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Johnathan Edwards: Just a man and his guitar |
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Written by Dan England
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Friday, 16 November 2007 |
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Jonathan Edwards was living a life few could blame him for enjoying. He was in the Caribbean and touring a lot less than he should.
Edwards, best known for playing hits like “Sunshine” on stage with just his acoustic guitar, his voice and his sense of humor, probably toured more this year than he had in the last 10 combined. He visited places like Holland, where the residents were huge fans of his—and that he had such a fan base there was a surprise.
He will play Friday, Nov. 16 at the Rialto Theater in Loveland.
“I’ve really enjoyed a renewed popularity,” Edwards said in a phone interview, “and I’ve got a lot of reasons for that, and they probably don’t sound very humble.”
OK, shoot.
“I think people are kind of fed up with digital music and manufactured careers and sound,” he said. “People are enjoying the pleasure of going out to see a guy with a guitar, all acoustic instruments and no hype.”
That may be true, and that could be why Edwards is seeing a resurgence. But there are others in the pop music world now who are leading the same charge, and that might have benefited Edwards in a way as well. Stars such as Jack Johnson, and to a lesser extent David Gray, made a guy and his acoustic guitar popular again. Edwards agrees he may have influenced them, in the sense that Dylan influenced him.
The sporadic touring was his choice, but it nagged at him a bit. He figured he should be playing music more. He seemed to be born to play, after all. He started as a small boy taking piano lessons and learning music by ear from the lady who lived next door. He started playing guitar when he was in high school in the early 1960s.
“I was just taking some time, doing a lot of artwork, things like that,” he said. “But lately I’ve got a new life and a new energy that helps me get out on the road.”
Those shows are filled with older folks who remember “Sunshine,” but Edwards sees younger fans there as well.
“I depend on grandparents and parents to bring them to the shows,” he said and laughed.
As for that song, a last-minute addition to his first solo album, the one that hit the top five in 1971, it’s helped people remember Edwards.
“I think everyone has heard the song, but not always do people recognize my face or my name,” he said. “People ask me, ‘Don’t you wish you had more hits?’ Well, yes and no. That song’s meant a lot to people over the years. It’s a great song to leave with people.”
Edwards recently released a live album and hopes to take advantage of his newfound popularity by recording an album of new material soon.
“It’s still in the dream stages,” he said of his new album. “But I’m putting together some feels for it. I wasn’t going to do it, but I want to do it now. You have to keep moving forward, and a new record would allow me to do that.”
And it’s fairly certain that Edwards won’t be spending another decade in the Caribbean anytime soon.
“The energy of the crowd won’t let me quit,” he said. “Every time I threaten to move on, I get reinforced by the people who come out to the show.”
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TO GO
Jonathan Edwards
plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at theRialto Theater in Loveland.
Tickets are $22 and are available at the box office theater, 228 E. 4th St., Loveland, or by calling 962.2120. You can also go online to: www.ci.loveland.co.us/rialto/rialto.htm.
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