Posted on August 31, 2020
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was honored to hold our sixth virtual Zoom conversation this time featuring musician Jordan Zevon who has been ADAO’s National Spokesperson for over 15 years.
During the video call, we discussed Jordan’s life as a musician, his father Warren Zevon’s mesothelioma diagnosis and passing, how asbestos impacted his family, the work Jordan does for and with ADAO, and upcoming Record Store Day, happening this fall. The audience was also surprised with a performance by Jordan, and a video message from award-winning filmmaker Judd Apatow who was and remains a huge fan and friend of Warren Zevon.
Jordan has been instrumental in ADAO’s work towards raising awareness about asbestos-caused illnesses. As our National Spokesperson, he has worked tirelessly to warn people about the dangers of asbestos exposure and honor his father’s life by trying to prevent others from having to go through the same pain his family did. We are grateful for all Jordan has done for ADAO.
For Record Store Day, Judd has designed an album, “Warren Zevon’s Greatest Hits…According to Judd Apatow” featuring a wonderful collection of Warren’s songs. Judd has generously dedicated a portion of proceeds to ADAO. Jordan shared, “I first understood Judd’s love for my Dad’s music in an incredibly moving scene in Funny People where Adam Sandler’s character, faced with his own mortality listens to, ‘Keep Me In Your Heart.’ That was followed by an annual tribute concert co-hosted by Jackson Browne. But I was blown away when Judd and Rhino Records approached me about releasing, in honor of record store day, Judd’s personally cultivated, ‘Best of’ album (and by album I mean album. Better dust off the record player!). What really sent this honor and experience over-the-top was when everyone involved agreed to donate the proceeds to The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, for whom I’ve had the honor to be the National Spokesperson for over 15 years. Asbestos is NOT BANNED in the U.S. and the no-brainer bill to ban it is being ignored by some no-brainers in our government. Asbestos has shown up in things like teen make-up kits. It’s enough already.”
We look forward to honoring Judd with the Warren Zevon Keep Me In Your Heart Award when the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Thank you to everyone who joined! We look forward to planning our next virtual conversation and seeing you there.
Linda Reinstein