Roy Orbison
Born April 23, 1936 — Died December 6, 1988
Roy Orbison was an American singer and songwriter whose extraordinary three-octave tenor voice, dark sunglasses, and emotionally devastating ballads made him one of the most distinctive figures in rock and roll history. Hits like "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Crying," and "In Dreams" earned him a devoted global following and a profound influence that outlasted his lifetime.
Texas Beginnings
Born on April 23, 1936, in Vernon, Texas, Roy Kelton Orbison grew up in Wink, a small oil-patch town in West Texas. He received his first guitar at age six and was performing on local radio by age eight. After graduating from high school in Wink, he attended North Texas State College, where he formed the Teen Kings and recorded his first single for Sun Records in 1956 — "Ooby Dooby," a rockabilly number that reached the lower reaches of the pop charts.
Orbison initially tried to fit in as a standard rockabilly act at Sun Records, where label founder Sam Phillips was more interested in rockabilly swagger than emotional ballads. After limited success at Sun, Orbison signed with Monument Records in 1959 and found his true niche: grand, operatic pop-rock ballads that showcased his staggering vocal range. His second Monument single, "Only the Lonely," reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 and launched one of the most remarkable commercial runs of the early rock era.
The Monument Years and "Oh, Pretty Woman"
Between 1960 and 1964, Orbison enjoyed extraordinary success, charting hits on both sides of the Atlantic including "Crying," "Running Scared," "In Dreams," and "It's Over." The Beatles were devoted fans — John Lennon and Paul McCartney counted Orbison among their primary inspirations, and the Fab Four supported him on a British tour in 1963 (in what was a remarkable reversal of the usual billing). "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964) became his signature song, topping the charts in the US and UK simultaneously, with its iconic opening guitar riff instantly recognizable worldwide.
Despite his commercial dominance, Orbison's personal life was marked by enormous tragedy. His wife Claudette was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1966. Two years later, his home burned to the ground, killing two of his three sons. These losses took a severe psychological toll and Orbison's commercial popularity waned significantly in the late 1960s and 1970s, though he continued performing and recording.
Did You Know?
Roy Orbison famously wore his dark sunglasses not as an affectation but because he had accidentally left his regular glasses on an airplane before a show and had to perform wearing prescription sunglasses — the image stuck, and audiences loved it.
Comeback and Legacy
Orbison's fortunes reversed dramatically in the 1980s. His song "In Dreams" was memorably featured in David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986), introducing him to a new generation. He joined the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne in 1988. Just weeks after the group recorded their debut album, Orbison also released his long-awaited comeback solo album Mystery Girl. He died of a heart attack on December 6, 1988 — just before Mystery Girl was released and before he could experience its enormous success. The album reached No. 5 on the US charts and topped the UK charts posthumously, cementing his legend. The Traveling Wilburys album remains one of rock's great collaborations.