Roy Orbison is definitely one of my favorite oldies artists and that should be a surprise to no one. Not because you all know my exact music taste but because he was an awesome songwriter, musician and singer.
Born in 1936 as Roy Kelton Orbison he would go on to have 22 songs place in the US Billboard Top 40 in the early to mid 60's including the fabulous "Pretty Woman" in 1964. He had a decline after that though due to personal and physical tragedies including divorcing his wife, then remarrying her and losing her when she was struck by a tracker trailer in 1966. His 2 oldest sons also died in 1968 when his home in Tennessee burned down while he was touring in England.
After that very tough period he seemed to disappear from the music scene in the 70's. He SEEMED TO. Actually his songs were being sung by other artists like Sonny James (Only the Lonely) which went to #1 by the way and Glenn Campbell who had a minor hit with Dream Baby.
He wound up having open heart surgery ( a triple bypass) and though he felt revitalized after it his heart would never fully recover. He had been a chain smoker since he was a teenager and the heart would eventually give in in 1988.
The rebirth of his career came in 1987 when he released an album of his re-recorded hits titled "In Dreams". He and K.D. Lang also released a single of "Crying' which won a Grammy.
Orbison was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 87.
In 1988 he became part of the "Traveling Wilbury's" in which he teamed up with George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. The four recorded an album and used the term Traveling Wilbury's to present themselves a s half brothers with the same father.
The album had such great success that Orbison came back into great demand on the concert tours and with interviews. He was back on track and was happy about it. He started working with artists from the past and some newer ones that he hadn't before.
Mystery Girl was an album that was produced by Jeff Lynne a man that Orbison considered the best he ever worked with. Also working on that album was Bono of U2 fame, Elvis Costello and Roy's own son Wesley. The big hit to come out of the album was "You Got It" a GREAT song that was one of the few I liked from the 80's.
Sadly while he was having a great comeback the end came. On December 6th at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee the heart that had survived the smoking from adolescence and a triple bypass in the 70's gave out. Orbison suffered a fatal heart attack and at the age of 52. Another instance of someone leaving us too soon.
The hit You Got It wound up climbing to #9 in the U.S. and #3 in the U.K..He also had 2 albums hit the top 5 at the same time in 1989. The first time that had happened since Elvis Presley had done it.
With his customary dark glasses and black outfit Roy Orbison simply is one of the giants of American music and certainly someone who belongs on my oldies blog. He could be described as a country artist, a rockabilly artist or a rock and roll artist. And that is what was so great about him. Despite all the tragedy he went through in his life, Roy Orbison persevered through work and simple God-given talent to become one of the greats in music history.
If you'd like to know more about this American icon check out this website: The Official Roy Orbison Site.
And to get you in the mood for some great oldies and Roy Orbison music here's his giant hit "Pretty Woman" from 64. This is a cool video because it is actually from a show called "Top of the Pops" which aired in 64. The video was posted on YouTube by "vinylsolution". Enjoy!
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