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Roy Orbison
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Listening now: Stemoment
Vernon TX, United States (1954 – 1988)
Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988), nicknamed “The Big O”, was an influential American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll, whose recording career spanned more than four decades. By the mid-1960s Orbison was internationally recognized for his ballads of lost love, rhythmically advanced melodies, three-octave vocal range, characteristic dark sunglasses, and sometimes distinctive usage of falsetto, typified in songs such as “Only The Lonely, “
Oh, Pretty Woman”, and “Crying”. In 1989, he was inducted posthumously into the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Two common misconceptions about his appearance stubbornly continue to surface about Orbison: one, that he was an albino, and two, that he wore his trademark dark glasses because he was blind or nearly so. Neither is correct, although his poor vision required him to wear thick corrective lenses (He suffered from childhood from a combination of hyperopia, severe astigmatism, presbyopia, anisometropia, and strabismus). Orbison’s trademark sunglasses were a fashion statement arising from an accident early in his career. Due to go onstage in a few minutes, Orbison left his regular glasses in an airplane. Unable to see without corrective lenses, the only other pair of glasses he had available were darkly tinted prescription sunglasses. “I had to see to get onstage,” so he wore the glasses throughout his tour with the Beatles, and he carried on with it for the rest of his professional career. “I’ll just do this and look cool.”
Early life and career
Oh, Pretty Woman”, and “Crying”. In 1989, he was inducted posthumously into the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame.Two common misconceptions about his appearance stubbornly continue to surface about Orbison: one, that he was an albino, and two, that he wore his trademark dark glasses because he was blind or nearly so. Neither is correct, although his poor vision required him to wear thick corrective lenses (He suffered from childhood from a combination of hyperopia, severe astigmatism, presbyopia, anisometropia, and strabismus). Orbison’s trademark sunglasses were a fashion statement arising from an accident early in his career. Due to go onstage in a few minutes, Orbison left his regular glasses in an airplane. Unable to see without corrective lenses, the only other pair of glasses he had available were darkly tinted prescription sunglasses. “I had to see to get onstage,” so he wore the glasses throughout his tour with the Beatles, and he carried on with it for the rest of his professional career. “I’ll just do this and look cool.”
Early life and career
Top Albums
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The Very Best of Roy Orbison
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The All-Time Greatest Hits of Roy Orbison
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Mystery Girl
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The Essential Roy Orbison
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Top Tracks
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You Got It
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I Drove All Night
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Oh Pretty Woman
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Ooby Dooby
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California Blue
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Shoutbox
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hairspray44 wrote:
It's Over!
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pet_shop_boys wrote:
The Best Singer and the wonderful voice
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eelyma wrote:
California Blue and Blue Angel higher please :):)
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l1lsammy wrote:
Can't understand why "Love Hurts" is so low on the top tracks list.
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jimmiiii wrote:
i heard In Dreams in Lynch's movie and it was just awesome. its such a dreamy song
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oVAoOoAVo wrote:
Shy Elvis.
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para113109gram wrote:
His is quite possibly my favorite voice ever.
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xmarysz wrote:
Only The Lonely ...<33 love him!
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unspeakablerx wrote:
he was such a humble, retiring dude according to every interview i've ever read. and it goes without saying that his voice was just made to break hearts.
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Lowbacca wrote:
roy holly: http://www.lastfm.de/music/Roy+Orbison/+images/40153463
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WeeEms2009 wrote:
legend,one of the cooliest guys ever.
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Alliban wrote:
My nan's got a sighed photograph of him. If that doesn't go into the will I wont be a happy chappy.
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LuckyEraser wrote:
Pretty One
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OneWhiteDuck wrote:
Really enjoying the live album which inexplicably, features Tom Waits: http://tinyurl.com/roy-tom
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thetaifunsdrum wrote:
ROY is unfergetebel...her songs are the best in the sixties...
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forloren wrote:
what the fuck skjønner ikke en dritt ass, onkel tom
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gulmor wrote:
"She's A Mystery to Me" is not in the top!? Kinda strange.
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Tecfan wrote:
Wallander's old friends dig this.
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WasteNoReason wrote:
One of the most amazing vocalists ever! RIP Roy =)
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KAJANMAN77 wrote:
claudette
Videos
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News
Roy to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk Of Fame!
14 Jan 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/royorbison
Roy Orbison will be honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during an unveiling ceremony on January 29. His wife Barbara Orbison and their sons Roy Jr. …
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11 Nov 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/royorbison -
[VIDEO] Springsteen and Fogerty perform "Oh, Pretty Woman" at Rock and Roll Hall Of…
30 Oct 2009 | from www.orbison.com/news -
30 Oct 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/royorbison
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