CAMDEN — As part of his summer tour, Jonathan Edwards, who has performed worldwide for more than four decades, will give a concert Saturday, July 17, at the Camden Opera House.

Proceeds from the show, presented by the National Kitchen and Bath Association Maine Chapter, will benefit the chapter’s scholarship fund as well as Good Shepherd Food Bank.

Edwards who delivers songs of passion, insight and humor — all rendered in a pure and powerful tenor — is best known for now legendary hit cut “Sunshine” and “Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy.”

The beloved singer-songwriter and his quartet will take the stage at 8 p.m. For concert tickets, $25 and $35, call 470-7066 or visit www.camdenoperahouse.com.

“The support of local businesses and organizations is vital to our efforts of getting food to those who are at risk of hunger. Events such as this concert will help the food bank address the growing need of Maine’s hungry,” said Christine Force, director of development and marketing at Good Shepherd.

The food bank works with a network of more than 600 partner agencies statewide, including food pantries, soup kitchens and after-school programs, to reach 36,000 Mainers every week. Last year, Good Shepherd saved partner agencies more than $23 million in food related expenses.

Edwards began his music career while growing up in Minnesota, playing by ear on his piano and guitar. In his teens and 20s, he became an integral part of the Boston folk music scene, playing with various mutations of bands and traveling all over New England.

Soon, he was opening for B.B. King and the Allman Brothers Band and recorded his first album, “Jonathan,” featuring “Sunshine.” A fierce proclamation of protest and independence set to deceptively upbeat music, “Sunshine” resonated with the many thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women of the day. “It was just at the time of the Vietnam War and Nixon. It was looking bad out there. That song meant a lot to a lot of people during that time, especially me,” Edwards said.

The song got its start on a Boston radio station and quickly made its way to the Top 5 spot on the national charts, earning him a gold record in 1971.

These days Edwards, a vital and relevant artist in today’s folk and Americana scenes, is most likely to be found on the road with longtime accompanist Stuart Schulman on bass, piano, fiddle and vocals; and Taylor Armerding, formerly of Northern Lights, on mandolin and high-tenor vocals. 

“I’ve been … doing what I do best, which is playing live in front of people. I’ve been concentrating on that and loving it,” Edwards said, stressing that it is the feedback he receives after his shows that keeps him going. 

“It is really gratifying to hear [someone say], ‘Your stuff has meant a lot to me over the years,’” Edwards said.

The “stuff” he refers to is a highly respected repertoire that includes such classics as “Sometimes,” “One Day Closer,” “Don’t Cry Blue,” “Emma,” “Everybody Knows Her,” “Athens County” and “Shanty.” 

Since 1971, Edwards has released 15 albums, including “Blue Ridge,” his standard-setting collaboration with bluegrass favorites the Seldom Scene; and “Little Hands,” his collection of children’s songs, which was honored with a National Library Association award.

About album No. 16, Edward said, “Young people that are getting back to the land and trying to get off the power grid encourage me. My next studio album will reflect some of those themes.”