Date of Birth

23 April 1936, Vernon, Texas, USA

Date of Death

6 December 1988, Madison, Tennessee, USA

When Orbison was first in the UK he toured with The Beatles.

In 1966 his wife, Claudette, died in a motor-cycle accident. Two years later two of his sons were killed in a housefire.

Scored his first minor hit in 1956 with "Ooby Dooby".

Toured with Eagles in 1980.

Had a No. 1 1964 hit with "Oh, Pretty Woman".

Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Elected to the American Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989.

Near the end of his life, he became friends with k.d. lang after they recorded his 1961 hit single "Crying" as a duet. Was close friends with actor Martin Sheen.

Was on tour with a group called the "Travelling Willburys" at the time of his death.

Teamed up with Bob Dylan, Beatle George Harrison, Jeff Lynne from Electric Light Orchestra and Tom Petty in the group The Travelling Wilburys.

Children: Roy Dewayne Orbison (1958 - Sept 15 1968), Anthony King Orbison (1962 - Sept 15 1968), and Wesley Orbison (born 1965) by first wife Claudette. Roy Kelton Orbison Jr. (born Oct 18 1970) and Alex Orbison (born 1975) by second wife Barbara.

He was voted the 37th Greatest Artist in Rock 'n' Roll by Rolling Stone.

David Lynch frequently uses his songs in his films.

Was known to insist his backup performers give their best at every performance. Reportedly, one night while touring in Florida he dismissed his regular band (called the Candy Men, after an early hit), then invited the opening group, the Webs, to join him on tour, adopting the Candy Men name. One member of the Webs was singer/songwriter Bobby Goldsboro.

His identification with Wayfarer sunglasses began when he went on tour to England in the early 1960s, and forgot his regular specs. His lenses were prescription, but some fans mistook Orbison for being blind.

Longtime neighbor of Johnny Cash, in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Recorded many of his most famous hits from the 1950s with legendary guitarist Hank Garland.

Underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 1978.

Is portrayed by Johnathan Rice in Walk the Line (2005) and by 'Brian Jones (XXII)' in Crazy (2008/II).

Had a vocal range of 3.5 octaves.

In 1977 Linda Ronstadt recorded a new version of "Blue Bayou" that became a major success and remained in the country music charts for months. In the early 1980s Don McLean's recording of "Crying" charted all over the world, reaching Number 1 in the UK. A duet between Orbison and Emmylou Harris took him to the country music Top 10 and crossed over into the pop charts.

Won Grammy Awards in 1981, 1987 and posthumously in 1991.

Rerecorded many of his classic hits in 1987 to critical and commercial success.

Toured the UK three times during 1963.

Voted most popular vocalist in 1965.

Was a friend of Elvis Presley.

Attended the University of North Texas.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 674-676. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.

Made only one movie in his career: "The Fastest Guitar Alive" (1967) which was offered to him after Elvis Presley, his friend, turned it down.

Both he and his friend Elvis Presley suffered a heart attack in their bathrooms. Orbison was hospitalized but died.

First saw Elvis Presley in concert in 1955. Next year Presley was in his concert and entered in backstage. Orbison kept telling about Elvis' visit to his friends.

He offered his first big hit song "Only the Lonely" (1960) originally to Elvis Presley, but unfortunately all the material for Presley's next album had already been chosen. Elvis had previously covered Roy's tune "Mean Woman Blues" in his 1957 film "Loving You" .Roy later offered the song to The Everly Brothers who had a previous hit with another Roy Orbison composition, "Claudette" in 1958. They suggested he record it himself which he finally did.

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".

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.

Wrote song "Hound Dog Man" (1979) in the memory of Elvis Presley.

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.

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 .

The steady drum beat signifying confrontation in Roy's recording of "Running Scared" is reminiscent of the arrangement used in Frankie Laine's recording of "High Noon".

The look of Marvel Comics super-villain and Spider-Man archenemy, Dr. Octopus is said to be based on him.

Ranked #49 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll.

Price:  £185.00