Album Notes

Marian Marie, born into a family of talented musicians who include both parents and the famed Montgomery brothers (Wes, Buddy & Monk), uses her vocal talents to give a voice and beat to the cry of society that asks the questions “What is going on with love? Why are relationships so difficult? And What can we do about it?”

She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California with the advantage of parents who were brought up in the South and embraced old fashioned values. She had the added advantage that both parents were professional musicians. Her father, Mose M. Ensley Jr., a singer, plays keyboard and has been a band director since forming his first band while in high school. Her birth mother, Beatrice Marie Ensley, was also a vocalist. Her parents, combined their middle names to name their daughter, Marian Marie. Marian Marie is a reflection of her name which means: “Star of the Sea” & “Gracious”.

True to the meaning of her name, Marian Marie announced to her family at the age of seven that she was going to be a “star.” As a preschooler she watched her mother and father rehearse in their garage with a full band playing good old school music by Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight, to name a few. She would watch from a distance until they gave her the mic and invited her to sing. At that moment, a “star” was born. Her parents and these artists, along with others like Barbra Streisand, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Phyllis Hyman, Angela Bofill and Anita Baker greatly influenced her musical aspirations and career. From the moment she grabbed the mic in the garage she was compelled to sing and a star was born. Her first stellar performance came shortly afterwards when she and her siblings performed “I Need Some Money” for her parents to convince them to fund one of their planned adventures. She was introduced to the professional world in her premier performance singing in her father’s band, ME & Friends, an accomplished Los Angeles musical group of diverse genres which has been performing in the Southern California area since the 1960’s. Marian Marie’s natural gift flourished under the professional tutelage of her father and second mother, Oreatha Ensley, who encouraged and supported her career every step of the way. She studied private piano and violin lessons including a music program for children at USC. She has performed with ME & Friends from the age of 14 years to the present time.

Though she went into the business side of the music industry for a season as a director at Vibe Magazine, she never left her first love of singing. She could be found weekends performing with ME & Friends and headlining at the Culver Club at the Radisson Hotel in Culver City, CA. She could also be found performing around town at weddings, churches, high profile events, even singing the national anthem at a nationally televised basketball game at her alma mater, UCLA, as well as the Los Angeles Marathon and Vince Evans Charity Golf Tournament. If you stood around and listened to congratulatory comments after a performance, they always included the statement, “You must record an album and make sure you let me know when you do.” Currently Marian Marie is completing her first album serving as executive producer. She wrote and/or co-wrote every song on the album.

Her debut album entitled “Simply Me” released under MsMelody Entertainment was given birth when Marian Marie felt God was demanding that she fulfill her divine purpose to communicate through music God’s message that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams, goals and purpose and to experience the transforming power of love as God intended it to be. The album takes listeners on a journey through various, identifiable stages of love encounters such as personal experiences that led them to question what it means to love someone, painful experiences and the healing process, arriving at the destination that ultimately inspires each person to believe and strive for Godly love in all relationships and to have higher standards for the love they give and accept. The listener will join a private conversation between women discussing love relationships – what they used to be, what they are today and what they think they should be. This album is about good “old school” love and values. This album amazes and connects listeners as it echoes their personal experiences and feelings.

The eleven songs that make up the melodic journey of “Simply Me” are a mix of R&B rhythms to Neo-Soul grooves with a hint of jazz flow. The R&B infused “Let’s Talk About Love” opens the album with the real meaning of Love. Other R&B influenced tracks include “I’m So Hurt” and “Bad Situation” which depicts the type of relationship that one should never accept. Then we move to tracks like “What Is Going On?” which pays homage to Marvin Gaye and addresses many of today’s issue which are out of control and “Supernatural Love” which depicts a Godly relationship take on a neo-soul vibe. A standout, highly motivating and inspirational track “What Do You Do” answers the question “How do you find victory in the midst of pain and heartache?” “Song for My Brothers” is a jazzy tribute to the many good men in our lives. There’s even the club banger “Wait on Me” that encourages valuing yourself and abstinence.

Every song on the album is born out of personal experiences and experiences that both men and women share. Your ultimate outcome after taking this journey will be, “WOW! I can relate because that’s SIMPLY ME!”