• Apr. 23, 1936-Dec. 6, 1988
• Many assumed Roy Orbison was going blind, but he could see just fine. His trademark dark glasses he began wearing in 1963, just before a British tour with The Beatles. It happened by accident: when he misplaced his regular glasses, he wore the dark ones, which became his trademark.
• Roy died of heart failure at his mother's house in Hendersonville, Tennessee on December 6, 1988. He was visiting family for the holidays while on break from the road.
• He was a huge influence on many artists, including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and Tom Petty.
• His wife was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1966. Two years later, two of his sons died in a fire.
• Elvis Presley and The Beatles both opened shows for Orbison early in their careers.
• He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
• Along with Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison, Orbison was a member of The Traveling Wilburys.
• Roy's first American hit single was recorded in 1956 for Sam Philips' Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Entitled "Ooby Dooby," it eventually made it into the Top 60 in 1956.
• Orbison's hair was never naturally black. He merely dyed it that color to fit into his "Man In Black" image. Roy's hair was actually dark brown.
• The "Roy Orbison Club," managed from her home in Harold Hill near Romford, Essex, UK, by Maggie Finch, ran from 1963 to 1978, the year of Maggie's husbands' death. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Russtti - London, England, for above 3
• Roy Orbison was a keen painter and made model aircraft to competition level. One of the last things he did on the day he died was fly his model airplanes. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Marc - Liverpool, England
• Music scholars have suggested that Orbison had a three- or four-octave range and his powerful, impassioned voice earned him the sobriquet "the Caruso of Rock." In fact it is claimed that The Big O and Enrico Caruso were the only 20th century tenors capable of hitting E over high C.

Comments: 8

• Jo from Minot MaineHis music speaks to my heart
• Gerry from Leeds.englandWas lucky enough to have seen roy live twice. There is never a day I do not listen to his music. Oh how I wish he was still here now. RIP roy.
• Lorraine from Victoria, BcThank you for painting a picture of the life of Roy Orbison.
• Janice Graves from West KirbyGreat man great voice. Play his music nearly every day whilst doing my chores. Never get tired of his voice. I wish he had looked after his health more so that we could have had him longer.
• Bill from Ft. Myers, , FlMy favorite artist. I regret I never got to see him perform in person. I have 2 DVDs of his concerts. Gone much too soon.
• Helen from Dubbo, AustraliaRoy Orbison is a legend!!
• Kevin Whealan from Vine Grove, KyI thought that the End of the Line video after Roy had passed on was classy I think the whole Wilbury thing was an act of love for all involved and they were a super band as much as any top group
• Alan from Singapore, SingaporeIn the video of "End Of The Line", Roy Orbison had already passed away. All the Wilburys are playing on a train and when it is Roy Orbison's turn to sing, the train goes through a tunnel and is in almost pitch black ness. All you see is a rocking chair with Roy Orbison's guitar in it, and a picture of him on the wall of the train next to Tom Petty.

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