Edwards will perform in Zumbrota

With four decades in the music business, Jonathan Edwards said he’s happy to bring his past with him. The audience will hear the songs that hit the highlights when Edwards takes the stage at Zumbrota’s historic State Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday May 5.

Edwards’ first big hit was the Vietnam War-era protest song “Sunshine,” which earned him a gold record in 1971.

He went on to tour and record more albums, but struggled to balance the life of a traveling musician with his desire to live quietly. He said he longed to escape the hustle and bustle where he could stay true to himself.

While he periodically took time out for peace and solitude, Edwards found it impossible to walk away from music, and he has toured and recorded 17 albums in his long career. These albums vary from a country-tinged “Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy” to children’s songs inspired by the birth of his daughter. He’s also dabbled in bluegrass and he played music on boat cruises as part of a PBS documentary “Cruising America’s Waterways.”

These days Edwards, who was born in Minnesota but has lived in various spots in the U.S. and Canada, said he is a barefoot troubadour preparing for the next stage of his journey. Having measured his success by his ability to attract and take good care of an audience, Edwards maintains that it is the feedback he receives after his shows that keeps him going.

Tags: arts and entertainment, lifestyle, arts, entertainment, zumbrota