Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. Many critics described his music as operatic, nicknaming him "the Caruso of Rock" and "the Big O". While most male rock-and-roll performers in the 1950s and 1960s projected a defiant masculinity, many of Orbison's songs conveyed vulnerability. He performed standing still, wearing black clothes to match his dyed black hair and dark sunglasses.
You can find people similar to Roy Orbison by visiting our lists Guitarists from Texas and Rock and roll musicians.
| Full name at birth | Roy Kelton Orbison
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| Claim to fame | In Dreams (Song) (1963), Oh, Pretty Woman (Song) (1964).
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| Date of birth | 23 April 1936
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| Place of birth | Vernon, Texas, USA
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| Date of death | 6 December 1988
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| Age | 52 (age at death)
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| Place of death | Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA
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| Cause of death | Heart Attack
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| Resting place | Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA
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| Occupation | Singer-Songwriter, Musician
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PERSONAL DETAILS
| Height | 5' 11" (180 cm)
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ADDITIONAL DETAILS
| Net worth | $15,000,000 USD
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![Roy Orbison - Yours Retro Magazine Pictorial [United Kingdom] (May 2023)](http://img3.bdbphotos.com/images/130x130/2/t/2tnpxffqavzeqzxt.jpg?skj2io4l)
![Roy Orbison - Rewia Magazine Pictorial [Poland] (28 July 2021)](http://img3.bdbphotos.com/images/130x130/m/l/mlnii1sbvgjfvf1n.jpg?skj2io4l)
- Of Roy's early compositions "Down The Line" was first recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis(1957), Elvis Presley recorded "Mean Woman Blues" for the film "Loving You"(1957) and The Everly Brothers had a charted hit with "Claudette"(1958)#30 US Pop, #1 UK .
- His breakthrough hit in 1960, the million seller "Only The Lonely", was written for The Everly Brothers but they suggested that Roy record it himself.
- Wrote song "Hound Dog Man" (1979) in the memory of Elvis Presley.
- Was one of the Million Dollar singers for little record company Sun Records based in Memphis, Tennessee with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.
- Last met Elvis Presley in Las Vegas 1976 in the King's last concert in gambling city. Orbison was in the audience and Presley said on the microphone: "Quite simply, the greatest singer in the world, Roy Orbison".
More...
- Albums (351) keyboard_arrow_right
- Songs (869) keyboard_arrow_right
- Quotes (15) keyboard_arrow_right
- Trivia (35) keyboard_arrow_right
- Pictorials (3) keyboard_arrow_right
- Magazines (2) keyboard_arrow_right
- Photos (63) keyboard_arrow_right
- Lists (67) keyboard_arrow_right
- Filmography (126) keyboard_arrow_right
- Awards (1) keyboard_arrow_right
- Fans (17) keyboard_arrow_right
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