15 Facts About Nokie Edwards

Nole Floyd "Nokie" Edwards was an American musician and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Nokie Edwards was primarily a guitarist, best known for his work with The Ventures, and was known in Japan as the 'King of Guitars'.

Nokie Edwards came from a family of accomplished musicians, so that by age five he began playing a variety of string instruments, including the steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin, and bass.

Nokie Edwards met Wilson and Bogle when they performed on KTNT.

Nokie Edwards originally played bass for The Ventures, but he took over the lead guitar position from Bogle.

The Ventures released a series of best-selling albums throughout the 1960s, and Nokie Edwards left towards the end of this period in 1968.

Nokie Edwards returned full-time as the Ventures' lead guitarist in 1972 and stayed with the band until 1984.

Nokie Edwards played lead guitar for Lefty Frizzell, on what would become Frizzell's final recording sessions.

Nokie Edwards performed occasionally in the United States as both a soloist and member of various bands, including AdVenture, Art Greenhaw, and Texas Western swing outfit The Light Crust Doughboys.

In 2008, Nokie Edwards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with The Ventures.

Nokie Edwards played the mysterious friend of Wild Bill Hickok and a local citizen, who serves as a bridge between the villains and heroes of the show.

In 1963, Nokie Edwards introduced the other members of the Ventures to Semie Moseley, which led to a five-year association between Mosrite and the band.

Nokie Edwards played Fender Telecasters and Jazzmasters during the 1950s and early 1960s, before switching to Mosrite guitars.

Nokie Edwards designed and recently sold his own custom guitar, the HitchHiker, a hybrid of the best elements of the Fender Telecaster and Mosrite guitars.

Nokie Edwards died in Yuma, Arizona after complications from a hip surgery, at the age of 82.