Nokie Edwards

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Nokie Edwards born Nole Floyd Edwards 9 May 1935, in Lahoma, Oklahoma. Son of Elbert and Nannie. His mother was a Native American Cherokee. He is a guitarist best known for his work with The Ventures.

[edit] History

Edwards began playing guitar when he was very young.As a teenager he was playing regularly in numerous country bands which included a stint playing with Buck Owens. After relocating to the Pacific Northwest he met Don Wilson and Bob Bogle who were the founding members of The Ventures.

Edwards was hired as a bassist and occasional guitarist in his earliest tenure with the band. In 1962, following an 8-month absence, he returned to The Ventures as the band's official lead guitarist. The band released a series of best-selling albums through 1968 at which time Edwards left the band to pursue a business in thoroughbred race horses.

In 1969 Edwards started pursuing a solo career and released albums from 1969 through 1972. His solo attempt was unsuccessful and he returned to The Ventures in 1973. Edwards performed with the band until 1984 when he left to pursue a career in Nashville. In the late 1980s Edwards re-joined The Ventures for another short stint of recording and touring before returning to Nashville.

Throughout the 1990s Edwards was involved with numerous country influenced recording projects. In 2002 Edwards announced that he was going to produce a guitar of his own design, called "The Hitchhiker". Edwards has also hosted several "Nokie Edwards" guitar festivals and guitar clinics.

Most recently, Edwards has pursued an acting career, cast in the Television Series, Deadwood.

Nokie Edwards' guitar playing style is noted for its varied technical approaches inlcuding flatpicking, finger-picking and a hybrid of both styles.

Edwards continues to tour Japan annually with the Ventures and as a solo performer.