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Elwood Edwards, the voice that became synonymous with AOL’s famous “You’ve Got Mail” notification, died at the age of 74 on Tuesday, November 5 – just one day before his 75th birthday.
The sad news was confirmed by WKYC-TV Studios in Cleveland, where Edwards had spent many years working. Although specific details about his death remain undisclosed, it was noted that he had been battling an illness for a long time.
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Edwards contributed in various roles at the Ohio station, including their graphic designer and camera operator. However, it was in 1989 that he achieved international fame when he recorded the memorable voiceovers for America Online’s “You’ve Got Mail” message. The recording consisted of just four phrases: “Welcome,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Files Done,” and “Goodbye,” for which he was compensated $200 at the time.
As AOL’s popularity soared, Edwards’s voice became an integral part of the internet experience for millions of users. Although his face was never seen by the public, his iconic voice gave him a unique celebrity status, forever linking him to the nostalgic early days of internet culture and the ’90s.
In 2015, Edwards made a guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where he brought back the good old days by delivering his famous greeting to the audience.
