Today is a very special day because I am going to do something I should have done a long, long time ago. I am going to remember the career of Roy Orbison, a man I have always maintained had the sweetest voice this side of heaven. I have attempted to do this before but those were just samplers compared to this career retrospective.
Orbison died after suffering a heart attack at the age of 52 on December 6, 1988. After being out of the limelight for almost two decades, he had rebounded, first as a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, then as a member of The Traveling Wilburys, and was also planning a release for Mystery Girl, his comeback solo album.
I’m going to do start with one of his earliest recordings with his Texas-based band, The Teen Kings, then run through a dozen of his solo hits in chronological order from 1956 to 1989 before ending with his only Christmas recording – complete with a backstory – from 1963.
One thing in particular struck me when I was putting this medley together. Very early in his career – 1957, in fact – Orbison was told by Sun Records producer Jack Clement that he “would never make it as a ballad singer.” That bit of foolishness ranks right up there with Decca Records telling Brian Epstein that “the Beatles have no future in show business” after their 1962 audition for the Decca label.
Memories … That’s What We’re All About
Play buttons are on the left … Volume sliders are on the right
The Roy Orbison Medley
That unmistakable voice!!
I believe I will be doing a rerun.
Thanks Ray 🙂
Thank you, Eileen. I am so glad you enjoyed it. 🥰
One of my favorite ❤️
Thank you, Nancy. I am so glad you enjoyed it. 🥰
Way to go! I never really listened to Roy and other than a couple of his later songs, didn’t even hear them (or remember hearing them).
This is exactly why what you do is delightful as well as educational.
During my stint at WIOX, Roxbury, I heard from many that had moved up from NYC and were involved in the music industry, that these record companies were brutal in the treatment of young artists. It was a very tough business to get into.
Thanks, Jim. I sincerely appreciate your very kind compliments.
Roy was an incredible talent.
I had a nice blog written but I had to go back and hear that beautiful Christmas song and I lost it!! This man had a range of three to four octaves!! That is crazy so few singers have that range!! I loved the way he sang!! As you know Ray Willie Nelson wrote that beautiful song and it was pitched to Roy and he made it a hit!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful singer!! And who ever said he would not make it was crazy!! One of the best who left is way to early!! Stay warm and safe!!
Love ya
Thank you, Fred 🥰
That Christmas song is so heartbreaking, made even more so by Roy’s delivery.
Love ya
Dang!!! …. “Crying” … gets me every time ~
Thank you, Rose 🥰
Maybe I shouldn’t have added it.
Loved them all, he is one of my favorites too, thanks.
Thank you, Nancy 🥰
I don’t know anyone who didn’t ❤ Roy.
Love Orbison’s music, so this just sung to me, even a few I didn’t know well
The Christmas choice was all Roy!
Aside from his unique voice, he could make loss and longing an anthem
Thank you, Mary Helen 🥰
Roy was very familiar with loss. His first wife died in a motorcycle accident in 1966, and two of his sons died in a house fire in 1968.
I am very glad you enjoyed it all!
This was just wonderful, my favorite singer of all time! Will definitely listen again later.
Thank you, Pat 🥰
Roy’s voice was the best I have ever heard!