I’m saddened to share the passing of Elwood Edwards, the man whose voice became synonymous with the ubiquitous “You’ve Got Mail” notification from America Online (AOL) in the 1990s. Edwards, who died on November 5th at the age of 74 after a long illness, lent his iconic voice to one of the most recognizable sounds of the early internet era.
A Reluctant Voice Actor
Elwood Edwards served as a graphics expert, camera operator, and versatile professional at WKYC, an NBC affiliate located in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1989, his wife Karen, who was working for AOL at the time, “volunteered his voice” to record a series of voiceovers for the then-fledgling online service provider.
In a 2016 video, Edwards revealed that he recorded four simple phrases—”Welcome,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Files Done,” and “Goodbye”—in his living room using a basic cassette deck. Edwards stated that he initially recorded the four simple phrases in his living room on a simple cassette deck as a test to see if it would catch on, and to his surprise, it did catch on in the mid-90’s.
Indeed, it had. Users logging on to check their emails estimated that they heard Edwards’ voice over 35 million times per day at the height of AOL’s popularity. Despite receiving only $200 for the voiceovers, Elwood Edwards’ voice became one of the most recognizable sounds of the 1990s internet experience.
A Reluctant Celebrity
Despite the ubiquity of his voice, Elwood Edwards managed to maintain a relatively low profile over the years. In a 2016 interview, he modestly said, “I did that on a cassette deck in my living room,” and the next thing you know, zillions of people were hearing it.
It wasn’t until 2015 that Edwards truly embraced his unexpected celebrity status, appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to deliver his famous “You’ve Got Mail” greeting to the delight of the audience. In a 2016 interview, Edwards talked about the occasional recognition he received from AOL users while driving for Uber in Cleveland, a job he took after retiring from WKYC in 2014 after 47 years of service.
A Lasting Legacy
Though he may not have sought the spotlight, Elwood Edwards’ voice has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on popular culture. The “You’ve Got Mail” notification remains one of the most nostalgic sounds of the 1990s, an era-defining moment that evokes memories of the early days of the internet and the rapid growth of AOL.
“It was just part of the whole internet experience,” Edwards said in his 2016 interview. “It was the harbinger of email.” Even today, over 20 years after its heyday, AOL users can still hear Edwards’ original voice by enabling certain settings on their accounts. His legacy lives on as a symbol of technological progress and the ever-evolving nature of communication.
As we bid farewell to Elwood Edwards, we honor the man whose unassuming voice became the soundtrack to a generation’s online experience. Though he may have been a reluctant celebrity, his impact on popular culture is undeniable. The “You’ve Got Mail” notification will forever be synonymous with the dawn of the internet age—and with the voice of Elwood Edwards.
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