Elwood Edwards, the voice behind the iconic “You’ve got mail” greeting for American Online, has died at the age of 74 – one day short of his 75th birthday. If you’re of a certain age (like I am), I’m sure you can instantly recall Edwards’ voice saying “welcome,” “goodbye,” and more through those 1990s dial-up connections.
The voice of America Online’s “You’ve got mail” has died at age 74 https://t.co/ltrmRkei8C
— Ars Technica (@arstechnica) November 8, 2024
From NPR:
WKYC Studios in Cleveland, where Edwards spent many years as a graphics guru, camera operator, and “general jack-of-all-trades,” said the long-time employee suffered from a “long illness.” WKYC Studios added that Edwards passed away a day before his birthday.
In 1989, Quantum Computer Services, which would later be known as AOL, was looking for a voice actor to help with the alerts of its new software. Edwards’ wife was working there at the time, which is how Edwards heard about the opportunity.
All in the comfort of his living room, Edwards recorded “Welcome,” “You’ve got mail!,” “Files done” and “Goodbye” on a cassette recorder. In return, he received $200.
My AOL account was deleted long ago due to lack of use, but apparently Edwards’s voice still greets those who still use AOL email. Here’s the one and only Elwood Edwards making an appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon in 2015.
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