Roy Orbison

The Official Website of The Soul of Rock and Roll

RIP B. B. King

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RIP B. B. King

The world has lost another legend.

When Roy Orbison and the rest of The Class of ’55 (Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins) arrived at Sun Studios to begin recording with Sam Phillips, B. B. King had already been working with Sam for years.  The influence of B. B. King on artists in nearly every genre that exists can not be overstated.

Here’s B. B. King performing “THE THRILL IS GONE” at the 1990 Roy Orbison tribute concert to raise money for the homeless.  We think it’s one of his finest performances.

God bless B. B. King, the King of the Blues!

Happy Birthday Elvis Presley!

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Happy Birthday Elvis Presley!

The King would be 80 today.   Roy Orbison and Elvis were friends, had a great level of mutual respect, and were even label mates at SUN.  Elvis went so far as to call Roy “the greatest singer in the world” and the two attended each others concerts whenever they had the opportunity.  When Elvis passed Roy wrote a song paying tribute to his dear friend.

Here’s “HOUND DOG MAN” Live from Austin City Limits–

BARBARA ORBISON TRIBUTE VIDEO SET TO ROY ORBISON’S “PRECIOUS”

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Barbara Orbison tribute video set to Roy Orbison’s song “PRECIOUS”.

 

Roy and Barbara would have been married 44 years this March.

 

An unreleased song that was included in 2008 on “THE SOUL OF ROCK AND ROLL” boxset, “PRECIOUS” was the sort of tender song Barbara inspired in Roy shortly after they met. This one is a rarity he played in his home studio alone on an acoustic guitar. Never intended for release, it is a beautiful lullaby type song.

 

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