WHAT IS THE COMMON MAN PROJECT?
SELF-WORTH
The Common Man Project is a call for self-worth and purpose in an American culture increasingly focused on celebrity, spectatorship, and circus.
OWNERSHIP
The making and sharing of joy and entertainment of our own hands is not only a key to happiness, but also a cornerstone for a more thoughtful civic discourse in our country.
OPPORTUNITY
With a sense of self-assurance and purposeful reality, we can welcome a more optimistic, inclusive future for our communities and country
CHANGE
Through the messaging in our music, a nonprofit platform, and supporting like-minded organizations we look to move the needle of American culture to a more positive, thoughtful place.
"Let’s find some joy through our own hands."
-Richard Hinton
THE MISSION
Our mission is to inspire Americans to find joy, entertainment and well being of their own creation, by their own hands and through their own activities.
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The Common Man Project is planting the seed to “stand up” and value oneself, making music that speaks to social engagement and purposeful living, providing philanthropic support to like-minded community organizations, sharing our creative journey.
THE MESSAGE
As Americans, we increasingly find ourselves as passive consumers of others spectacle and faux realities. As a culture we need - less watching - more doing, less consuming – more engagement. As our songs say: "Reach down deep with your own hands and sow a better sound, not screams of fears or fanatical cheers those are voices of the crowd, but the beauty of your own simple song which need not be so loud.“ and “ Let’s celebrate the common man, let’s find some joy through our own hands.”
PARTNERS
The Common Man Project is committed to partnering with community-based organizations and interested individuals to promote the message of self-worth and purposeful reality in novel and effective manners. As the project evolves, this will include the development of a community granting platform and development of partnerships with local, regional and national fund-raising organizations, businesses and individuals.
THE MUSIC
Our music speaks to a shared human thread. We look to inspire individuals to make an investment in themselves and their talents and share that at life’s table. Our message is in our music.
TURN YOUR GROUND
"Don’t let your tree standing by the water be blown down
Don’t let a faux strong man show drive you off your ground
Reach down deep with you own hands and sow a better sound
Not screams of fears or fanatical cheers those are voices of the crowd
But the beauty of your own simple song that need not be so loud
Turn, turn, turn your ground"
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-Turn Your Ground, Richard Hinton 2017
The Common Man
"Elysium is coming to your towns
Idols up in the sky working folk on the ground
Why would you knell give them your love and your time
Just because they’re pretty from the right family line
Instead, celebrate they ain’t no better than you
Celebrate all the things you might do
Celebrate name on your back is your own
Up out the dirt get some meat not just bone
Resurrect yourself and you’re never alone"
-Celebrate the Common Man, Richard Hinton 2017
BAD SPACE
"Why don’t the earth just open wide and swallow me up whole
And end this crucifying pain in the marrow of my bone
Seems like when I struggle up and gasp a breath of air
Something heavy wraps me up and pulls me back down there
To that bad space and it aint no place to be
That bad space what will it take to set me free?"
-Bad Space, Richard Hinton 2017
THE STORY
The Common Man Project is a nonprofit, musical and arts based organization speaking to self-worth, civic engagement, and purposeful reality in our American lives. Its’ founder; Richard Hinton, is a successful orthopedic surgeon and health care administrator in Baltimore, Maryland, but was born and raised in Gatesville, a small town in rural eastern North Carolina. This community nurtured his defining combination of humility and self worth which enabled a life of opportunity and purposeful engagement.
Hinton is at ease with conversation, has an ear for cultural change and had written songs for years, but without formal musical training these tunes had not made it past the shower or the front seat of his car. “I felt a growing need to actively engage with and comment on our changing American culture, so I took a chance with my music and thoughts.”
For the past two years Hinton has worked with Stephen Antonelli and Nate Lanzino of Song builders Studios in Catonsville, Maryland to “bring to life” not only a set of poignant songs and live performances which speak to self worth, and social engagement but to also found a multifaceted non-profit organization seeking to move the needle of American culture in a more positive, thoughtful direction.
In some small way being the change for engagement, commitment, and community based partnerships and entertainment they are looking to inspire. “Celebrate all the things you might do.”
Richard Hinton, Founder of the Common Man Project
GET INVOLVED
Inquiries
As a nonprofit 501c3, The Common Man Project welcomes your comments, suggestions, involvement and donations.