Roy Orbison

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Lore & Background

Orbison was born in Texas and began singing in a country-and-western band as a teenager. He was signed by Sam Phillips of Sun Records in 1956 after being urged by Johnny Cash. His first Sun recording, 'Ooby Dooby,' was musically akin to Elvis Presley's early Sun recordings. He enjoyed his greatest success with Monument Records, and from 1960 to 1966, 22 of his singles reached the Billboard top 40. He wrote or co-wrote almost all of his own top-10 hits, including 'Only the Lonely' (1960), 'Running Scared' (1961), 'Crying' (1961), 'In Dreams' (1963), 'Oh, Pretty Woman' (1964), 'I Drove All Night' (1987), 'She's a Mystery to Me' (1988), 'You Got It' (1988), and 'California Blue' (1988). After the mid-1960s, Orbison suffered personal tragedies and his career faltered. He experienced a resurgence in the late 1980s following cover versions of his songs. In 1988, he co-founded the Traveling Wilburys supergroup with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. He died of a heart attack that December at age 52. One month later, his song 'You Got It' (1989) was released as a solo single, becoming his first hit to reach the top 10 in both the US and UK in nearly 25 years.

Reader's Guide

Roy Orbison's significance lies in his unique vocal style and emotional depth, which set him apart from many male performers of his era. His songs often explored vulnerability and heartache, and his stage presence—minimal motion, black clothes, and dark sunglasses—became iconic. His early 1960s hits with Monument Records established him as a major force in rock and roll, and his late 1980s resurgence, including his work with the Traveling Wilburys, introduced his music to a new generation. Orbison's honors include inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2014. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and five other Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone placed him at number 37 on its list of the 'Greatest Artists of All Time' and number 13 on its list of the '100 Greatest Singers of All Time.' In 2002, Billboard magazine listed him at number 74 on its list of the Top 600 recording artists. His legacy endures through his influential recordings and the continued popularity of his songs.

Did You Know?

• Orbison wore thick glasses from the age of four due to eyesight problems.
• He began dyeing his nearly white hair black when he was still young.
• His father gave him a guitar on his sixth birthday, and he recalled, 'I was finished, you know, for anything else' by age seven.
• Orbison adopted the stage name 'Lefty Wilbury' during his time with the Traveling Wilburys, influenced by Lefty Frizzell's singing.
• At age nine, Orbison won a contest on radio station KVWC, which led to his own radio show.