The voice of AOL’s ‘You’ve bought mail!’ has died at 74

If you happen to’re at the very least in your mid-30s (give or take), you realize the voice of Elwood Edwards, understand it or not. He recorded the phrase, “You’ve bought mail!” and three different strains for Quantum Pc Providers in 1989. That firm later rebranded to America On-line, and the remainder is early web historical past. Edwards died on Tuesday.

WKYC first reported (via Selection) that Edwards handed away someday earlier than what would have been his seventy fifth birthday. He was a longtime off-camera presence on the Cleveland TV station, working as a graphic designer, digicam operator and jack-of-all-trades worker.

His spouse, Karen Edwards, labored at Quantum when she heard the corporate’s then-CEO speaking about needing a voice for the software program that might quickly bombard mailboxes throughout the US. “So, she volunteered my voice,” Edwards mentioned in a 2012 video. “And on a cassette deck in my lounge, I recorded the phrases that you simply’ve come to know.”

He was paid a grand whole of $200 for his voiceover work.

The brand new-message catchphrase, recorded in Edwards’ calm and welcoming voice, turned a cultural phenomenon in AOL’s ‘90s and early 2000s heyday. After all, that included inspiring the 1998 Nora Ephron rom-com’s title.

Edwards additionally contributed three (lesser recognized however nonetheless remembered by many) AOL sayings: “Welcome,” “File’s finished” and “Goodbye.” Within the 2012 video, he’s depicted getting hounded by numerous staff, prompting him to say the factor. (AOL is at the moment owned by Yahoo, Engadget’s mum or dad firm.)

“So, that’s the story behind the catchphrase,” he mentioned within the clip, “which, nicely, I’ve a specific amount of hassle making an attempt to flee.”