To Absent Friends - Elwood Edwards

Elwood Edwards died this week, one day before his 75th birthday, and if you don't know who Elwood Edwards is/was, well, all I can say is that THIS is why I do "Absent Friends" pieces.

Edwards was a camera technician and graphic designer at television station WKYC in Cleveland whose wife was working for a then small internet company.  Back in 1989 she suggested that her firm use the voice of her husband to make a recording that would welcome users to this new online platform.  Edwards then recorded four short phrases:  "Welcome", "Files Done", "Good-bye", and the most ubiquitous and most famous one of all, "You've Got Mail".   Hey, let him tell you about it in this YouTube video.

Who didn't make their first stab at going on the internet and using a personal email account with America Online?  Even if you didn't, you most certainly have heard that unmistakable voice saying "You've got mail."  I always thought that it was some computer generated voice.  It never occurred to me that it was a real person that actually said those words.  Edwards' famous words were even made into a terrific Nora Ephron romantic comedy with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.  Edwards also appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon uttering those famous phrases.

AOL paid Edwards $200 for making the recording.  Too bad he didn't think to ask for residuals.

RIP Elwood Edwards.