Thank You, Shirl-ee May

A friend of ours, Shawn Amos, has been performing for years, having released two strong CDs as a singer/songwriter. Now his latest CD is starting to get some major ink, due in part to its extremely personal nature. (And, of course, due to the fact that it's pretty damn good.)

Shawn's mother took her own life almost two years ago; it was only after she died that Shawn, while clearing out her apartment in North Carolina, discovered boxes of momentos from her once-promising singing career.

It hit Shawn like a brick: Here was a side of his mother, who had long struggled with mental illness, that he'd never known. Performing as "Shir-lee May," Shawn's mother briefly recorded for Mercury Records and toured nightclubs across the Northeast.

After the funeral, Shawn immediately went to work, recording his third album, "Thank You, Shirl-ee May (A Love Story)." The songs tell the story of Shir-lee May, Shawn's mother's alter ego, as she moves to New York and launches her music career in the early 60s. Shawn channels his mom in song throughout the CD, an eclectic piece that's quite a departure from the singer/songwriter's usual work.

Shawn's mother gave up her career in 1967 when she married Wally Amos, who later became the "Famous Amos" cookie king. Now, she's finally getting another round in the spotlight.

Maria and I first heard "Thank You, Shirl-ee May" at Shawn's listening party last November; we put one of the songs we liked the best, "New York City, 1964," on our 2004 Choice Cuts compilation. But the entire CD is stunning from start to finish, as it tells the story of a young woman with big dreams.

Now, not only is the CD available on iTunes, but Shawn got a strong write-up in the Los Angeles Times this past Saturday -- including several photos. Pretty cool.