May 9, 2008

Still spreading 'Sunshine'

Performing gives Edwards, 62, as much joy as ever

By Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer

Singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards is still revered for his 1971 hit "Sunshine (Go Away Today)." But his appeal is far more than nostalgic. Edwards displays a rare ability to build a rapport with his audience.

"I kind of jokingly offer the J.E. (John Edwards) guarantee - if you don't have a good time, I'll give you your money back," he said. "I do songs from my previous 14 albums and a bunch of stuff that people haven't had a chance to hear. The biggest joy for me is to engage a crowd."

Edwards began building an audience in the '60s, driving from one northeastern college to another, pulling out his guitar and singing. But he attracts a wide age range of fans.
"I notice a lot of young people in my audiences, whether they're my original fans' children or grandchildren, I'm not sure."

Edwards forms a bond with listeners, expressing a commonality of issues. "I believe that my audiences share a lot of the same values and instincts that I do. I try to explore those things."

His song "Sunshine," an irresistibly uplifting anthem of peaceful defiance, seems as relevant now as ever. Paul Westerberg recorded it for the "Friends" soundtrack. Edwards says, "A lot of people are now discovering that song as the protest song it always was, but that they never knew it was."

With the U.S. mired in a conflict depressingly similar to Vietnam, audiences respond to the tune with great enthusiasm.

"It's awful where this administration has led our nation. It's awful that there aren't more protest songs written about what we're going through now," he said. "It speaks to the fact of how much the media is controlled by corporate America. It didn't used to be that way. It used to be community radio. It used to be disc jockeys were a lot more involved in meetings and demonstrations. Now it's all Clear Channel and Westinghouse."

Edwards is disappointed by the motivations of today's young performers. "No one's willing to take the tear gas anymore. No one's willing to spend the night in jail for what they believe," he said, adding with a laugh, "And I'm afraid that includes me."

Nevertheless, Edwards has always followed his own heart and mind. He still believes music can be a catalyst for change.

"There's always an opportunity for (change) coming from the independent level. I don't expect Janet Jackson to come out with an anti-war song any time soon. It's got to be a grass-roots thing that breaks through the corporate structure to fall on people's ears. It could very well come from the Internet, all this online communication that's taking place.

"The issues back in the '60s were certainly a lot more clear-cut, the difference between right and wrong, the difference between good and evil. Now things are a lot more complicated, in a lot of ways."

The popularity of such songs as "Sunshine" and "Shanty" established Edwards. But hits can be elusive. "I was hoping that commercial success would stay with me. I had no reason to think it wouldn't, except mismanagement," he said. "In the 30-some years since then, I've gained an appreciation for how precious and fleeting that really is.

"It's important in sustaining the kind of career I aspire to. It enables you to reach more people with your art, with your message."

Edwards explored a wide range of possibilities. In addition to solo pop-folk albums, he recorded with Emmylou Harris, starred in a touring company of "Pumpboys and Dinettes," created an acclaimed children's album, and hosted the PBS series "Cruising America's Waterways."

The native Minnesotan, who now resides in New York, recently scored a film, "The Golden Boys," which will be released this year. He also has a small role in the romantic comedy. Of his varied adventures, he laughs, "It's a typical ADD sort of life."

He hopes to do more film work, but still enjoys the immediacy of performing live. "I'm grateful that I'm able to hold a crowd and, to some extent, maybe lead them on to more progressive ways of thinking or hearing or feeling."

The troubadour lifestyle presents more challenges these days, however, and Edwards now books only 60 to 80 shows per year. "It's getting harder and harder to do - gas prices, and flying is just not fun anymore with all the security. It's getting a little tougher to travel from town to town, for everybody, and especially when you're 62 years old, almost," he said. "But the moments on stage are priceless, they really are. I get an awful lot of energy from the crowd. There's nothing like seeing those faces light up."