Don Wilson (above) continues to record with The Ventures, but 
retired from touring at the end of 2015. With Nokie Edwards’
death in 2018, Wilson is now the lone surviving member of the
original group.

The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band, formed in
1958 in Tacoma, Washington, by Don Wilson (center) and Bob
Bogle (right) (January 16, 1934 – June 14, 2009). While their
popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group
remains especially revered in Japan, where they tour regularly
to this day. The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson
(rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, switched to bass),
Nokie Edwards (front) ((May 9, 1935 – March 12, 2018) initially
bass, switched to lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums)
(September 24, 1933 – August 11, 1996).