Hollis P Monroe presents The Beautiful Ones...

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

This concept has actually been floating around my mind, heart and hard drive for years. Now, for whatever reason, I feel a sense of urgency to move forward with it. Each of the primarily instrumental songs will be named for a different woman I have known. Some of the songs and versions will be available for free download and others will be released officially. Elements of some will probably show up in other songs just as the influence of these great women shows itself in various aspects of my life, personality and relationships. The free songs probably won't be mastered or particularly well-mixed but they will indeed be raw with the essence of my appreciation that I fondly send out in full view of you all.

ABOUT THE SONG:

I think it's pretty much a given that I'd be doing one of these for my mom. In fact, this song was one of the very first that I created when the concept crossed my mind all those years ago. Roughly mixed and definitely not mastered, this is the only version of the song that I have but she loves it and I love her and there you have it.
Happy Birthday, Ma!

ABOUT THE WOMAN:

I could say so much about my mom. Of course, I have the natural love that a son has for the woman who gave him life and nurtured him. She fed me, clothed me, educated me, protected me and all that good stuff. I completely appreciate it but that's really a mother's job, isn't it?

No, I never had a want or need that she didn't provide. No, I had no idea that we were ever poor when i was growing up because she never let our struggles reach my reality. Yes, I know that back then she'd rather go hungry than see me unhappy. Really, is that anything special?

I mean, I could go on and on about how the mere fact that she walks this earth gives me the confidence to take chances and be who I choose to be because I know that I can always count on her in success or failure. Nobody wants to hear that crap! Or I could talk endlessly about how I know she has my back at the beginning, middle and end of all things. All the "constantly telling me she loves me" and all the "you can do anything" speeches... Come on! Plus, now she has me doing the same thing to all my friends and they hate it! Thanks a lot, Mom! And speaking of friends, whenever I meet one of her friends, their first words are invariably, "I've heard so much about you! Your mother talks about you all the time...." Apparently, anyone that has every spoken to my mother knows within minutes how much she loves me and what I mean to her. Whatever! She's probably boring those people to death!

I'm sure it was quite easy to manage that kind of support while not letting me become a wimpy mama's boy who couldn't function without her. Making sure that I knew that there was an "entire world" outside of my neighborhood when my neighborhood just wanted to see me on the corner briefly before I took my rightful place in a jail cell. That probably didn't even require any effort or finesse at all!

Supporting my every dream and desire? Making me save up my own money... MY OWN MONEY... all that time, just to turn around and buy me that drum machine and 4-track recorder when we finally got to the store? Exposing me to Steely Dan, Jimi Hendrix, Sylvester, Chaka Khan and Janis Joplin when all I really wanted to know was RUN DMC and Kool G Rap? Funding my very first 12-inch? Teaching me the art of "Just Get It Done"? Showing me by example the virtues of sacrifice at the same time keeping my need to practice said virtues at a minimum? Seriously? Do I really need to acknowledge all that?

I ask you... WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL? I think that's just typical "mom" stuff. Not even worth mentioning. ; )