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Roy Orbison
Artist profile

Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas in 1936. He started singing in church as a child and formed his first band when he was thirteen. Early on, he listened...

album387 lyric pages photo_library9 photos groups22 listeners here now Editor's note live
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
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Editor's note

Roy Orbison's soaring voice and lonely songs

The Texas singer with a clear, fragile falsetto who shaped early rock and roll.

For the full Orbison experience, start with 'Only the Lonely' and 'Crying.' That's where the voice and the feeling lock in.

Orbison's voice had a particular quality, a clear, soaring falsetto that could sound powerful and fragile at the same time. That sound defined his Monument Records hits like 'Only the Lonely' and 'Crying,' songs that gave a lonely, dramatic shape to early rock and roll. Even later recordings like 'I Drove All Night' carried that unmistakable vocal stamp.

He signed with Monument Records in 1960, and his first single for them, 'Only the Lonely,' was a hit. That led to a run of songs in the early 1960s, including 'Running Scared' and 'Dream Baby.' His relationship with Monument grew strained in the 1970s over disagreements about his newer material.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 19
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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387 lyric pages live 9 photos available Editor's note live Video on page
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Background notes

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Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas in 1936. He started singing in church as a child and formed his first band when he was thirteen. Early on, he listened to Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and the Everly Brothers, which helped shape the sound he'd become known for.

He signed with Monument Records in 1960, and his first single for them, 'Only the Lonely,' was a hit. That led to a run of songs in the early 1960s, including 'Running Scared,' 'Dream Baby,' and 'Crying.' His voice had a particular quality, a clear, soaring falsetto that could sound powerful and fragile at the same time.

In 1966, his wife Claudette and two of his sons died in a house fire. He wrote the song 'Leah' about her afterward. His relationship with Monument grew strained in the 1970s over disagreements about his newer material. Some of his later recordings include songs like 'I Drove All Night' and 'Waltzing Matilda.'

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Where should I start with Roy Orbison on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with I'll Say It's My Fault, Blue Angel, and I Drove All Night so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Roy Orbison?

LyroVerse currently has 387 visible lyric pages for Roy Orbison.

Does Roy Orbison have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 9 photos available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Roy Orbison?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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