Orbison, Roy (1936–1988)

US pop singer and songwriter. He specialized in slow, dramatic ballads, such as ‘Only the Lonely’ (1960) and ‘Running Scared’ (1961). His biggest hit was the jaunty ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ (1964).

Born in Texas, Orbison began in the mid-1950s as a rockabilly singer on Sun Records. In the 1970s he turned to country material but made a pop comeback in 1988 as a member of the Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, George Harrison (ex-Beatle), Tom Petty (1952– ), and Jeff Lynne (1947– ).

The last Orbison album, Mystery Girl (1989), was a posthumous success.