GLOBAL CONNECTION – The Lon Bové Ecosystem
The movement envisioned by American guitarist, songwriter, and educator Lon Bové was born out of a clear purpose: to transform music into an active tool for social inclusion, global citizenship, and environmental awareness. Connecting the cultural heritage of Bahia, Brazil, with the strength of community networks in the United States, this independent ecosystem was structured to shatter geographical, financial, and linguistic barriers.
To breathe life into this mission, Lon Bové autonomously founded two free music education organizations with customized methodologies tailored to each country’s unique needs, while simultaneously creating the artistic ambassador project that drives this entire universe.
The Founder: The Journey of Lon Bové
Born on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio—the historic cradle of Blues and Soul music—and holding a Master of Science in Education from the University of Alabama, Lon Bové is an internationally recognized artist, accumulating 9 Grammy nominations for his acclaimed album M.O.T.H.
Based for decades in Salvador, Bahia, Lon became enchanted by the raw power of Afro-Brazilian drums and roots, weaving them together with his native influences of Jazz, Rock, and Rhythm & Blues (R&B). However, he understood that his greatest masterpiece would not be found at the top of commercial music charts, but rather in the democratization of knowledge. As a natural-born educator, he designed a bilingual pedagogical ecosystem capable of bringing instrumental music education to those who could never afford private lessons.
Sister Organizations: Two Nations, Two Structures, One Mission
To provide the finest educational experience while strictly respecting the regulatory and cultural frameworks of each region, Lon Bové’s social project operates through two independent, sister entities:
🇧🇷 In Brazil: Projeto Rádio Terra
Headquartered in Salvador, Bahia, Associação Rádio Terra (publicly known across social media as Projeto Rádio Terra) is a registered non-profit Civil Society Organization (OSC) operating under CNPJ No. 44.588.475/0001-16.
Pedagogical Approach: All virtual practical workshops and educational materials are developed and taught entirely in Portuguese. The curriculum features a dynamic methodology to teach harmonica, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, Afro-Bahian percussion, and vocal coaching.
Local Social Focus: Primarily directed toward children, teenagers from the public school system, and communities facing social vulnerability.
Community Presence: Beyond the virtual classrooms, it hosts in-person workshops, eco-festivals (such as the Planeta VerDE Perto circuit), and charitable drives for partner community nurseries in Bahia.
🇺🇸 In the USA: Radio Terra Project
In North America, the expansion of the ecosystem comes to life through Radio Terra Project, established and regulated as a non-profit organization with federal tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) (EIN: 41-4613607).
Pedagogical Approach (In English): The North American branch is structured specifically for the English language, offering Free Music Lessons. Live broadcasts, instrumental tutorials, and digital workbooks are prepared entirely in English to serve the US public and global students utilizing the international language.
Transparency and Governance: The 501(c)(3) designation certifies the organization’s institutional integrity under US law, ensuring that all financial and corporate donations are fully tax-deductible.
🛍️ Exclusive Online Stores: Conscious Consumerism and 100% Profit Reversion
As part of the commitment to sustainability and financial independence for the non-profits, the band operates exclusive e-commerce channels for each country. On these platforms, fans can purchase official merchandise such as exclusive t-shirts, collectible mugs, and autographed vinyl records.
All revenue generated from sales is entirely converted to fund the operations of the music education organizations, strictly respecting the currency and tax regulations of each locality:
🇺🇸 For purchases in the United States: Access the Banda Terráquea USA Store to secure your merchandise with domestic North American shipping. 100% of the profits raised on this platform are donated directly to the Radio Terra Project (USA), financing global streaming platforms and English-language masterclasses.
🇧🇷 For purchases in Brazil: Access the Banda Terráquea Loja Brasil to browse the national catalog with shipping logistics across the entire Brazilian territory. 100% of the profits raised on this platform are donated directly to Associação Projeto Rádio Terra (Brazil), keeping live community workshops and social initiatives thriving in Bahia.
🎙️ Banda Terráquea: The Voice and Groove of the Movement
How do you connect this entire educational and commercial structure to the general public? The answer is found on stage. Also conceived by Lon Bové, Banda Terráquea is the official musical collective that blends Afro-Bahian roots with the universal weight of Rhythm and Blues.
It is essential to clarify that Banda Terráquea acts strictly as a supporting artist and master ambassador. The band does not hold legal ownership or management over either of the two non-profits. Its role is to leverage the drawing power of its original concerts, tours, and albums to grant global visibility to Lon Bové’s social causes.
Each performance serves to raise public awareness regarding ecological preservation and generate the necessary support so that these free classrooms—in Portuguese for Brazil and in English for the USA—can continue transforming lives at no cost to the students.
Here, the American seasoning of the Blues and the swing of Bahian palm oil (dendê) unite to sing in defense of social empowerment without borders. We are the Earthlings.