toured Japan, Europe and Morocco in 2008 and 2009. In 2013 McLean released a new album, The Taxi Sessions, with Sly & Robbie, and a live DVD recorded with Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang, during their concert in Paris in May 2009. Also in 2013, McLean joined The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra on vocals, for a cover of Desmond Dekker's Fu Man Chu (a single release for the band). He also joined them on stage for several shows, appeared in the official video that accompanied the single and, in May 2013, joined them on Later... with Jools Holland to perform the track.

Personal life[edit]

He is uncle to footballer Aaron McLean and singer Anthony, under the artist name of "McLean".^[4]

Discography[edit]

Bitty MacLean at Ruhr Reggae Summer 2014

Singles[edit]

"It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)" (1993) - UK #2
"Pass It On" (1993) - UK #35
"Here I Stand" (1994) - UK #10
"Dedicated to the One I Love" (1994) - UK #6
"What Goes Around" (1994) - UK #36
"Over the River" (1995) - UK #27
"We've Only Just Begun" (1995) - UK #23
"Nothing Can Change This Love" (1995) - UK #55
"Natural High" (1996) - UK #63
"She's Alright" (1996) - UK #53
"The Real Thing" (2005)
"Let them Talk" (2006)
"Got to let go" (2008)
"Walk away from love"

^[3]

Albums[edit]

Just to Let You Know... (1994) - UK #19^[5]
Natural High (1995)
Soul to Soul (2003)
On Bond Street KGN. JA. (2005)
Made in Jamaica (2007)
Movin On (2009)
The Taxi Sessions (2013)

Bitty McLean
Bitty MacLean at Ruhr Reggae Summer 2014
Background information
Birth name	Delroy Easton McLean
Born	8 August 1972 (age 43) Birmingham, England
Genres	Reggae, lovers rock, ragga
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Brilliant Records, Kuff Records, Peckings Records