Impact of Edwards’ 1971 song lingers

By JOHN BENSON

entertainment@vindy.com

Little did singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards know when he wrote “Sunshine go away today/I don’t feel much like dancing” those lyrics from his classic song “Sunshine” would end up defining his 40-year career in music.

“I thought it was going to be my first hit. What I didn’t know was that it was going to be my last hit too,” laughed Edwards, calling from Cumberland Island, Ga. “I had some really lousy management decisions being made on my behalf that I let happen. And you can’t do it on our own. You can’t do it by yourself. You need a team assembled, and I didn’t have one.

“So that first album contained a No. 3 song, and I was really happy. I didn’t really have any idea what it would mean for the future. I didn’t really spend a lot of time worrying about the future. I was just trying to deal with the here and now, and trying to enjoy what I was doing and getting out on the road playing music and writing songs. And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since.”

To be fair, some artists go a whole career without every enjoying a top-5 radio hit.

“Absolutely,” Edwards said. “If I never wrote another song or recorded another record I’d be very proud of that song and what it meant to people and the time we were living in.”

A Minnesota native, Edwards actually studied art for more than three years at Ohio University before pursuing music fulltime in Boston. It would only take three years in Bean Town before he released his 1971 self-titled debut, which included “Sunshine.” Still, looking back, the singer admits it was a pressure-filled time.

“Yeah, I left in my senior year and my parents were so pleased,” Edwards said sarcastically. “They couldn’t relate to anything I was doing. At the time in college, I often joked we became the best band by far in the northwest corner of Southeast Ohio. So we moved our show to Boston and that was met with quite a bit of success. Then my parents stood up and took notice.”

Edwards, who when he’s not playing roughly 60 shows a year often writes film scores, is looking forward to releasing his first new material album in over a decade.

The project, described as more of a rocking affair, is titled “My Love Will Keep.” With 16 new tracks currently in the mix, the 63-year-old folk artist said he’ll be playing some new material (the bluegrass country sounding “Amy B” and the John Denver tribute “Johnny Blue Horizon”).

He’ll also have his own songs and a few covers (The Beatles’ “She Loves You” and Jesse Winchester’s “Freewheeler”) at his March 31 show at O’Donold’s Irish Pub & Grill.

“My concerts are for everyone,” Edwards said. “It’s fun for all ages. A good time is guaranteed or you’ll get your money back. I’m sure I have a lot of old fans around Youngstown, and I’m looking forward to getting with them and sharing a night of music.SDRq