Longtime Men of the Deeps member james ‘Big Jim’ MacLellan dies at 92

“The first thing we have to figure out is how the hell we’re going to get you in there,” his supervisor reportedly remarked when MacLellan first began working in a coal mine at age 17.

Jenn Sheppard, who is writing a book about The Men of the Deeps, described MacLellan’s performances as deeply moving, often eliciting tears of laughter and emotion. He was a founding member of the group and continued to perform with them until recently, appearing in shows as late as September. Although he officially retired earlier this year, he remained the last performing original member.

“He loved it. He loved the camaraderie, spending time with the guys and interacting with the audience … it meant a lot to him,” said his son, Jim MacLellan, who is six-foot-two and jokingly referred to as Little Jim.

MacLellan’s son recalls his father’s rehearsals at home, often accompanied by playful teasing from his children. “We often tormented him that, you know, he would practise singing at home on Sunday afternoon before going to the concert and all the windows were open … as kids of seven, eight years old, we were thoroughly embarrassed,” he said.

While touring with The Men of the Deeps across Canada and parts of the U.S., MacLellan also served as a mine manager for a decade in the mid-1970s and mid-1980s. The group was performing when MacLellan passed away Friday, a moment choir director Stephen Muise described as “surreal.”

The timing of MacLellan’s death is particularly poignant as The Men of the Deeps are scheduled to perform Sunday in Glace Bay, marking the 60th anniversary of their first show at the Savoy Theatre.

Sheppard emphasized MacLellan’s invaluable role in preserving the group’s history. “I think of all the access that he gave us to some ghosts from the past,” she said.

“He was as sharp as ever,” Muise added. “He would tell his stories. He probably had about 100 coal mining stories in his brain and could recount them whenever you needed them.” Recordings of MacLellan’s monologues will ensure his legacy endures.