Elwood Edwards, the memorable voice of AOL’s “You’ve Got Mail” notification, passed away Tuesday at 74 after a long illness. Known by millions for his voice rather than his face, Edwards became a household name in the early internet era. His journey to fame began somewhat serendipitously in 1989 when, as a favor to his wife’s company, he recorded a simple set of voice prompts for $200. Those four phrases—“Welcome,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Files Done,” and “Goodbye”—soon became an integral part of America Online’s branding, helping AOL become a cultural staple of the 1990s.
Though his primary career was behind the scenes at 3News, where he worked as a graphics expert, camera operator, and jack-of-all-trades, Edwards’ voice achieved a unique kind of celebrity status. In 2015, he appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” delighting audiences as he reprised the famous phrase and even tried new ones at the audience’s request.
Edwards passed just one day shy of his 75th birthday, leaving behind a legacy rooted in the early, nostalgic days of the internet when “You’ve Got Mail” greeted millions logging onto AOL. His voice will remain a lasting symbol of a defining era in digital history.
Source: WKYC Cleveland