I’d like to adjourn tonight in memory of Nokie Edwards, a world famous guitarist and actor who recently passed away on March 12.
Nokie was born in May of 1935 in Lahoma, Oklahoma to a family of accomplished musicians, and by age 5 was already playing instruments such as the steel guitar, banjo and violin.
As a teenager living with his family in Washington, he joined the United States Army Reserve, traveling to Texas and California for training before returning to the Pacific Northwest and becoming a professional musician himself.
Nokie is perhaps most known for playing electric guitar in the incredibly popular surf-rock band The Ventures, who shot to prominence in the 1960s. Although he officially left the band in 1968 to pursue a solo career, he continued to tour Japan with The Ventures annually until 2012.
In 2008, Nokie had the distinct honor of being inducted with The Ventures into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011 he was inducted into the Native American Music Awards & Association’s Hall of Fame. The song “Surf Rider,” which he wrote, was included on the soundtrack of “Pulp Fiction.”
Nokie moved to Santa Clarita to pursue an acting career and landed a role on HBO’s “Deadwood,” which was filmed in the City. During production, he and his wife Judy relocated to the area and lived on location.
We are saddened by the passing of Nokie Edwards, and our thoughts are with his wife Judy, daughter Tina, stepsons Patrick and Seth, 25 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren and his sister Louise.