
Why it issues: Elwood Edwards, whose voice welcomed tens of millions of People to the web age via AOL’s well-known audio alerts, has died, based on TMZ, after an extended sickness. His 4 easy phrases turned synonymous with the daybreak of digital communication, shaping how a whole technology skilled the web.
The Legacy: Gizmodo experiences that in 1989, Edwards recorded 4 phrases – “Welcome,” “You’ve Bought Mail,” “Information Accomplished,” and “Goodbye” – for simply $200. These recordings would go on to change into one of the crucial acknowledged sound bites in web historical past, enjoying each time AOL customers acquired new electronic mail.
- Recorded in his lounge
- Reached tens of millions of customers each day
Profession Highlights: Past his well-known AOL work, Edwards had a various profession in media spanning radio and tv. He labored at WKYC-TV Studios in Cleveland as a graphics specialist and digital camera operator, and even made a memorable look on The Tonight Present with Jimmy Fallon in 2015.
- Began in radio throughout highschool
- Labored varied TV manufacturing roles
Cultural Influence: The “You’ve Bought Mail” notification turned so ingrained in well-liked tradition that it impressed a Hollywood film title and appeared in quite a few TV reveals. Edwards’ voice represented the joy and novelty of early web communication for numerous customers.