Thursday, March 5, 2015

LUNDEN REIGN: The Love Affair & Collaboration that Spawned Musical Bliss


  Nikki Lunden and Lora G. 
of The Progressive- Rock- Powerhouse 'LUNDEN REIGN'                                                                  
By Ray Shasho
Interviewed on January 7th 2015

It’s a rare phenomenon that I write and boast about a new rock band, but L.A. based newcomers, Lunden Reign, packed such a punch with its debut album … an extraordinary- high-energy- esoteric rock gem, integrated with profound lyrical content, that I felt compelled to applause this exciting new progressive-rock powerhouse. 

LUNDEN REIGN’s nucleus is ... guitarist/songwriter/keyboardist … 
Lora G. (Espinoza-Lunden) 
and lead singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist … Nikki Lunden.
  
The bands current lineup
also includes...
Matthew Denis (bass),
Steve Ornest (guitar)
and Morgan Young (drums).

But Lora and Nikki are not just bandmates; they are also engaged to become married. It’s a fascinating love affair that began when Lora received an unanticipated kiss from Nikki while she performed with her band onstage at a popular club in Tarzana (San Fernando Valley region of the city of L.A.) called Petie’s Place. Nikki was hosting a jam session there with some local musicians. Lora G. lives a transgender lifestyle, which is certainly nothing new in the world of rock and roll. But Nikki and Lora’s inspiring musical association, unified by a genuine respect and love for one another is exclusive.

LORA G. (Espinoza-Lunden): is Mexican-American. She began performing with her band at age 16 on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Lora’s drummer in high school was Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver, Guns N’ Roses, The Cult). Lora left music and developed an amazing Emmy winning career in television and radio including working for Disney over 14 years. Lora and Nikki joined forces in the spring of 2013, and now she begins a new chapter in her life as lead guitarist and songwriter for Lunden Reign. Lora defines the band’s sound as “Big Beat Progressive Rock.”
NIKKI LUNDEN: grew up in Iowa City, Iowa and became lead singer & songwriter for a band called The Trollies, before becoming an acoustic artist. Lunden enjoyed a 15 year career of performing for live audiences before moving to Los Angeles in September of 2012. After arriving in L.A. she immediately entered the Musician’s Institute where she graduated in 2013. Nikki says one of her most gratifying professional experiences so far has been to record at Abbey Road Studios in London.

AMERICAN STRANGER: is the incredible debut album from Lunden Reign. The album was recorded at Capitol Records in Hollywood, Abbey Road (Studio 2) in London and Stagg Street Studios. Luis Maldonado produced, played guitar and co-wrote with
Lora G. on various tracks. Maldonado is a platinum-selling songwriter & recording artist who has collaborated with John Waite, Patrick Monahan (Train), Lisa Marie Presley, Glen Hughes, Michael Schenker, UFO, and with his own band, 'Into the Presence.' Other album credits include mix engineer Geoff Pearlman (Linda Perry), Morgan Young on drums, Hector Maldonado (bassist for Train) and Cellist Ana Lenchantin (Queens of the Stone Age, The Eels). 
The album's concept is a complete story from end to end. It was designed to be a sort of 'rock opera' about intolerance and those willing to stand up to it as well as those it's destroying.  Lunden Reign has also signed a distribution deal for American Stranger with Cleopatra Records in Los Angeles. 
You can pre-order Lunden Reign's debut CD'American Stranger' 
-Watch for the official release March 17th.
American Stranger is a magnificent and seasoned debut production … every track is commanding while emphatically seductive …the album has it all, but also entices the listener to cry out for more … Lunden Reign validates musical fortitude and secures the elements needed to develop into a colossal rock group (5) Stars!
    -Ray Shasho

Lunden Reign’s music is now playing on over 50 radio/internet stations through Europe, the U.S., Australia and Japan.

I had the great pleasure of chatting with Lora G. and Nikki Lunden about the band’s new release American Stranger …Their musical collaboration and how they fell in love … My infamous ‘Field of Dreams’ wish question … And much-much more!
Here’s my interview with /lead guitarist/songwriter/keyboardist/ Lora G. and lead singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/Nikki Lunden of … LUNDEN REIGN.

Ray Shasho: Lora, you wrote “The Savage Line” which was dedicated to the families and soldiers of “The Chosen Company” who bravely fought at the deadly “Battle of Wanat” on July 13, 2008.
Lora G:  “I thought we had to do something to preserve the memory of those guys, and that’s where we came up with that concept of “Savage Line”.  My dad was a marine and used to tell me how lonely and cold it was in Korea, and he went over there twice, I can’t even imagine anyone going over there once. So I just wrote from what he told me and from what I read about ‘The Chosen Company’. This happened in the Nuristan Province of Afghanistan, I read about the description online, about what some of the people wrote about, how alone they felt and how they missed their families. The description of the battle is in the song, and is very specific to that battle. But I kept it somewhat vague so any soldier could relate to it, but the specifics were about that particular battle in Wanat. There’s a little bit of commentary in the beginning where … this wasn’t against our soldiers but against our government …because even though I am so pro- U.S.A., I felt horrible that we sent our troops to war without the support they needed. I’m not pro-war just pro-soldiers. There’s a line in the song that says … “Is it war or is it crime” and that’s my one commentary in the song.”

“We hear a lot of music today that is angry but not directed at anything, we wanted to not be angry but issue based and directed. That’s what we wanted to do, it’s nothing new, but it’s kind of been forgotten, and we’re trying to bring that back.”
Nikki Lunden: “The music you hear on radio today sounds like the same thing repeated over and over again but with different singers and we’re a little burned-out over the Top 40 stuff. We’re just trying to make a change in the music and trying to get people to start thinking again.”
Ray Shasho:  Nikki and Lora, you both mesh so well together, musically and personally.
Nikki Lunden: “I’m very fortunate that Lora and I found each other, and in what I thought was a very huge city, turns out to be kind of a small town.”
Ray Shasho: How did you both meet, I know you had your own bands at the time, did one of you open for the other?
Nikki Lunden:  I was hosting a jam session in Tarzana (Los Angeles) and Lora had brought in a couple of the singers that she had been working with at the time. We talked a little but I was pretty busy that night and wasn’t really able to sit down and chat with her. So a couple of days later I found her on ReverbNation, left her a message, and she called me. We were on the phone for probably two hours talking about music and what I was doing out here in Los Angeles. I had just moved here from Iowa City, Iowa and she invited me to one of the bands rehearsals, and the rest is history after that.”
Ray Shasho: Let’s get back to ‘Lunden Reign’s debut album “American Stranger” … the official release date is March 17th and some critics are already labeling the sound of the band as ‘Original Big Beat Progressive Rock’ … But I’d like to characterize the group’s sound as … Progressive-Powerhouse-Rock! “Mary” was originally released as an EP … and “The Light” a heavy rocker with a very cool melody is definitely one of my favorite tracks.
Lora G:  “Mary” and “The Light” were recorded with ‘The Lora G Band’ and I wasn’t completely happy with them, but when we recorded the new album, and working with Luis Maldonado, we were able to remodify the tracks to fit the Lunden Reign sound. So several songs were reworked from previous periods when we were in other bands, and other tracks are brand new like “Hush and Whispers,” “American Stranger” etc. Once we nailed the sound we wanted for Lunden Reign, we realized we could go back and get some of our other material, and that has worked out really well for us.”
Ray Shasho: I find it remarkable that I couldn’t contrast the Lunden Reign sound to anyone else’s, and that’s a compliment in itself. I don’t give many new bands kudos, but Lunden Reign has all the right tools to become successful in this haphazard music world.
“Love in Free Fall,” another favorite could easily be a James Bond film intro-soundtrack!
Nikki Lunden: “We’ve been getting a lot of good responses on “Love in Free Fall,” when we were putting together the track order and we kept coming back to that one …then decided to use it as the opening track of ‘American Stranger,’ and I think it’s a perfect fit because everyone’s been going crazy about that song, so we decided to shoot it straight out of the gate and not holding back anything, and just gets right to the point right away.”
Lora G:  “That one really shows a lot of Luis Maldonado’s chunky guitar styles. I’m more of an open note kind of dreamy player. Dreamy notes and sort of things like that, the melodic chords, and I create the riff, but that really chunky heavy stuff is Luis. He’s a world class guitarist. He performed with John Waite for years, also Glenn Hughes, Michael Schenker, and he just finished a tour with Lisa Marie Presley and Bigelf. He’s also a demonstrator for the Rivera Amplifier Company and we got lucky because Hiwatt endorsed me, which was fantastic! When we found out that Hiwatt was going to endorse us … we were shocked and we quickly looked on their webpage and it had all these legendary acts from Nirvana to The Who. Then there was Lunden Reign and it was sort of like …Who? (All laughing)”
Ray Shasho: Talk about the track… “28 If” (Without, Which Not) which has sort of a Joan Jett & the Blackhearts tempo to it.
Nikki Lunden:  “That song is geared towards the artists that we lost at the age of 27 … Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Richey Edwards … written mostly about Richey Edwards of  the band Manic Street Preachers. Every time I get onstage I really enjoy singing it.”
Ray Shasho: Have you performed all the material from the new album onstage yet?
Lora G:  “Every one! I think the toughest to perform live was “American Stranger.” We finally nailed it when I went to the twelve-six string double neck and that’s how we pulled it off. I switched to the twelve-string much like Jimmy Page did in “Stairway to Heaven” and it allowed the song to come through. Then I do six strings in combo with it on my guitar. It took us awhile to get that one ready for stage but now we can do them all onstage.”
Ray Shasho:  “When Love Lies” had a bit of a Blondie melody…
Lora G: “It’s basically a heartbreak song, somebody I was with for about seven or eight years and then we broke up … the seven year itch kind of thing, but going on and learning to forgive that person and that I could emotionally move on from that relationship. But it didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt and the concept was that I thought we were in love and I realized that love can lie. It was exactly what the title says … “When Love Lies.””
Ray Shasho: “Hush and Whispers” … let’s talk about that track.
Nikki Lunden:  “About standing up to intolerance. It was actually one of the songs that we had gone back and forth about making it the opening track. I really love the beginning of that song. In the end we thought that “Love in Free Fall” was more of a powerhouse with cleaner vocals, we get a little bit more gritty on “Hush and Whispers,” it’s a little darker, having two faces,  knowing who this person is one minute and not the next.”
Ray Shasho: Nikki is “Love in Free Fall” your favorite song to sing?
Nikki Lunden “Oh my gosh, it’s hard to say, it depends on what mood I’m in really … “Love in Free Fall” is extremely fun to sing, I love the part going into the bridge. “The Savage Line” is another favorite, drawing a lot of emotion inside, and sometimes I’ll cry while I’m singing it because the story that I’m telling is just so intense. “American Stranger” does the same thing. And sometimes on “It’s About Time” because that’s my story. It’s about leaving home and coming to California, it’s my moving away song, and so that one can get pretty emotional too. So to pick one is an impossible task, but I guess “American Stranger” will take the number one spot today.”
Ray Shasho: Lora do you have a writing process for composing these inspiring lyrics?
Lora G:  Nikki can tell you … when I write a song, I’ll rewrite it like four hundred times because it’s in my edit nature from working in Television. I’ll edit and edit until I like the song. For “28If” it originally had over 42 verses … I’m not kidding you.  But I finally cut it down and finished writing it.”

“I was driving with Ana Lenchantin who wanted to meet Terri Nunn, the lead singer of Berlin in person; we were going over to her house for lunch. They had played together at a show a long time ago but never formally met. During the drive, I was telling her about the concept, the most bizarre thing; the concept came from Grace Slick, who I had met during the time I had lived in Santa Rosa. On the drive, I was chatting with her and she looked at me really shocked. I thought you don’t like the concept? She said no, do you know about my Brother Luciano?  I said I know about your sister Paz who was the bassist for Perfect Circle, and then said, what about your brother? She said my brother died at age 27, he committed suicide. I had no idea. Because of that I had to rewrite the lyrics over again, because I couldn’t write a song that she could potentially be playing on and take a risk of hurting her feelings or insulting her. So I rewrote the entire bridge. I wrote it as if I was her talking to her brother, and that’s what that bridge is about. So the bridge is my tribute to her little brother. When I played it for her, I was so nervous, and she liked it. Later she came back and did that amazing cello on the bridge of it. Isn’t that a crazy story? So that’s how I write, it’s more inspirational.”
Nikki Lunden:  “I’m more of a lightning bolt type writer, I’ll get one little short lyric line in my head and it’s …Go! If it’s not written down … melody thought out and chords pretty much figured out in about half an hour. A lot of times I don’t even come back to it, it’s too much of a struggle. It’s got to come out like water in a faucet … if it comes out clean and clear that’s good … if it’s brown and icky, not going to do it. (All laughing) I’ve has some times when I’ve woken in the middle of the night and written out a song right then and there. And I’ve lost a few things … oh I don’t want to get up and get out of bed! But you have too. So Lora and I have completely different writing styles and we’ve been learning how to co-write together. She always comes up with the riffs first and the concept of what she wants the song to be about. Where I’m wham bam thank you ma’am, write and get out of there. But Lora is a peach to work with and I love her to death.”
Lora G: “We’re almost opposite in everything we do musically, but we complement each other, the things I can’t do, she can do. And a lot of the same … what she can’t do, I can do.”
Nikki Lunden: “I’m pretty blessed to have Lora as co-writer, teammate, bandmate, business partner and life partner … she pushes me harder than anyone ever has. In the past two years or so that I’ve been in Los Angeles, I’ve worked harder than I’ve ever had, become more disciplined than I ever had, I have a better understanding of how to communicate with people, and without that I don’t know what would have happened to me. I’d only been here for a few months when I first met Lora and I don’t know what would have happened if she hadn’t come into my life, I might have been working at the local hardware store in Iowa City for all I know. (All laughing) I doubt that, but she definitely keeps that fire lit in me. I learn constantly from her every day.”
Ray Shasho: Nikki, besides performing as the lead singer for Lunden Reign … you also play the acoustic guitar?
Nikki Lunden: “I do, I play acoustic, bass, a little bit of percussion … I was more of a singer/songwriter growing up and Sheryl Crow was my biggest idol, so I sort of have a tendency to write in that style …Ani DiFranco, Brandi Carlile … those kinds of female icons in the music industry. So it’s been a transition for me as well …going from cute little singer-songwriter … to get right in your face with a wireless microphone, wearing high heeled boots and black eyeliner. (All laughing) My perfect description of how I turned from little Iowa rocker to L.A. woman is … I took my guitar away and put a wireless microphone in my hand … which unleashed a person that I did not know existed inside of me.”
Ray Shasho: Nikki and Lora here’s a question that I ask everyone that I interview. If you had a ‘Field of Dreams’ wish like the movie, to play, sing or collaborate with anyone from the past or present, who would that be?
Lora G: “It would easily be Jimmy Page or George Harrison for me. I got to meet Jimmy Page about a month ago for a book signing here. He doesn’t really sign but he stamped my book for me. He was very cordial and such a gentleman, I couldn’t believe what a nice guy he was. He shook my hand and chatted with me. He took my download card and he said he’d try and download it. I heard that he loves to hear music from unknown artists.”
Nikki Lunden:  “I’d love to work with Sheryl Crow, and in a full band it would definitely be Radiohead. I met Sheryl Crow in 2011 and actually have her autograph tattooed on my arm… I’m that big of a fan. She also gave me a necklace that I keep in my lockbox for fear of losing it. I take it out once in awhile and rub it for good luck. I would love to get a vocal track with myself, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks doing some backup harmonies … the three of our voices together would be like heaven.”
Lora G:  “We’re already really more than half way through with songs for a second album. The new one will have more ballads on it, kind of like Zeppelin did ballads on steroids. So they’ll be like that.”
Ray Shasho:  So how did the both of you fall in love with each other?
Lora G: “Nikki was opening for my band in a club in Hollywood and I went onstage while she was performing to adjust the volume on my amps so we could come out and play right away, I don’t like people to wait. While she was performing, I was behind her doing some adjustments with my amp, and she came over while she was performing and kissed me in front of everyone. I had no idea and never even knew she had an interest.”
Nikki Lunden: “It was kind of an out of body experience and it wasn’t in my character to do something like that. I’m usually shy when it comes to that sort of thing. Something just came over me and drew me to her. Definitely a moment I’ll never forget.”
Ray Shasho: So how did the relationship develop after that?
Nikki Lunden:  “Well the show must go on so I finished my set, and then the Lora G. Band finished their set, then I hung over at her house and never went back to my place again.”
Lora G: “We have a recording studio at my house and we started hanging out …and I never forgot the kiss.”
Ray Shasho:  Lora and Nikki thank you so much for being on the call today ... I wish you all the best and look forward to great things forthcoming for Lunden Reign.
Lora G. and Nikki Lunden:  “Thank you Ray!”

You can pre-order Lunden Reign's debut CD 'American Stranger' at www.lundenreign.com or Amazon.com
– Watch for the official release on March 17th.
 … American Stranger is a magnificent and seasoned debut production … every track is commanding while emphatically seductive …the album has it all, but also entices the listener to cry out for more … Lunden Reign validates musical fortitude and secures the elements needed to develop into a colossal rock group …. (5) Stars! 

-Music Journalist Ray Shasho

More reviews by prominent music artists …

“Every so many years an album comes out that redefines modern music.’AMERICAN STRANGER' is that next album. Grab some headphones, close your eyes and let your senses explore the music & lyrics of Lunden Reign’s sound. Today the cycle goes full with a long-awaited return to music that touches the soul and embraces the test of time.”
Prescott Niles (bassist - The Knack, Missing Persons)

“The song 'Hear Me' is wonderful & heartfelt.”
- Martha Davis (lead singer of The Motels)

“Lora G is a great songwriter and musician.”
- Terri Nunn (lead singer of Berlin) 

“‘American Stranger' is a masterpiece! Every song is great!”
- Dale Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons)

“What an amazing album, incredible songwriting, lyrics and groove!”
-Phil Soussan (Bassist - Ozzy, Billy Idol, Grammy BOD)


Special thanks to the ‘incredible’ Billy James of Glass Onyon PR


 COMING UP NEXT… 
Legendary International Contemporary Singer/Songwriter 
           ("Release Me")

Contact music journalist 
rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Purchase Ray’s very special memoir called ‘Check the Gs’ -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business … You’ll LIVE IT!
Also available for download on NOOK or KINDLE edition for JUST .99 CENTS at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com   - Please support Ray by purchasing his book so he may continue to bring you quality classic rock music reporting.
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                    COMING SOON! 
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Friday, February 13, 2015

Jonathan Edwards: Talks about New CD with Darrell Scott, Vince Gill, Shawn Colvin, Jerry Douglas and Alison Krauss



Jonathan Edwards Exclusive Interview:
-By Ray Shasho

The Singer, Songwriter & Musician who brought us “Sunshine”

"Sunshine go away today
I don't feel much like dancing
Some man's gone, he's tried to run my life    
Don't know what he's asking" …

Since 1970, singer/songwriter/musician Jonathan Edwards has been captivating audiences worldwide with his acoustic guitar and a story to sing about. 
In 1969, Edwards’s professional career heightened after his band Sugar Creek signed with Metromedia Records and released their only album together as a band entitled ‘Please Tell A Friend.’ Sugar Creek’s debut release was a musically intelligent effort by the band, combining psychedelic blues & rock with exceptional vocalizations. Although the band had great potential, Edwards left the band, while abandoning electrified psychedelia for the acoustic renderings of folk and country as a solo performer.

Soon after leaving Sugar Creek, Edwards began touring with legendary artists such as the Allman Brothers Band and B. B King, and was discovered as a solo artist by Capricorn Records.  In 1971, Edwards launched his critically-acclaimed debut album Jonathan Edwards. The release spawned his penned hit single “Sunshine” (Go Away Today) (#4 Billboard Hot 100 Chart), selling over a million copies and earning Jonathan a gold record. Ironically, an engineer accidentally erased the master of a track called "Please Find Me" near the end of the recording sessions for the album and "Sunshine" was used to fill the gap.  

For many, “Sunshine” became a rallying protest cry against war and politics.
Edwards reveals in this interview …  “It was a combination of factors that went into the inspiration of pulling that one together and started with my dad being an ex FBI agent and me taking over ROTC buildings at the same time he was still an FBI agent. It was the height of the Viet Nam war that was brought to us through ways of lies and submergence, Nixon was president and I had just narrowly survived my pre induction draft board physical and I was very frustrated with our Government and the conduct it was having in our name, so I just sat down with this in Brighton, Massachusetts, wrote the song, and it took off.”
“Sunshine” has since been covered by numerous recording artists worldwide including … Juice Newton (#35 Billboard country charts), The Isley Brothers, Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles) and Paul Westerberg (The Replacements) to name just a few.
Since 1971, Jonathan Edwards has released 16 albums, including such classics as “Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy,” “Sometimes,” “One Day Closer,” Don’t Cry Blue,” “Emma,”  “Everybody Knows Her,” “Athens County,” and “Shanty” aka 
The Friday Song,  which was played on radio stations coast to coast at 5pm. 
Jonathan’s 'Little Hands'his collection of children’s songs, was honored with a National Library Association award.  

Jonathan Edwards official releases … (1971) Jonathan Edwards, (1972) Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy, (1973) Have a Good Time for Me, (1974) Lucky Day (1976) Rockin' Chair (1977) Sailboat (1980) Live!, (1985) Blue Ridge, (1987) Little Hands, (1989) Natural Thing (1994) One Day Closer, (1998) Man in the Moon, (2001) Cruising America's Waterways, (2006) Live in Massachusetts ,(2009) Rollin' Along: Live in Holland, (2011) My Love Will Keep, (2015) Tomorrows Child (NEW release!).

Jonathan Edwards’s new release Tomorrow’s Child also features Grammy Nominated, Darrell ScottVince GillShawn ColvinJerry Douglas and Alison Krauss. Edwards says … “A dream come true to have old friends like these on my album would be the understatement of the decade!” A pre-release copy of Jonathan Edwards new album entitled Tomorrow’s Child can be ordered now at www.pledgemusic.com/projects/jonathanedwards.

I had the great pleasure of chatting with Jonathan Edwards recently about his exciting new release Tomorrows Child … The inception of “Sunshine” … Jonathan’s days with the psychedelic blues & rock band Sugar Creek … His longtime friendship with Emmylou Harris …My infamous ‘Field of Dreams’ question… and much-much more!

Here’s my recent interview with Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Actor …
JONATHAN EDWARDS
Ray Shasho: Jonathan thank you for being on the call, where are you at today?
Jonathan Edwards:   “We’re hovering around home today in Portland, Maine.”
Ray Shasho Who were the early influences that got you interested in becoming a musician and performer?
Jonathan Edwards: “I don’t know, I guess I watched a little too much TV as a kid and saw people like Bobby Darin, Johnny Rivers, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles. Then I started getting into acoustic music in the form of bluegrass when I started high school and became aware of what power exists in acoustic bands. So I just started loving that whole thing and began writing around that same time.”
Ray Shasho:   Early in your career you formed a blues-rock band called ‘The Headstone Circus’ which eventually became ‘Sugar Creek’ in 1967.
Jonathan Edwards: “I did yea, that was the name of the band our manager and his infinite wisdom thought we should have, but we were really called ‘The Headstone Circus’ and that was the name we came with although we recorded under ‘Sugar Creek.’”
Ray Shasho: I enjoyed all of the tracks from Sugar Creek’s album ‘Please Tell a Friend’ … “Lady Linda” is a beautiful song and reminiscent to a Stephen Stills classic, while “Memory Tree” is an incredible mind-blowing psychedelic phenomena …I thoroughly enjoyed  the album.
Jonathan Edwards: “I drew the cover. We were six guys and it only showed four of us on the album jacket, but there were actually six of us until after the album was recorded so I just didn’t put them on the cover. We were six different guys in totally separate directions and we came together for this record. It does have some really cool moments for sure.”
Ray Shasho: So why did the band breakup?
Jonathan Edwards:   “Like I said we were in six different directions. I wanted to pursue a solo career and get out of electric loud music and get into more organic pleasant sounds with acoustic guitars, mandolins, and banjos and see what they bring for me.”
Ray Shasho: When you did go solo you signed with the Macon, Georgia based Capricorn Records and toured with many of the Capricorn artists including The Allman Brothers Band.
Jonathan Edwards:  “We were on the same label as The Allman Brothers Band, Cowboy, Livingston Taylor, Alex Taylor and so many other cool people.”
Ray Shasho:  Jonathan you’ve got your new album, Tomorrow’s Child coming out soon and it was recorded in Nashville.
Jonathan Edwards:  “I’ve found a kindred spirit in a guy named Darrell Scott, and my manager in Nashville suggested I hookup with him and see what would come of it, and so instantly a musical love and he produced this wonderful album. We sat down and he said… do remember when we used to make records, we’d all sit in a room in a circle with our guitars and a couple of microphones and run the tape machine. Well that’s what we did. We had percussion, standup bass, Darrell and I playing guitars, and this wonderful guy Dirk Powell. We just sat and rehearsed one day and began taping the next. We were in the studio for three days … (3) eight to ten hour sessions which is not what I used to do; I’d do twelve to fifteen hour sessions. But it was one of those organic things that grew out of the inspiration to go back to how we used to sound and feel when we were making acoustic records.”
Ray Shasho: Who are some of the other musicians on the album?
Jonathan Edwards:  “I brought in one guy from my band called Joe Walsh, we call him the other Joe Walsh, and he plays mandolin on a song, but mostly it’s the Nashville Cats that are not only studio musicians but road warriors as well. Bryn Davies is playing bass and Kenny Malone is playing percussion and drums, Dirk Powell plays mandolin, mellotron, accordions, guitars and piano… he’s just a monstrous guy, and Darrell Scott of course playing all the guitars … metal steel, slide and Dobro. I got to play some Dobro with Jerry Douglas who plays on the title song along with his buddy and my old friend Alison Krauss. I’m so thrilled to be even saying that. I started calling my old friends and said hey, let’s do this thing, you all have been keeping your fingers crossed for me to get my act together and do a good record and here’s your chance to be of some help. So I called Shawn Colvin and she graciously came in, Vince Gill came in and sang on a couple of songs and he’s an angel from heaven as well. I’ve got John Cowan singing some high harmonies and Darrell and I do the rest. It’s pretty awesome and I can’t wait for people to hear it.”
Ray Shasho: Let’s talk about your huge hit in 1971 called “Sunshine,” the single written and sung by you reached #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart and earned a gold record. What was the story behind writing that timeless classic?
Jonathan Edwards:  “It was a combination of factors that went into the inspiration of pulling that one together and started with my dad being an ex FBI agent and me taking over ROTC buildings at the same time he was still an FBI agent. It was the height of the Viet Nam war that was brought to us through ways of lies and submergence, Nixon was president and I had just narrowly survived my pre induction draft board physical and I was very frustrated with our Government and the conduct it was having in our name, so I just sat down with this in Brighton, Massachusetts, wrote the song, and it took off. It became an anthem for many people at a crucial time in our history and culture. I just had the pleasure of performing that song along with three others with an eighty-two piece symphony orchestra behind us at Kingfield POPS in Kingfield, Maine which featured the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and that was such a trip and so amazing. I also did the title song from the new album entitled “Tomorrow’s Child” with the whole symphony setting. So there are a lot of things going on and I couldn’t be happier, healthier, and more involved.”
Ray Shasho: “Was that the first time you actually performed with a symphony orchestra?
Jonathan Edwards: “Yea first time, but I think the way it went and the way things are going …it’s going to be the first of many. I may do another five songs or so, tour cities and playing with their orchestras, so it’s going to be fun. I’m lucky enough to have a musical director named Tom Snow who writes these beautiful charts and arrangements for orchestra on my songs.”
Ray Shasho:  You’ve written and performed so many great tunes … “Shanty” fondly referred to as ‘The Friday Song.’
Jonathan Edwards:  “Yup and they play it at five o’clock on Friday’s.”
Ray Shasho: You perform one of the best versions of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” that I’ve heard and “Seven Daffodils” … just an amazing track.
Jonathan Edwards:  “I first heard “Seven Daffodils” from Pete Seeger and it stayed with me all these years.”
Ray Shasho: You’ve had a longtime friendship with Emmylou Harris.
Jonathan Edwards: “We go way back to the late 60’s; she was part of the community that haunted the Childe Harold in Washington, D.C. In 1973, I had kind of had it with the music business and had wanted to take a break from it and understand what it was to get back to the land and get off the power grid and work with actual horses instead of diesel powered horse power and all that stuff. Learn how to feed a family and provide a sustainable lifestyle for me, friends and my family. I was in Nova Scotia for nine months and Emmy called me and she said, Jon great news, I’m doing an album for Warner Brothers and I want you to come out to LA and sing with me on this album. I said, save me a place, I’m on my way. So that’s how I got back into the music business and she’s a constant friend and loyal supporter ever since.”
Ray Shasho: You’ve also been an actor during your musical career?
Jonathan Edwards:  “I am kind of an actor, I’ve been playing myself for all these years and that’s no easy task (all laughing). Yea, I did get a chance to do some Broadway and had a snippet in a movie and I loved that experience and hope to have more of those opportunities. I played Reverend Perley in The Golden Boys (2008) movie. It had an amazing cast …David Carradine, Rip Torn, Bruce Dern, Mariel Hemingway, Charles Durning, and Julie Harris to name just a few… and here I was my first time reading from a script and standing in front of these seasoned classical actors, and it was great to see how they reacted. But they kind of looked at each other and …whoa, this guy has it going on, and that was all the positive vibe I needed.”
Ray Shasho:  I told Tom Rush this when I interviewed him … there’s nothing like a single performer onstage with an acoustic guitar and a story to sing about … and like Tom, it certainly doesn’t hurt to be humorous as well.
 Jonathan Edwards: “For me … I get a lot of applause, I get a lot of tears, but laughs are really the bread and butter. If I can get a crowd laughing I’m in heaven.”
Ray Shasho:  Jonathan do you experiment with other musical genres?
Jonathan Edwards:  “Oh yea, I’ll sit in with a bunch of my friends who have local blues bands and I’ll go sit in and play some electric harp and they can’t get rid of me. The new album will have some of that on it.”
Ray Shasho:  Do you have children that are singers or musicians?
Jonathan Edwards: “Yes and she’s on the new record too. Grace is on the new album and one of the songs is written about her called “Gracie.”  She’s wonderful and is back in the United States trying to get her music going here in the states. She’ll be recording for Jimmy Buffett’s label Mailboat Records. I made the introduction and I’m so proud and glad for her. She’s awesome and twice the star I’ll ever be.”
Ray Shasho: Jonathan here’s a question that I ask everyone that I interview. If you had a ‘Field of Dreams’ wish like the movie, to play, sing or collaborate with anyone from the past or present, who would that be?
Jonathan Edwards:  “I’ve already given it to you. To do an album with all the people I’ve named… Shawn Colvin, Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas …that to me is as good as it gets. I’m going to be hard-pressed to follow this album with something nearly as good but I’m sure going to try, I think I’ve got it in me. In fact I think I’ve got all the songs for the next record but that will be out there in my ‘Field of Dreams’ for sure.”
Ray Shasho: Jonathan, thank you for being on the call today but more importantly for all the incredible music you’ve given us and continue to bring.  
Jonathan Edwards: “Thanks Ray for helping support live acoustic music.”

Jonathan Edwards new release Tomorrow’s Child ... 

featuring Grammy Nominated, Darrell Scott ... Vince Gill... Shawn Colvin... Jerry Douglas... and
 ... Alison Krauss

Edwards says … 

“A dream come true to have old friends like these on my album would be the understatement of the decade!”

A pre-release copy of Jonathan Edwards
New album entitled Tomorrow’s Child can be                                                                ordered now ...                                                                  At www.pledgemusic.com/projects/jonathanedwards


COMING UP NEXT…An interview with lead vocalist and songwriter NIKKI LUNDEN and guitarist LORA ‘G’ ESPINOZA from an incredible new band entitled ‘Lunden Reign
Also Upcoming  ... legendary contemporary international singer and songwriter …  ENGELBERT HUMPERDINK ("Release Me")  

Contact ME, music journalist Ray Shasho at Rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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