Roy Orbison

Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Known for his impassioned singing style and dark, emotional ballads, Orbison's music was described as operatic, earning him the nicknames 'The Caruso of Rock' and 'The Big O'. Born in Texas, Orbison began his career in a rockabilly and country-and-western band. He achieved his greatest success with Monument Records from 1960 to 1966, with 22 of his singles reaching the Billboard Top 40. Orbison wrote or co-wrote most of his own Top 10 hits, including 'Only the Lonely', 'Running Scared', 'Crying', 'In Dreams', and 'Oh, Pretty Woman'.