MAY 9, 1935

WESTERN CHEROKEE GUITARIST NOKIE EDWARDS BORN—LEAD GUITARIST FOR THE VENTURES

Edwards, born in Lahoma, Oklahoma, grew up in Puyallup, Washington (WA). In 1958 in Tacoma WA, Nokie backed country music legend Buck Owens. Meanwhile, the instrumental group, The Ventures, was forming there. Edwards joined on bass but switched with Bob Bogle to play lead guitar. The group, known worldwide after its 1960 hit Walk, Don’t Run, released several albums before Edwards left in 1968 to do solo work. He rejoined the group twice (1972-84 and 2000-12). Nokie also did country & Gospel work earning 2 Grammy nominations for “Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year.” Inducted into the Rock and Roll (with The Ventures, 2008) and Native American Music Awards Halls of Fame (2011), Edwards also acted in the Western TV series Deadwood. Long associated with Fender & Mosrite guitars, he created his own hybrid brand, HitchHiker guitars, as well as the Nokie Edwards Dual Blade Humbucker Pickup. Edwards died in Yuma, Arizona, on March 12, 2018.

Sources:

Randy Lewis, “Nokie Edwards, the Ventures' influential lead guitarist, dies at 82,” Los Angeles Times, 3/12/2018.  Retrieved 1/13/2023, Nokie Edwards, the Ventures' influential lead guitarist, dies at 82 - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

Wikipedia

Photo:  Dumontierc, 7/10/2009.  Permissive Use.