The Ventures’ Nokie Edwards Dies

Nokie Edwards, lead guitarist for influential surf-rock pioneers The Ventures, died March 12 after several months of battling an infection following hip surgery. He was 82. 

AP Photo – The Ventures
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City.

A statement on The Ventures’ website said, “Nokie has been a part of the Ventures history for almost six decades and helped to shape the early Ventures’ sound and the success of their career. He was an innovator and one of the greats on guitar, so much so that he influenced many young players over the course of his career.”  

The Ventures and its instrumental, twangy surf sound was formed in Washington in the 1950s by Bob Bogle and Don Wilson followed by Edwards. The band is best known for the hits “Walk Don’t Run” and the theme for the original “Hawaii Five-O” TV show.  

Edwards joined The Ventures on the road on and off until 1984. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.