Biography of Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison has become an icon of popular culture. Is there anyone out there who hasn't heard his string of operatic hits of the '60s? Probably not, and it is clear that this man in black was possessed of a multi-octave vocal range and a flair for the dramatic. Consider "Crying" from 1961. Like all his best work, there was always a thrill waiting for his voice to go soaring during the emotional climax of his song. However, beyond all these stylistic trappings, lay a sturdy grounding in the blues and a rockabilly edge to his voice that shone through in hits like "Pretty Woman," "Mean Woman Blues" and "Dream Baby." What is suggested in these tracks becomes really clear if you turn the clock back before the Monument (and RCA) singles and return to Roy's origins at Sun records. Although many claim that Roy is the exception who did not record his best work for the Memphis label before moving on, a close listen to "Ooby Dooby" from 1956 will tell you a lot about Roy's singing and guitar playing that surfaces only rarely in his later and most popular work. Roy, himself, favored the later sides and while there is much to be said for that judgment, it is also true that an understanding of Roy Orbison's music should include its roots as well as its most successful recordings. ~ Hank Davis