Music is a magical vehicle to help develop so many other transferable life skills, which can be fundamental in changing young people’s lives for a lifetime.” – Jono Heale
We are very excited to welcome Jono Heale, long-time supporter and good friend of the charity, to Team LNADJ and our upcoming January trip to Tanzania!
With Jono at the forefront of building hope through music, he and ACS Custom invited us to join an evergreen collaboration that changes lives whenever someone purchases a pair of ACS Custom festival-ready earplugs. An incredible 16% of each sale supports our work!
Jono has impressed us so much with his commitment to LNADJ via ACS Custom that we have invited him to become a trustee of the charity this year.
We can’t wait to see him bring 35 years of well-rounded music industry experience and a notable passion for instrumentalism to the young people at Angels Gate Centre for Boys.
Jono will work with Darren Jay, Trevor Fung, and LNADJ team members Ellie and Jonny to represent our Get Equipped initiative. This initiative aims to help build confidence, elevate the positive profile of street youth, and provide a safe space to learn while encouraging self-discovery, stress relief, and emotional release through the power of music and art.
Ahead of the trip, we connected to learn more about his commitment to the cause and what he hopes to bring to this experience.
What motivated you to volunteer with Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation and participate in this experience?
“Ever since meeting Jonny Lee in the early days of the Brighton Music Conference, I’ve been personally and professionally impressed by the incredible and life-changing work that Last Night A DJ Saved My Life does globally.
Their mission has always struck a chord with me… pardon the pun. I’ve always wanted to be involved and help support them because music can change lives. Jonny and I have talked many times to see how I and ACS could collaborate somehow, often overlooking the Mediterranean in Ibiza, which was nice. But now the time is right for me, and I’m honoured to get more involved. It’s synchronicity in many ways.”
What specific skills or strengths do you believe you bring to the team for this experience?
“Ha! Hopefully, it’s my musicianship, sense of humour, joy of working in a team, annoying enthusiasm, and ability to make good coffee.”
What do you hope to gain personally and professionally from joining us in Tanzania?
“I know this experience will emotionally touch me. From this it will strengthen my motivation and mission to do more charitable work in the future.”
Why did you get involved with Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, in the first place?
“I’ve always wanted to be involved and help support them. Jonny and I have talked many times when we meet at music events to see how I and ACS could collaborate somehow. This current idea, change lives – save ears, came to us sitting on a wall chatting overlooking the Mediterranean in Ibiza, which was nice.”
Why is our organisation important to you?
“LNADJ is important to me and should be for everyone because without the fantastic work these charities do globally, the world would be a darker place for many less fortunate people.”
Do you have a personal connection to our mission?
“I do now, especially after having some training by the great guys at Pioneer DJ. This to help facilitate training of the kit we will be taking to Angel’s Gate school for street children in Tanzania as part of the Get Equipped campaign. I remember as a kid trying to get access to music making gear and how frustrating that was. So, to provide music equipment for the opportunity to change lives through the power of music is incredible in many ways. I’ve witnessed the transformative power of music and the arts in my career on many levels and seen how it has changed people’s lives. Therefore, supporting LNADJ is part of my personal and professional life ethos. Music is a magical vehicle to help develop so many other transferable life skills, which can be fundamental in changing young people’s lives for a lifetime.”
What do you love most about us?
“Like most industries … .it’s about the people and great relationships… all day long. All those working at LNADJ are really good, kind and honest people. It’s so nice to see and even socialise with these people at various events in the music industry calendar throughout the year and maybe plan more life-changing ideas!”
And finally, what record has changed or saved your life?
“Well.. a difficult one. I have so many songs that changed and quite literally saved my life. But in my early days I wanted to be a drummer as a kid. One of the first singles on vinyl I bought was by Cosy Powell called Na Na Na. The lyrics really resonated with me especially as my parents wanted me to get a ‘proper job’ and being a musician wasn’t really one.
“When I was a kid, my old man said to me
“When you grow up son what’s it gonna be?
You gonna go to school and get a degree?
Or you gonna go work in a factory?”
I said, “Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na”
I know what I want and I know what I can
And I wanna get a job in a rock n roll band
Well, the man at the desk said
“I know how you feel
But how’d ya like a job fixin’ automobiles
Your card says you got no musical training“
I said, “Hey, look man
You just don’t get my meaning“
Enough said. My parents unfortunately died in their 50’s and I ended up following my dreams, without any criticism, including a degree in Music.
I hope they would be proud that I did make a career from music in the end and from that the opportunity to help others in the process.
From all of us at LNADJ, Big, Big Love to Jono for stepping up to join us on our mission to build hope through music. We are excited for you to see the work you have been so kindly supporting live and direct AND cannot wait to see ‘band’ Jono in action!
If you’d like to learn more about Get Equipped, head here.
Please head to Jono’s Just Giving page here to support Jono and help fund this project.
To protect your ears, join us on our mission and head here!
Thank you, and as always, Big Love
Team LNADJ x
