Profile of the Day: Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison

Today we remember music legend Roy Orbison, who passed away on December 6, 1988 in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Orbison was born on April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas to Orbie Lee Orbison, a car mechanic, and Nadine Vesta Shults, a nurse. From an early age, Orbison showed an interest in music. When he was given a guitar for his sixth birthday, he knew music would be a part of his life forever. By the age of 8, he had written his first song and at 13, he had formed his first band.

During the early 1960’s, Orbison released a series of top hits, including “Only the Lonely,” “Crying,” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Orbison died of a heart attack on December 6, 1988. He was 52 years old. Today, Orbison is remembered as one of the most influential musicians in history.

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Roy Orbison is connected to over 127 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?
 

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Image: Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)