Roy Orbison

Biography

Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist known for his distinctive and powerful voice, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. Orbison's most successful periods were in the early 1960s and the late 1980s. Many of Orbison's songs conveyed vulnerability at a time when most male performers projected strength. He performed with minimal motion and in black clothes, matching his dyed black hair and dark sunglasses.

Channel description

Roy Orbison possessed one of rock and roll's most extraordinary instruments: a pitch-perfect, three-octave voice of angelic power, its beauty made all the more haunting by the darkness that defined his life.

Raised in Texas, he formed his first band at 13. "Ooby Dooby" (1956) landed him at Sun Records, but Monument Records proved his real home. "Only the Lonely" (1960) launched a run of classics. His 1963 UK tour with The Beatles drew 14 encores on opening night. Stranded without his prescription glasses, he wore dark lenses as a substitute — and never stopped, cementing an iconic look. "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964) sold over 7 million copies worldwide.

After losing his wife and two sons to separate tragedies, he fought back in the 1980s — earning a Grammy, entering the Hall of Fame in 1987, and joining the Traveling Wilburys with Dylan, Harrison, Petty, and Lynne.

He died Dec 6, 1988, aged 52 — leaving five #1 albums, thirteen #1 singles, and a voice that remains truly irreplaceable.

Latest videos Channel ↗

• 01 1.1M Roy Orbison - Beautiful Dreamer (Audio) Jun 12, 2020
• 02 286K Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman (Live From Australia, 1972) Dec 23, 2019
• 03 130.7K Roy Orbison - It's Over (Live From Australia, 1972) Dec 19, 2019
• 04 142K Roy Orbison - Sweet Caroline (Live From Australia, 1972) Dec 17, 2019
• 05 82.5K Roy Orbison - Running Scared (Live From Australia, 1972) Dec 13, 2019