Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
D126221-8
Date(s)
- 1960-04-26 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Publicity photo for Tacoma based rock group "The Ventures." Left to right: Don Wilson, Nole F. (Nokie) Edwards and Bob Bogle. The group burst on the national scene in 1960 with the recording of "Walk, Don't Run." The song was written by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith and recorded initially by Chet Atkins on his album "Hi-Fi in Focus." The Ventures simplified the arrangement for 3 guitars plus drums and set it to a rock beat. Unable to get any national recording company interested, Don's mother Josie Wilson formed her own record company "Blue Horizon Records" and recorded the song. It became a regional hit in the Northwest and was distributed nationally by Liberty Records. It became the #2 record in the nation (surpassed only by Chubby Checker and "The Twist") and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. The band continued to record 4-6 albums a year throughout the sixties, emphasizing their spare instrumentation and simple arrangements. During the seventies, they took Japan by storm, selling 20 million records and winning every music award that country has to offer. 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; Wilson, Don; Edwards, Nole F.; Bogle, Bob;