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Re: Nokie Edwards RIP
Posted:
Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:40 pmby abstamaria
It is good you were able to chat with Nokie, George, Jim, Abel (and Dick Dale too, Abel!). I saw Nokie last at a Ventures show here in Manila a few years ago. He was no longer able to stand and played leaning against a stool.
I always thought that being identified with the Ventures was a mixed blessing for Nokie. That brought him steady income, but he must have wanted to play his own music in his style, I thought. He must have wanted to become his own guitarist.
Nokie and Don Wilson seem to have swapped guitars in that publicity photo.
(As an aside, Nokie only played bass for the hit - WDR - that brought the Ventures to fame. There is some debate as to his role in the original recording of Hawaii Five-O.)
Andy
Re: Nokie Edwards RIP
Posted:
Thu Mar 15, 2018 2:21 amby JimN
abel wrote:RIP Nokie,
Jim,
Did we go together that year to Deke' s Guitar Geek?
We did! It was the first of the two times I was there (and the year I won that guitar!).
abel wrote:I had the honor of meeting Nokie a few times and especially at the NAMM show a few years ago.
I went to see the Ventures play at their booth and at my surprise, they came to see me play at the Minarik Guitar booth where I
was featuring the "Diablo" Minarik guitar, a weird looking but extremely well sounding one.
It didn't have a vibrato, so they fitted a Floyd Rose tremolo bar on it and it played beautifully. The neck was one of kind.
At my first set, Nokie, and the Ventures came to listen and I was stressed and intimidated.
At my second set, Dick Dale came surrounded with a big crowd following him everywhere he went, and he asked me to play my version
of "Maria Elena" that he had previously listened to in his small plane out of the CD I had sent him.
In addition to his immense talent, Nokie was a very humble, courteous and amicable person.
Below, the Ventures in their prime years:
Blessings,
Abel
See you soon (I hope).
JN
Re: Nokie Edwards RIP
Posted:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 12:27 pmby Uncle Fiesta
I think it was just unfortunate timing that prevented Nokie's passing from being more widely reported, falling as it did between Ken Dodd and Stephen Hawking.
Re: Nokie Edwards RIP
Posted:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 1:31 pmby JimN
abstamaria wrote:(As an aside, Nokie only played bass for the hit - WDR - that brought the Ventures to fame. There is some debate as to his role in the original recording of Hawaii Five-O.)
Andy
Legendary Hollywood guitarist and Wrecking Crew member Tommy Tedesco claimed to have played the lead guitar on
Hawaii-Five-O. Since he had played lead guitar on many other TV themes (including
Bonanza,
The Twilight Zone,
Green Acres,
M*A*S*H and
Batman), that sounds credible. He had nothing to prove or gain by making false claims.
Nokie's claims to personal fame certainly didn't rest on
Hawaii-Five-O.
Re: Nokie Edwards RIP
Posted:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 1:52 pmby cockroach
JimN wrote:abstamaria wrote:(As an aside, Nokie only played bass for the hit - WDR - that brought the Ventures to fame. There is some debate as to his role in the original recording of Hawaii Five-O.)
Andy
Legendary Hollywood guitarist and Wrecking Crew member Tommy Tedesco claimed to have played the lead guitar on
Hawaii-Five-O. Since he had played lead guitar on many other TV themes (including
Bonanza,
The Twilight Zone,
Green Acres,
M*A*S*H and
Batman), that sounds credible. He had nothing to prove or gain by making false claims.
Nokie's claims to personal fame certainly didn't rest on
Hawaii-Five-O.
It certainly sounds like Tommy Tedesco to me on Hawaii 50...Nokie has a different 'touch' and sound when he played it on live Ventures footage that I've got.
Re: Nokie Edwards RIP
Posted:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 6:00 pmby abstamaria
I only mentioned WDR and Hawaii Five-O because Rolling Stone cited those two hits principally in their obituary for Nokie.
The obits also mention a simple style that encouraged people to pick up guitars and learn to play. I would attribute that more to Bob Bogle. It was his simpler pieces, including WDR, that made me think I could play too. Nokie, the more proficient guitarist, the guitarist’s guitarist, always had more flourish. Up to now, I know I can’t play like he did.
Nokie seemed many times to have tried to break away from the Ventures. I keep thinking he should have not rejoined them after he first left - was that in 1962 or 1963. Then he would perhaps played what and how he wanted and been recognized in his own right. He deserved that.
Best,
Andy
Re: Nokie Edwards RIP
Posted:
Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 amby iefje
Another true legend has passed away, rest in peace Nokie... Of the original band, only Don Wilson is still with us, although he doesn't play with The Ventures anymore, is that correct?
Re: Nokie Edwards RIP
Posted:
Wed Apr 04, 2018 2:54 pmby Alan Taylor
Yes that is correct, Don Wilson has now retired from The Ventures.