Roy Orbison

April 23 marks the birthday of one of our idols, Roy Orbison, who would be 74 if he were alive today. Roy ruled the rockabilly 60’s with his hits “Crying”, “Only the Lonely,” “Oh, Pretty Woman” etc. Elvis described Roy as “The greatest singer in the world.” Bob Dylan said Roy “was an opera singer but didn’t know it.” We were lucky to see Roy when his career was on the downside, in a funky intimate club in Peoria, Illinois. He barely spoke or moved when he sang, but his touching voice brought tears to your eyes. In the 80’s David Lynch’s movie “ Blue Velvet” prominently featured Roy’s astonishing song “In Dreams” and resurrected his career. He died of a heart attack in 1988 at the too-young age of 52.