Daily Inspiration: Meet J Edwards

Today we’d like to introduce you to J Edwards.

Hi J, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been involved in music, songwriting, singing, and performing.

As soon as I could stand on a platform, I had a microphone in my hand and as soon as I could stretch my fingers across a fretboard or over a triad I was playing something.

I wrote my first song at 9 years old with my mother’s help late one night and I’ve been going at it hard ever since. I play all original shows around the country and here at home in Nashville.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely NOT been a smooth road. My whole career, I have been pelted with excuses of why folks were afraid to work with me in any capacity.

Some said I was too old, Memphis (the Blues community) said I wasn’t “Bluesy” enough while Nashville said I had too much Blues and Soul in my voice and they didn’t know what to do with that. This was way before Chris Stapleton had his success.

There was one fellow that worked with a songwriting organization in town and his exact words to me were “Naw… just keep on going to Memphis. There are too many Blues in your voice to write and sing Country music.” That’s the truth.

I’ve endured every excuse in the playbook and I’ve been turned down by the biggest and the smallest. I’m still flying under the music radar.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an old-school Singer/Songwriter with a raspy soulful voice writing songs for the everyday woman and man.

My songwriting leans toward a classic country where there is an actual story to be told in an interesting way with a setup and a real hook. I don’t write cookie-cutter, grocery list songs with catchy phrases at the end just to get on the radio.

The things I’m known for and the things that set me apart from everyone else are pretty much the same… my voice, my songs, and the fact that I don’t do cover songs.

Well, and I have this big beard, joking. One accomplishment that has been overlooked, but I am extremely proud of is that I’ve had the only all-original showdown on Broadway and 2nd Ave for the last seven years.

I’m playing my songs 3 and 4 hours at a time to the tourists that can find me in Downtown Nashville and the industry is clueless. I wish more folks knew about it, but I’m still pretty proud.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory would have to be hunting, fishing, grandparents, horses, swimming, food, lots of food, cars, trucks, basketball games, girls, lots of girls, guitars, and the normal stuff. That’s about it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jedwardsmusic.net
• Instagram: instagram.com/jedwards_music
• Facebook: facebook.com/jedwards.latest
• Youtube: youtube.com/jedwardsmusic

Image Credits
Kimberly Craig, Capers Hammond, Barry Rogers, and J Edwards