Biography
Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 β December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as operatic, earning him the nicknames "The Caruso of Rock" and "The Big O". Many of Orbison's songs conveyed vulnerability at a time when most male rock-and-roll performers chose to project machismo. He performed while standing motionless and wearing black clothes to match his dyed black hair and dark sunglasses.
Born in Texas, Orbison began singing in a rockabilly and country-and-western band as a teenager. He was signed by Sam Phillips of Sun Records in 1956, but enjoyed his greatest success with Monument Records. From 1960 to 1966, 22 of Orbison's 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), and "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964).
After the mid-1960s Orbison suffered a number of personal tragedies, and his career faltered. He experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1980s, following the success of several cover versions of his songs. In 1988, he co-founded the Traveling Wilburys (a rock supergroup) with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. Orbison died of a heart attack in December 1988 at age 52. One month later, his song "You Got It" (1989) was released as a solo single, becoming his first hit to reach both the US and UK Top 10 in nearly 25 years.
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.
Filmography
all 47
self 40
Movies 36
TV Shows 11
Roy Orbison At The BBC (2023)
Roy Orbison Forever (2022)
McCartney 3, 2, 1 (2021)
Roy Orbison: Love Hurts (2017)
Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30 (2017)
Roy Orbison: One of the Lonely Ones (2015)
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled (2014)
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO (2012)
George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011)
Roy Orbison Live in 1965: The Monument Concert (2011)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - Light My Fire (2009)
Johnny Cash - Live On Air (2008)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream (2007)
The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show 1969-1971 (2007)
The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys (2007)
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1980 (2007)
Legends (2006)
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: Million Sellers (2006)
One for the Money: The Birth of Rock & Roll (2006)
Eddie Cochran & Friends: C'mon Everybody (2004)
The Best Of Beat (2003)
Roy Orbison: Greatest Hits (2003)
Roy Orbison - Live at Austin City Limits (2002)
Roy Orbison: The Anthology (1999)
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story (1999)
Classic Albums (1997)
She's Having a Baby (1988)
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988)
Blue Peanuts (1987)
Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987)
Roy Orbison Live In Texas (1986)
Carl Perkins & Friends: Blue Suede Shoes - A Rockabilly Session (1985)
Just Our Luck (1983)
Wogan (1982)
Living Legend: The King of Rock and Roll (1980)
Roadie (1980)
The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1977 (1977)
Saturday Night Live (1975)
Roy Sings Orbison (1975)
Roy Orbison: Live From Australia (1973)
The Midnight Special (1972)
The Johnny Cash Show (1969)
The Fastest Guitar Alive (1967)
The Roy Orbison Show (1964)
Shindig! (1964)
The Dick Clark Show (1958)
The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1936-04-23
Deathday1988-12-06 (52 years old)
Birth NameRoy Kelton Orbison
Birth PlaceVernon, United States of America
RelationshipsBarbara Orbison (1969-03-25 - 1988-12-06)
ChildrenRoy Orbison Jr., Alex Orbison
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsTraveling Wilburys, Lefty Wilbury
AwardsGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
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