When session drummer Jono Wilson, 23, crashed his car last year, he was left in a coma for around three weeks.
Photo: Unknown
Led by singer-songwriter Lydia Cole, a group of musicians who had worked with Wilson put together an album to help foot the bill of his recovery. The result is an album, Jonny Be Good, with the proceeds going straight to Wilson’s rehabilitation.
Wilson’s rehabilitation process has been extensive, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and singing lessons. He’s expected to be able to work again next year.
Cole told Anthonie Tonnon on Radio New Zealand’s Music 101 she reached out to Wilson’s musician friends after hearing of his accident.
“I emailed all the artists on a Sunday and – I think it was the Monday or Tuesday – Nathan King got back to me and said, ‘This is crazy, I’ve just written a song about Jono for Jono, post-accident. I’ve just finished recording it on the weekend and I was just wondering what to do with it’.”
After that, she knew the project was meant to be.
LISTEN to Anthonie Tonnon talk to Lydia Cole and Dave Baxter of Avalanche City about Jonny Be Good: