Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas in 1936. He began
playing the guitar when he was very young, learning from his father, an
amateur musician. He was drawn to pop and country sounds rather than
the rougher, earthier approach of singers like Little Richard or Chuck
Berry. His first hit was Ooby Dooby, a song written by two fraternity
brothers at North Texas State College and recorded at Clovis, NM at the
band's expense.
The record was noticed by Sam Phillips at Sun records and
he had the band re-record it in Memphis. Orbison resisted Phillips'
suggestion to develop a more Elvis-like sound and as a result he left Sun
Records. He marked time writing songs for other artists such as the Everly
brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Buddy Holly. Then he had his first
million-seller, Only the Lonely, in 1960.
Orbison was a ballad singer distinguished by his haunting falsetto and
his innocent approach. He admired other singers like Pat Boone.
Orbison's songs were covered by Linda Ronstadt, Glen Campbell, and Van Halen.
Other hits included Blue Angel (1960), Blue Bayou (1963),
and Oh, Pretty Woman (1964).
