I wouldn't blame you if you assumed that the 8th child in a family would feel overlooked. But to the contrary, I felt no shortage of love growing up. My childhood was filled with laughter, home-cooked meals, birthday parties, and holiday celebrations. It was clearly evident that in my mom’s eyes, there was no greater joy than raising her kids. Decades later - now a parent myself - I see the enormous impact she made in my life.
About 4 years ago, my mom’s mental condition had deteriorated due to Alzheimer’s Disease to the point that she had trouble remembering names and holding any sort of conversation. During a conversation with my dad she referred to me as “that other guy”...that was the moment the reality of her condition really sank in. I knew it was time to come to terms, to process, and hopefully to find a way to cope with these changes. And so my pen found its way to my notebook, and the journey of writing this album began.
A couple of years passed, and while many tears were shed during the writing process, many happy moments emerged as I remembered the joys of my upbringing. I was simultaneously grieving my present and grateful for my past, both to large degrees. My plan was to wait until the album was totally complete to play it for my mom, but thankfully my wife convinced me to give her an early listen of the demo tracks. Thank you, Ali, for doing that - otherwise she would have never heard these songs.
As life became more complex, and my mom’s condition progressed, I stepped away from writing and recording. Things were getting too real, and so I did what I could to distract and distance myself. Then one year ago my mom passed away.
Having always envisioned releasing this album while my mom was still alive, I felt as if I’d failed in my task. But oddly, it also gave me a sense of purpose...there was something I had to finish, even if I had missed my mark. So here we are today.
May this music awaken old memories in you. I hope and pray that it reminds you to cling to the joys of your past and let them inspire your present and future.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to listen.
- Jonny (Malingo)
To my dad, sisters, and brothers:
As much as this album and video is a gift to Mom, it is also a gift to you. Thank you for all your love and support and memories throughout the years. Thank you for adding joy and excitement to Mom’s life, each in your own unique ways. And thank you for honoring her by loving one another well.
To my wife, Ali:
Thank you for your love and support, and for honoring my mom by being such a great mother to our kids. Thank you for giving me the time and space needed to bring this project to fruition. And thank you for encouraging me to share the demo tracks with my mom before they were “ready”.
Please share, like, comment, and consider purchasing or streaming (links at the bottom) as 100% of all proceeds go to the following Alzheimer's organizations:
