* (Cover photo: 1959 FORD Thunderbird Convertible in Drive-in Cinema).
=> "Drive-in Cinema" resurfaces as an entertainment alternative in a pandemic time.
"THE VENTURES are considered the most influential, best-selling Instrumental Band in ROCK AND ROLL history.
Over 450 (LPs and CDs including compilations) Released Worldwide."

"THE VENTURES have written over 1000 tunes, and recorded over 3000 songs altogether! If they ever decide to play all of the songs that they've ever recorded, it would take almost 5 days - without a break - to play them all."

"While they predated the advent of the terms surf guitar and surf rock, and they do not consider themselves a surf music group, they were a major building block of instrumental guitar-driven music. "Guitar Player", in an article titled "20 Essential Rock Albums", cited elements of their 1960 "Walk, Don't Run - Album" (Dolton Records BLP-2003 (mono) / BST-8003 (stereo)) which presaged the coming surf trend."

"Most instrumental groups of the 1950s and '60s disappeared after one hit, but the longevity of The Ventures, the best-selling instrumental group of all time, demonstrated the enduring appeal of the genre as well as the band's skill in choosing recording material."

"It was the electric guitars that made the impression; that and the unique rhythmic pulse that Wilson and Bogle had developed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington, when they tried to make up for the fact that they didn't know any drummers, let alone pianists or sax players. At the time, most record companies wouldn't look at you if you had neither.
- "I played a very percussive rhythm-guitar style", Wilson says: "And Bob used to play with the whammy bar, and once in a white instead of a note he'd hit a chord and give it a little vibrato".
But the most distinctive element of The Ventures sound was that damped, rapidly picked descending glissando, which Japanese call "deke-deke-deke"."

"Through the nuances and characteristics of "THE VENTURES STYLE" in the songs, we can distinguish the unique songs played by them.
This is the "VENTURIZED SOUND". Enjoy !"

Get Venturized !!!

The sound of this website will be better appreciated with High Fidelity Stereo Headphones.

"The Ventures: Stars On Guitars" (Promo)

- New promo video for “The Ventures: Stars on Guitars” documentary, out 12/08/2020 ����❣️ @Staci Layne Wilson
- Please share with anyone you know who loves music ��

https://youtu.be/CnyyFtLYdNI

Coming soon to VOD and DVD- The Ventures: Stars on Guitars!

"The Ventures are one of the most influential guitar-based bands of their era.” — Rolling Stone

The Ventures have been thrilling music lovers with songs like “Wipe Out,” “Walk Don’t Run,” and “Hawaii 5-0” for over half a century. Started by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle in 1959, the band went from humble beginnings in Tacoma, WA., to worldwide acclaim, culminating as inductees into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the #1 Bestselling Instrumental Rock and Roll Group of all time.

Now, see the story of the world’s most famous instrumental rock and roll band from those who know them the best: movie stars like Billy Bob Thornton, music legends such as Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan), The Surfragettes, Lalo Schifrin (Academy Award winning composer of The Mission Impossible theme), Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive), and John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), and their family. Witness the rise and influence of the electric guitar, the history, and the relevance of the band in pop culture still today, while you rock out to the stellar soundtrack. @Vision Films

* Soundtrack: "Holy Surf!" (M.Trapp) - The Alien Mike E.T. (2020)

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Thank you Nokie Edwards...

(Published on March 13, 2018)


" Thank you Nokie Edwards for creating a legion of electric guitar enthusiasts with his fingering and his magnificent technique in playing the songs. 
It will be forever in our minds and in our hearts. 
Rest in Peace. "

March 12, 2018
RV


Nole Floyd "Nokie" Edwards, who died Monday (March 12, 2018) at age 82 following an infection he'd been fighting since undergoing hip surgery in December 2017.

Below the message of Don Wilson posted on the M&I Company website:
http://www.mandicompany.co.jp/TheVentures.html

"Nokie Edwards has left us now. I have lost a dear friend and companion.
Never to hear his laughter or conversation again.
His guitar is silenced forever, accept for the great legacy he has left us.
His guitar playing was incomparable.
No one could truly copy his style. It was his and his alone.
I had never heard him say a bad word about anyone.That's the kind of person he was.
The world of music has lost a wonderful person and an outstanding musician.
He has touched so many people's heart with his music and personality.
He was like a brother to me. More after all these many years together, on stage and off.
I will miss you my partner, my pal, and wonderful buddy.
God bless you and may you rest in peace.
I have tears in my eyes as I say goodbye forever.
I love you my dearest friend." 
Don Wilson
 
Nokie Edwards  play "Vincent"
YouTube (Surf on Guitar)

Message of Bob Spalding posted on the Facebook page:

Bob Spalding
March 13, 2018

"Nokie Edwards was a unique individual, He was a gifted musician with a gentle soul, His playing could charm anyone, as it did throughout his life.

I had the good fortune to work with Nokie on many occasions with The Ventures and through other recording projects. We did several winter tours of Japan together, as well as many tours across the US and Canada. It was always a joyful experience to watch fans that adored him as they experienced his unique style of playing in person. To stand on stage with him, and see it all first hand, night after night, was truly an honor. Not to mention a dream come true.

We guitar players wanted to emulate him as much as we could, but in the end we just couldn't. There was and forever will be only one Nokie Edwards. However much we try, and will keep on trying, we will always fall short. I know that Nokie would be proud of us for trying.

Nokie is now playing with his friends Chet and Les in another place. His singular style will live on forever. Not only in the many recordings he made over the years, but in the hearts and memories of every person he touched with his inimitable style and quiet charm.

Nokie, we love you and thank you for your priceless contribution to the world of music and to our lives.

We will miss you always."

Bob Spalding
The Ventures

ooo0O0ooo

Below some articles that have been posted on websites:

The Ventures Official Website
Posted on March 12, 2018
...[ Nokie has been part of the Ventures' history for almost 6 decades and helped to shape the early Ventures' sound and the success of their career. He was an innovator and one of greats on guitar, so much so that he influenced many young players over the course of his career.]...
http://theventures.com/rip-nokie-edwards-may-9-1935-march-12-2018/

Los Angeles Times
By Randy Lewis
Mar 12, 2018 7:15PM
...[ For any kid who picked up an electric guitar in the 1960s, it never took long before they'd take a stab at trying to play "Walk Don't Run", the genre-defining surf-rock hit from 1960 popularized by the Ventures, which used that reverb-soaked recording as a launch pad to become the most successful instrumental group in rock history.]...

The Washington Post
By Terence McArdie
March 13
...[ "I believe in simplicity", Mr. Edwards once told the San Antonio Express-News. "If you have a melodic line, people will like it. If you can have a hit." ]...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/nokie-edwards-influential-lead-guitarist-of-the-ventures-dies-at-82/2018/03/13/00cd3cae-26c8-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html?utm_term=.bc035d74e351

Billboard
By Lars Brandle
3/13/2018
...[ Born into a musical family on May 9, 1935 in Lahoma, Oklahoma, Edwards was playing stringed instruments at age 5. The band got its start in Tacoma, Washington in 1958 when core members Bob Bogle (initially on lead guitar) and Don Wilson (rhythm) came together with Edwards and drummer Howie Johnson. Early on, Edwards played bass before switching to lead with the new group, which was known as the impacts and then Versatones, before they agreed on the Ventures.]...
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/8241255/nokie-edwards-lead-guitarist-the-ventures-obit

RollingStone
By Elias Leight
3/13/2018
...[ Edward's guitar work influenced a generation of players, including John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, who inducted the group into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "It is my honor to introduce the Ventures," Fogerty said in 2008, "and every guitar player on this planet knows what I'm talking about." ]...
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nokie-edwards-the-ventures-lead-guitarist-dead-at-82-w517837

Guitar Player
By Damian Fanelli
Mar 13, 2018
...[ Although surf rock had its moment in the early Sixties (prior to the arrival of the Beatles in the U.S.), the Ventures were able to hang on and adapt to most of rock's frequent mood swings, releasing more than three dozen albums in the Sixties and Seventies. Although Edwards left the band in 1968, he returned in 1973 and stuck around till 1984. Regardless, he often appeared (and toured) with the Ventures for the next three decades; he even toured Japan with the band in 2012. ]...
https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/nokie-edwards-influential-ventures-guitarist-dies-at-82

Premier Guitar Magazine
By Jol Dantzig
March 13, 2018
...[ It was the power and tone of Edwards' guitar, slightly distorced and dripping with lush reverb, that gave the bands its signature sound and driving appeal. ]...
...[ Although musicologists might argue that Edwards' country-fueled and steel-guitar influenced licks owed more to country than pop or rock, there is no deying that Edwards' twangy tone, wang-bar glides, and staccato riffing paved the way for the California surf bands of the 1960s. The Beach Boys often cited the Ventures as an influence. ]...
https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/27116-nokie-edwards-19352018

The Vintage Guitar Magazine
Newswire
By Deke Dickerson
March, 2018
...[ Tracks like "Journey To The Stars", "Diamond Head", "Slaughter On 10th Avenue", "Walk Don't Run'64", "Driving Guitars", "Bumble Bee Twist", "The 2.000 Pound Bee", "Ginza Lights", "House Of Rising Sun", "Caravan" and "Surf Rider" (the latter an Edwards composition that decades later was featured on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack) set the bar hight, and secured Edwards' legacy as one of the greatest expoents of guitar instrumental music. The Ventures' Play Guitar With... series of instructional albums also proved highly influential to thousands of kids in the '60s. ]...
https://www.vintageguitar.com/30188/nokie-edwards-ventures-guitarist-bassist-passes/

The Indian Country Today
By Vincent Schilling
March 14, 2018
...[ Nole Floyd 'Nokie' Edwards, Cherokee, the lead guitarist for over six decades for the iconic and wildly successful instrumental 'surf-style' rock and roll group 'The Ventures', which known for such musical hits... ]...
https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/history/people/cherokee-rock-roll-hall-famer-ventures-guitarist-nokie-edwards-died-82/

Native American Music Association & Awards
News
March, 2018
...[ Nokie won Best Instrumental Recording at the 12th Annual Native American Music Awards for his solo instrumental effort, Hitchin' A Ride. He was also honored with a Hall of Fame Induction by the Native American Music Association at the 13th Annual Awards ceremony in 2011 and performed. ]...
https://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/news

The New York Times
By Richard Sandomir
March 16, 2018
...[ Mr. Edwards's seemingly effortless picking produced a palpitating sound that captured the vibe of the ocean a few years before the Beach Boys began singing about California girls.
The Ventures were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
"Although musicologists might ague that Edwards's country-fueled and steel-guitar-influenced licks owe more to country than pop or rock," the guitar designer Jol Dantzig wrote in an appreciation of Mr. Edwards on the Premier Guitar website, "there is no denying that Edwards's twangy tone, wang-bar glides and staccato riffing paved the way for the California surf bands of the 1960s." ]...
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/obituaries/nokie-edwards-whose-guitar-drove-the-ventures-is-dead-at-82.html

G1 - Globo.com (Brazil)
Por France Presse
13/03/2018 - 19h26
[ Banda instrumental faz parte do Hall da Fama do Rock e foi uma das mais influentes da música pop pré-Beatles. ]...
https://g1.globo.com/pop-arte/noticia/nokie-edwards-guitarrista-da-banda-de-surf-rock-the-ventures-morre-aos-82-anos.ghtml



Nokie Edwards play "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"

Nokie Edwards & Gary Crook - "Quando, Quando, Quando"

"Victoria Station" - Nokie Edwards & The WI band 

Nokie Edwards play "Bulldog" - The Ventures (1965)

Nokie Edwards Style - The Ventures "Bulldog" (2003) (Hitchhiker Guitar)

Nokie Edwards & VenturesMania! "Surf Rider" (Redondo Beach Pier - Aug. 11, 2012)

NAMM TEC Awards 2020 - Tribute to DON WILSON (January 18)


* Jeff Skunk Baxter (founding member of Steely Dan and played with the Doobie Brothers also Jimmy Hendrix), Steve Lukather (Toto) and Elliot Easton (The Cars), along with Larry Batiste and the 2Cold Chilibone TEC Band perform a medley of Ventures tunes as a tribute to Don Wilson as he receives NAMM's "Music for Life Award" at the 2020 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA.

* Elliot Easton plays on a Lefty Mosrite Guitar and Steve Lukather and Jeff Baxter play on a Wilson Bros. Guitar "The Ventures Model". All with the finish in "Candy Apple Red". One of the beautiful colors appreciated by Don Wilson and The Ventures.
Don Wilson in 1963 used a Mosrite guitar all in this color while Nokie and Bob used their guitars in the Sunburst color.
* In the Tribute, a special message from the friend Billy Bob Thornton.

Nokie Edwards: The Ventures, Musical Inspirations, Guitars & More.

Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum (YouTube channel) Upload: June 14, 2020.
Backstage interview: January 23, 2005.

The Ventures: Stars on Guitars – Don Wilson, Deleted Scene 2018 Interview (1 of 2)

"Here is Don Wilson, from the documentary feature film The Ventures: Stars on Guitars, in a deleted scene talking about how much The Ventures love playing Fender guitars, as well as mentioning their 1996 Fender signature line. Shot by: Staci Layne Wilson"
Score/Composer: Michael Trapp (this song is called Holy Surf).
* Fender Guitar Japan - Special Limited Edition - The Ventures Model Signature Line (1996)

The Ventures: Stars on Guitars - Bill Ford Deleted Scene

"Here is Bill Ford, former road manager of The Ventures, talking about how he got this one-of-a-kind1962 “Franken-guitar” (Telecaster neck on a Jazzmaster body), which was Nokie’s lead guitar used to record Walk, Don’t Run Vol 2. This story did not make it into the film, but it’s quite interesting! Shot by: Staci Layne Wilson"

The Ventures: Stars on Guitars - 60th Anniversary Fan Shout-Outs from Around the World

The Ventures: Stars on Guitars is a feature documentary film on the #1 instrumental rock group in the world, The Ventures. This is the story of their rise to fame in the 1960s right up to now, as they celebrate their 60th anniversary of playing the best guitar-rock of all time. With over 35 interviewees in the film, we couldn’t possibly run all of their stories in their entirety—so here you will find some of our favorite extended clips (as well as B-roll and more fun stuff; please subscribe to keep up to date). The feature will be released sometime in 2020; watch our Facebook and Instagram (@theventuresmovie) for details. Director: Staci Layne Wilson—Producers: Don Wilson, Tim Wilson, Jill Fairbanks, Lisa S. Johnson, Michael Kaplan

NEW !!! - The Ventures: Stars on Guitars (2020) Official Movie Trailer

- A 2020 feature documentary film on the #1 instrumental rock group in the world, The Ventures.
- This is the story of their rise to fame in the 1960s right up to now, as they celebrate their 60th anniversary of playing the best guitar-rock of all time.
- Featuring: Billy Bob Thornton, Jimmy Page, Josie Cotton, and many more.
- Director: Staci Layne Wilson. Editor: Nina Helene Hirten.

- Music: "Surf's Up" by Michel Perillard (with drum roll from "Atlantic Surfer" by the 9th Wave).

The Ventures: Stars on Guitars - Unofficial Teaser Trailer

" A sneak-peek at the upcoming full-length documentary about the bestselling instrumental rock group in the world, The Ventures!
Directed by Staci Layne Wilson, produced by Don Wilson, Tim Wilson, Jill Fairbanks, and Lisa S. Johnson. "
* Ending theme song: The Ventures - "Ame no Kyoto" (Bob Spalding) from "Here We Go Again" CD album (2018).

This is Rock n Roll TV feat. Tribute to & The Ventures & The Movie 2020 & Songs like Wipe Out

"Sunday 8pm 3/1/2020Monday 12:30pm & Tuesday 5 am.
This is Rock n Roll TV A Tribute to The Ventures #1 instrumental group. We will be talking about The Ventures Movie 2020 produced by Staci Layne Wilson & Their Music on Fios 34 Optimum 68 or (outside the Bronx) go to Bronxnet.org hit WATCH & BROMNI 68/34 and enjoy. Songs like Wipe Out, Pipeline, Walk Don't Run and much more... w/ Host Dennis Dion Nardone. This is our50th episode w/ guests James Fracassi, Vic Sabatini & Al Belfiore Just Nuts Band. ENJOY"

"Surf's Up" - (Michel Perillard)(2010) / Surfer Plus Haut live version

"Holy Surf!" - (The Alien Mike E.T.) - "Stars On Guitars" Documentary Score

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NOTICE:

This is an independent blog about The Ventures group and not linked to them.
From Fans to Fans.
The material in this blog has been researched and ordered didactically as support and entertainment for the instrumental rock appreciators without commercial purposes.
Some articles or opinions may have different interpretations. Because they are extracted from different sources and different times.
Some publications may change according to new data collected.
Praise and Tribute of The Ventures group.
The use of any copyrighted material is used under the guidelines of "fair use" in title 17 § 107 of The United States Code. Such material remains the copyright of the original holder and is used here for the purposes of education, information, comparison, and criticism only.
No infringement of copyright is intended.
My photo
I am a lover of all good music. My father was a pianist and at home we had piano and mandolin. In the 60s to 70s, when I was a child, my father took me weekly to watch and listen to the Classic Music concerts of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Municipal Theater of São Paulo (Brazil). At that time, we could only enter the theater with sober and classic clothes and leather shoes. - "A song can simply be played on the notes. But the music played with different intensities in each part, transmits liveliness and feeling in the music. The same music is differentiated and appreciated by others."

Thanks For The Visit !

WELCOME !!!
This is a Informative blog by the Instrumental Rock group "THE VENTURES".
This blog was created because there was little information and text about The Ventures outside of Japan.
I hope to contribute a little to new discoveries.
Thanks for the visit !
RICARDO VENTURES

"Music is the link that unites the life of the spirit with the life of the senses.
The melody is the sensitive life of poetry."
(Ludwig van Beethoven)

Nikolas & Nina

A Bridge Called Love

It takes us back to brighter years,
to happier sunlit days,
and to precious moments
that will be with us always.

And these fond recollections
are treasured in the heart
to bring us always close to those
from whom we had to part.

There is a bridge of memories
from earth to Heaven above…
It keeps our dear ones near us
It’s the bridge that we call Love.


winter 2020 (south hemisphere)