Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
D126221-47
Date(s)
- 1960-04-26 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Nole Floyd (Nokie) Edwards, the original lead guitarist for the Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures." Edwards was born in Lahoma, Oklahoma, but raised from the age of seven in Puyallup (City Directories of the fifties identify an Edwards family of E. Pioneer Ave.) He is the son of Elbert L. and Nannie May Edwards of Oklahoma. His family was extremely musical; his father played the violin and his siblings played instruments as well. He taught himself to play guitar at 5. By 12, he was performing on live radio and played all the stringed instruments. In 1959, he was playing around Washington with Buck Owens when Bob Bogle and Don Wilson heard him and convinced him to play with The Ventures. He started with the group on bass, but soon exchanged positions with Bogle and played lead guitar. Edwards left the band in 1967, returned in 1972 and left again in 1984 to pursue his own musical career. He still occasionally records and tours with the band. As a talented guitarist with a wide range of musical interests, he has a huge following in both the U.S. and Japan. In 1993-94, he was residing in Randle, Wa. (per Phone America West.) He and his wife Judy resided in Elmira, Oregon where they corresponded with his many fans via his website, when they were not touring the world with his music. (most information obtained from the Edwards website www.nokie-edwards.com). Nokie Edwards passed away March 12, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona.
Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Singers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Edwards, Nole F.;