History Music / RoyOrbison

For the next four years, Roy was one of the biggest names in American music, filling a void left behind by the rock and roll pioneers of TheFifties who were now either [[Music/ElvisPresley drafted]], [[Music/BuddyHolly dead]], [[Music/ChuckBerry in jail]] or [[Music/LittleRichard playing gospel music]]. A string of hits from 1961 to '64 showcased his {{Opera}} singer-like voice and broke new ground in songwriting and production, including "Crying", "Dream Baby", "In Dreams", "It's Over", and "Oh, Pretty Woman". Following the pattern of "Running Scared", these songs were two and a half minute operas of heartbreak, loneliness, and hope for new love, with plenty of {{Plot Twist}}s, ManlyTears, and in the uptempo numbers, manly swagger. He also created an onstage persona of a mysterious Man In Black, singing while standing perfectly still, wearing a black suit and CoolShades. This was [[MeanCharacterNiceActor quite the opposite]] of his real personality however, and was more about helping him deal with [[PerformanceAnxiety stage fright]].

-->--TomWaits

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/roy_orbison_2073.jpg]] Roy Orbison (1936–1988) is considered by his peers to have been the most powerful voice to ever sing RockAndRoll. Before Music/TheBeatles, he was also one of its most innovative composers.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/roy_orbison_2073.jpg]] Roy Orbison (1936–1988) is considered by his peers to have been the most powerful voice to ever sing RockAndRoll. Before Music/TheBeatles, he was also one of its most innovative composers.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/roy_orbison_2073.jpg]] Roy Orbison (1936-1988) is considered by his peers to have been the most powerful voice to ever sing RockAndRoll. Before Music/TheBeatles, he was also one of its most innovative composers.

* RevivalByCommercialization: His '80s comeback began with the use of "In Dreams" in ''BlueVelvet''.

Throughout the '70s, Roy [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff remained popular outside of the U.S.]], especially in Britain and Australia. He continued recording, but he had disappeared from American pop music. Meanwhile, a new generation of rock, pop, and country musicians began putting {{Cover Version}}s of his songs on the charts. Sonny James had a country #1 with "Only The Lonely", Linda Ronstadt covered "Blue Bayou", Music/DonMcLean did "Crying", and Music/VanHalen did "Oh, Pretty Woman".

In the early [[TheFifties 1950s]], he formed a band called The Teen Kings. He met Music/JohnnyCash in 1955, and Cash recommended producer Music/SamPhillips. The Teen Kings sent the soon-to-be-legendary Sun Records producer a recording of a rockabilly song called "Ooby Dooby", which impressed Phillips enough to sign them. Under Phillips' direction, they re-recorded "Ooby Dooby", and it became their first hit. More rockabilly songs and much touring followed, but the Teen Kings broke up at the end of 1956 over royalty disputes. Roy stayed at Sun as a solo act and songwriter. His song "Claudette" (about his girlfriend and soon to be wife) became the B-side of The Everly Brothers' big hit "All I Have To Do Is Dream", earning Roy his first real money. But Roy found Sun Records frustrating, and left for country music song publisher Acuff-Rose.

In the early [[TheFifties 1950s]], he formed a band called The Teen Kings. He met Music/JohnnyCash in 1955, and Cash recommended producer SamPhillips. The Teen Kings sent the soon-to-be-legendary Sun Records producer a recording of a rockabilly song called "Ooby Dooby", which impressed Phillips enough to sign them. Under Phillips' direction, they re-recorded "Ooby Dooby", and it became their first hit. More rockabilly songs and much touring followed, but the Teen Kings broke up at the end of 1956 over royalty disputes. Roy stayed at Sun as a solo act and songwriter. His song "Claudette" (about his girlfriend and soon to be wife) became the B-side of The Everly Brothers' big hit "All I Have To Do Is Dream", earning Roy his first real money. But Roy found Sun Records frustrating, and left for country music song publisher Acuff-Rose.

For the next four years, Roy was one of the biggest names in American music, filling a void left behind by the rock and roll pioneers of TheFifties who were now either [[Music/ElvisPresley drafted]], [[Music/BuddyHolly dead]], [[Music/ChuckBerry in jail]] or [[Music/LittleRichard playing gospel music]]. A string of hits from 1961 to '64 showcased his {{Opera}} singer-like voice and broke new ground in songwriting and production, including "Crying", "Dream Baby", "In Dreams", "It's Over", and "Oh, Pretty Woman". Following the pattern of "Running Scared", these songs were two and a half minute operas of heartbreak, loneliness, and hope for new love, with plenty of {{Plot Twist}}s, ManlyTears, and in the uptempo numbers, manly swagger. He also created an onstage persona of a mysterious [[{{MIB}} Man In Black]], singing while standing perfectly still, wearing a black suit and CoolShades. This was [[MeanCharacterNiceActor quite the opposite]] of his real personality however, and was more about helping him deal with [[PerformanceAnxiety stage fright]].

* [[{{MIB}} Man In Black]]: His onstage persona.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/roy_orbison_2073.jpg]] Roy Orbison (1936-1988) is considered by his peers to have been the most powerful voice to ever sing RockAndRoll. Before TheBeatles, he was also one of its most innovative composers.

Roy was born and grew up in Texas. He got a guitar for his sixth birthday, and within a year, he was commited to a life of music. He grew up a fan of Lefty Frizzell, Music/HankWilliams, and Jimmie Rodgers. He also took in the various sounds of 1940s Texas: Rhythm & Blues, Tex-Mex, Zydeco, and the orchestral music of Annunzio Mantovani.

In the early '50s, he formed a band called The Teen Kings. He met Music/JohnnyCash in 1955, and Cash recommended producer SamPhillips. The Teen Kings sent the soon-to-be-legendary Sun Records producer a recording of a rockabilly song called "Ooby Dooby", which impressed Phillips enough to sign them. Under Phillips' direction, they re-recorded "Ooby Dooby", and it became their first hit. More rockabilly songs and much touring followed, but the Teen Kings broke up at the end of 1956 over royalty disputes. Roy stayed at Sun as a solo act and songwriter. His song "Claudette" (about his girlfriend and soon to be wife) became the B-side of The Everly Brothers' big hit "All I Have To Do Is Dream", earning Roy his first real money. But Roy found Sun Records frustrating, and left for country music song publisher Acuff-Rose.

Roy met Joe Melson in 1958 and the two became a songwriting team. Roy recorded his material for RCA Victor, but when his contract ran out in '59, his agent Wesley Rose found a better place for him, Monument Records in Nashville.

Throughout the '70s, Roy [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff remained popular outside of the U.S.]], especially in Britain and Australia. He continued recording, but he had disappeared from American pop music. Meanwhile, a new generation of rock, pop, and country musicians began putting {{Cover Version}}s of his songs on the charts. Sonny James had a country #1 with "Only The Lonely", Linda Ronstadt covered "Blue Bayou", Don [=McClean=] did "Crying", and Music/VanHalen did "Oh, Pretty Woman".

* EpicRiff: "Oh, Pretty Woman"
* FirstAndForemost: "Only The Lonely", "Crying", "Oh, Pretty Woman"

Roy's death was observed around the world. ''Mystery Girl'' became the biggest album of his career, and "You Got It" went to #1 on the adult contemporary chart. A "final" album of unreleased songs, ''King of Hearts'', was released in 1992. Since then, his widow Barbara has managed his legacy, releasing best-ofs, box sets, and live performances.

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* BoleroEffect: The [[TropeMakers Trope Maker]] for bolero in rock and pop, with "Running Scared".

* {{Supergroup}}: The Traveling Wilburys.

Roy began working on a new album with Jeff Lynne of the Music/ElectricLightOrchestra. Lynne was working on George Harrison's ''Cloud Nine'', and George invited his old friend to sing on it. They asked Music/BobDylan if they could use his home studio. Harrison went to Music/TomPetty's house to pick up a guitar. By the end of the day, all five musicians had written a song together, "Handle With Care", and decided to form a {{Supergroup}}, The Traveling Wilburys. They pretended to be half-brothers, and took StageNames: Roy named himself Lefty Wilbury after one of his favorite musicians, Lefty Frizzell. Their album ''Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1'', went to #3 and stayed on the charts for over a year. Meanwhile, Roy restarted his solo project with Lynne. Roy wrote songs with Lynne and Petty, and many others contributed songs, including {{Music/U2}}, Elvis Costello, and Roy's son Wesley. ''Mystery Girl'' was recorded in October and November of 1988, and only needed to be mixed and mastered for its release in early '89. But on December 6, Roy died of a heart attack.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Roy was actually a very nice person with a good sense of humor.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/roy_orbison_7761.jpg]] Roy Orbison (1936-1988) is considered by his peers to have been the most powerful voice to ever sing RockAndRoll. Before TheBeatles, he was also one of its most innovative composers.

Roy Orbison (1936-1988) is considered by his peers to have been the most powerful voice to ever sing RockAndRoll. Before TheBeatles, he was also one of its most innovative composers.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Roy was always popular somewhere. Britain and Australia never stopped loving him, and in 1980, he got a big surprise when he went to Bulgaria and was mobbed like it was the early '60s.