Crying.

[The Flying Mouse]

Twenty years ago I went into my mum and dad's kitchen and found my mother crying.

What's wrong I asked.

She told me that it had just been on the radio that Roy Orbison had died.

"Who's Roy Orbison?" I asked (hey, I was only twelve at the time).

In answer, she gave me three cassette tapes and told me to listen to them.
From that day on I loved to listen to that voice.


Roy was an amazing singer.Elvis himself described Roy as "the greatest singer in the world".
With the flood on new British acts in the early 60's, American acts were rarelly chart toppers in the UK, except for Roy who topped the charts with some of his greatest hits.

From what i've heard from people who met him, Roy was a most humble man, some people discribed him as being shy.Success and being a Rock N Roll star never went to his head.

Roy knew much sadness in his life.
His first wife, Claudette, was killed in a motor cycle accident, and two of his three children died in a fire at the family home.
Roy perserveered through all this tragedy, later remarrying and fathering two more children.

As you will all know, Roy made a cameo appearance in the movie Roadie, starring fellow Texan, Meat Loaf.

In April 1988, a chance meeting was to result in the coming together of a Rock N Roll Supergroup.
Along with Jeff Lynne, Bob, Dylan, Tom Petty, and George Harrison, The Travelling Wilburys were born.
The coming together of this group was an exciting experience for all those concerned, and it is obvious that Roy in particular was very much loved and respected by his bandmates.

On 6th December 1988 after complaining of chest pains, he was rushed to a hospital in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and he was declared dead at 11:54pm.
He had suffered a massive heart attack at the age of 55.

Although Roy was gone, his light continued to shine.
Not long before passing away, he had finished both a solo album, Mystery Girl, and The Travelling Wilburys Vol 1.
Both these albums made it into the top 5 album charts.
He is the first artist since Elvis to postumously have two albums in the top 5 at the same time.

In 1988, Roy had been awarded the Grammy lifetime achievment award, and the next year he was inducted into the songwritters hall of fame.

In 2004, Roy was ranked as #37 in the Rolling Stones 100 gratest artists of all time.


Most of all,Roy's legacy is in the hearts of his fans, both old and new, who listen to his voice, miss him dearly, and for who will live forever.

YouTube Video

"Roy performed at the Diamond Career Awards in Belgium in November 1988, shortly before his death. "

[sexyeyes_jo]

it was such a shame that roy orbison died at such a young age like that he seemed so shy and so nice on the dvd, i would have loved to have met him though he will be missed by many people.

[MeatGrl1]

RIP Roy .

Neil, video says that it's no longer available...

[Battybarb]

i found that as well Emma,just tried it...

[Battybarb]

Roy Orbison was definately one of the greats....