Elwood Edwards, known for being the voice of the “You’ve Got Mail” email alert for AOL, has passed away at the age of 74.
The graphic operator and camera man at WKYC station in Cleveland, Elwood Edwards, passed away at the age of 74 after a “long illness.” He became famous for being the voice of the email alert “You’ve Got Mail” for America Online (AOL).
Edwards’ wife, Karen, who worked for Quantum Computer Services (which later became AOL), heard that the CEO of the company wanted to add a voice to the next software.
Karen recommended her husband to record a few phrases, and four of them were chosen to be used in the notifications. “Welcome,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Files done,” and “Goodbye” became famous in Edwards’ voice.
Edwards worked at WKYC for many years. He began working in radio in high school and became an announcer.
Frank Macek, Edwards’ coworker and senior broadcast director at WKYC, told CNN that Edwards became a celebrity after people started associating his face with the voice of AOL.
“Every time someone visited WKYC, he introduced himself, and people recognized him,” Macek shared.
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