Nokie Edwards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nokie Edwards
Edwards in Nashville at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, 2009
Background information
Birth name	Nole Floyd Edwards
Born	(1935-05-09)May 9, 1935 Lahoma, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	March 12, 2018(2018-03-12) (aged 82) Yuma, Arizona, U.S.
Genres	Instrumental rock surf rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar bass guitar Sitar
Years active	1958–2017
Associated acts	The Ventures

Nole Floyd "Nokie" Edwards (May 9, 1935 – March 12, 2018) was a famous American musician. He was a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nokie was best known as a guitar player. He played with the band The Ventures. In Japan, people called him the 'King of Guitars'. Edwards was also an actor. He appeared on the TV show Deadwood.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Nokie Edwards was born in Lahoma, Oklahoma. His family loved music. By age five, Nokie was already playing many string instruments. These included the steel guitar, banjo, and violin. His family later moved to Puyallup, Washington.

When Nokie was a teenager, he joined the United States Army Reserve. After his training, he came home. He started playing music for money. He played in many country music bands.

Nokie's Music Career

In 1958, Nokie played guitar with Buck Owens. Owens was a country songwriter. Nokie also played in the house band for a TV station. In 1960, he recorded a song called "Night Run."

Joining The Ventures

The Ventures started in 1958. They were an instrumental band. This means they played music without singing. The first members were Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. Nokie met them when they played on TV.

Nokie first played bass guitar for The Ventures. But soon, he became their lead guitar player. The Ventures released many popular albums. Nokie left the band in 1968. He came back in 1972 and stayed until 1984. Later, he would sometimes play with them again. He toured with The Ventures until 2012.

Other Music Projects

In 1971, Nokie started his own music career. He released an album called Nokie!. He released a few more albums. But his solo music was not very popular in America. So, he went back to playing with The Ventures.

After leaving The Ventures again in 1984, Nokie moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He played lead guitar for Lefty Frizzell. Nokie also worked on many country music projects. He started his solo career again in 1988.

Nokie sometimes performed as a solo artist. He also played with other bands. These included AdVenture and The Light Crust Doughboys. He worked with artist Art Greenhaw. Their music was nominated for a Grammy Award two times.

In 2010, Nokie worked on a new album. He also played several shows with Deke Dickerson. In 2011, Nokie was honored. He was inducted into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame. This was because he had Cherokee heritage.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2008, Nokie Edwards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He went in with The Ventures. John Fogerty gave them the award. The band played their hit songs. These included "Walk Don't Run" and "Hawaii Five-0".

Nokie's Acting Career

Nokie Edwards also became an actor. He got a role on the TV show Deadwood. This was a Western drama series. Nokie played a mysterious friend of Wild Bill Hickok. He also played a local citizen. This character helped connect the good and bad people in the show. Nokie lived on the set with his wife, Judy.

Nokie's Guitars

Nokie Edwards was known for the guitars he played. He also helped design some.

Mosrite Guitars

Nokie had a long connection with Mosrite guitars. In 1963, he showed Mosrite guitars to The Ventures. This led to a five-year partnership. Nokie and the band used and made the Ventures Model Mosrite guitars famous. These guitars had special features. They had unique pickups and a special tremolo.

In the 1980s, Nokie worked with Mosrite again. They designed the Mosrite Nokie Model. This was an updated version of the Ventures Model.

Fender Guitars

Before Mosrite, Nokie played Fender Telecasters and Jazzmasters. He also used Telecasters for his solo work. In 1996, Fender released a special guitar. It was called the Nokie Edwards Custom Signature model Telecaster. Nokie helped design this limited-edition guitar.

HitchHiker Guitars

Nokie also designed his own custom guitar. He called it the HitchHiker. This guitar combined the best parts of Fender Telecaster and Mosrite guitars. It had a special bridge that Nokie invented. The HitchHiker could even sound like an acoustic guitar. It offered 15 different sound options.

Nokie Edwards Pickup

Nokie also designed a special guitar pickup. It was called the Nokie Edwards Dual Blade Humbucker Pickup. This pickup helps guitars sound like Nokie's Telecaster and HitchHiker models.

Death

Nokie Edwards passed away in Yuma, Arizona. He was 82 years old. He had complications after a hip surgery.

Discography

• Nokie! (1971)
• Again! (1972)
• King of Guitars (1973)
• Glorious Guitarist (1974)
• Terry vs. Nokie, with Takeshi Terauchi (1986)
• Terry Terauchi & Nokie Edwards 2, with Takeshi Terauchi (1987)
• Both Sides of Nokie (1988)
• Vol. 1 - The Greatest World Hits (1989)
• Vol. 2 - The Greatest Hits of the Ventures (1990)
• Merry X-Mas from Nokie Edwards (1992)
• Nokie and Friends (1994)
• 1995 Celebration (1995)
• Present for My Japanese Friends (1997)
• Carvin' It Out (1999)
• 1999 Plugged & Unplugged (1999)
• Pickin' It Up (2000)
• No Boundaries (2001)
• Hitchhiker (2003)
• Plays Gospel Music (2003)
• Just for Jake (2003)
• A Tribute to the Beatles (2004)
• Hitchhiker Heals Hearts (2004)
• Nokie Plays the 50s, 60s, and 70s (2005)
• Crossover (2005)
• Just Doing My Job (2006)
• The Golden Fingers of Nokie Edwards (2007)
• Nokie's Classics (2008)
• Hitchin' a Ride (2009)
• Nokie Rocks The Ventures (2012)
• Nokie Plays Latin (2013)
• Songs for Healing Heart (2014)
• 80 & Pickin' with My Friends (2015)
• Picks On the Beatles (2020)

See also

In Spanish: Nokie Edwards para niños