Roy Orbison With Kd Lang

Biography & Overview

Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, known for his distinctive voice, complex song structures, and emotional ballads. He was active primarily in the early 1960s and experienced a resurgence in the late 1980s. Orbison was recognized for performing with minimal movement, often wearing dark clothing, dark sunglasses, and styling his hair black. Born in Texas, Orbison began performing in a country-and-western band as a teenager. In 1956, he was signed to Sun Records by Sam Phillips, following a recommendation from Johnny Cash.