Jonathan Edwards talks music, his career and upcoming benefit show with WABK’s Don Brown

As part of his summer tour, Jonathan Edwards (www.jonathanedwards.net) will perform at the Camden Opera House (www.camdenoperahouse.com) on July 17, 2010. The event is presented by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Maine Chapter; proceeds will benefit Good Shepherd Food Bank and the NKBA Maine Chapter Scholarship Fund.

Maine radio legend Don Brown recently sat down with Jonathan to discuss the July 17^th show, his summer tour and plans for a new album. “We are excited to have the opportunity to not only discuss the Camden Opera House show, but also his career as a whole,” says Jack O’Brien, Director of Programming & Operations with BlueBerry Broadcasting, WABK’s parent company. “Jonathan’s decision to team up with NKBA to help support the Good Shepherd Food Bank should be applauded. It is a great cause and BlueBerry Broadcasting, a Maine-owned and operated company, takes pride in reaching out to help Maine communities.”

The interview can be heard on BlueBerry Broadcasting’s family of stations on Sunday, July 11: The Bear (104.7, 103.3, 99.1) and KISS 94.5 at 11pm. The Voice of Maine (103.9, 101.3) at 6am. WABK (104.3) at 7am, WTOS (105.1, 96.7, 101.1) and WQSS (102.5) at 7am. Fox Sports (WAEI AM/FM 97.1/910), WRKD-AM (1450), WFAU-AM (1280), WIGY-FM (97.5) at 6am.

The Food-Bank works with a network of more than 600 partner agencies state-wide, including food pantries, soup kitchens and after school programs, to reach 36,000 Mainers every week. Last year Good Shepherd saved partner agencies more than $23 million in food related expenses.

Known for such classics such as “Sunshine” and “Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy”, Jonathan will be joined by his entire quartet; the show is slated to begin at 8:00pm. Tickets are $25 and $35 available by calling (207) 470-7066; online at www.camdenoperahouse.com. The show is sponsored by Dream Kitchen Studio by Mathews Brothers in Rockland.

Jonathan Edwards has played around the world for over four decades – having stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, delivering songs of passion, insight and humor all rendered in a pure and powerful tenor.

He began his music career growing up in Minnesota, playing by ear on his piano and guitar. In his teens and twenties he became an integral part of the Boston folk music scene, playing with various mutations of bands and traveling all over New England. Soon he was opening for B. B. King and Allman Brothers Band and recorded his first album, “Jonathan” which featured the now legendary hit cut “Sunshine”. A fierce proclamation of protest and independence set to deceptively upbeat music, “Sunshine” resonated with the thousands and thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women of the day. “It was just at the time of the Vietnam War and Nixon. It was looking bad out there. That song meant a lot to a lot of people during that time – especially me,” Jonathan says. It got its start on a Boston radio station and quickly made its way to the top five on the national charts, earning him a gold record in 1971.

“Sunshine” ushered in a sea change in Jonathan’s life and career, sweeping him up in a current of “overnight” success. These days Jonathan Edwards, a vital and relevant artist in today’s folk and Americana scenes, is most likely to be found on the road with longtime accompanist Stuart Schulman on bass, piano, fiddle, and vocals and Taylor Armerding, formerly of Northern Lights, on mandolin and high-tenor vocals. “I’ve been … doing what I do best, which is playing live in front of people. I’ve been concentrating on that and loving it,” he says.

An artist who measures his success by his ability to attract and take good care of an audience for four decades, Jonathan maintains that it is the feedback he receives after his shows that keeps him going. “It is really gratifying to hear [someone say], ‘Your stuff has meant a lot to me over the years.’”

The “stuff” he’s referring to is a highly respected repertoire that includes such classics as “Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy,” “Sometimes,” “One Day Closer,” “Don’t Cry Blue,” “Emma,” “Everybody Knows Her,” “Athens County,” and everyone’s favorite ode to putting a good buzz on, “Shanty.” And then, of course, there’s the anthemic “Sunshine (Go Away Today),” that fierce proclamation of protest and independence that resonated with thousands and thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women when it was first released in 1971. Almost 40 years later, at show after show, the song continues to be embraced by faithful followers and new fans alike.

Since 1971, Jonathan has released 15 albums, including Blue Ridge, his standard-setting collaboration with bluegrass favorites the Seldom Scene, and Little Hands, his collection of children’s songs, which was honored with a National Library Association award.

As far as album #16, Jonathan says, “Young people that are getting back to the land and trying to get off the power grid encourage me. My next studio album will reflect some of those themes.”

Tickets are $25 and $35 available by calling (207) 470-7066; online at www.camdenoperahouse.com. The show is sponsored by Dream Kitchen Studio by Rockland.

Share and Enjoy: