Roy Orbison - by Jeff Apter (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The definitive biography of one of music history's most beloved, versatile, unforgettable icons--Roy Orbison, the singer-songwriter of legendary hits including "Only the Lonely," "Crying," and "Oh, Pretty Woman"--from his chart-topping highs and tragic lows to his momentous comeback.

He didn't look, move, or sound like his contemporaries, but Roy Orbison, king of the emotionally charged, slow-burning, drama-ballad, struck a worldwide chord. Now, from acclaimed music biographer Jeff Apter, comes the definitive biography of one of music history's most beloved, versatile, singer-songwriter legends.

Clad in black with dark shades, Roy Orbison had a mystique, style, and voice that were unmistakable and singularly different from his famous peers of the 1950s and '60s, like Johnny Cash, Elvis, or Jerry Lee Lewis. Roy hit notes that, in the words of Bruce Springsteen, sounded "like the world's going to end."

Born in Vernon, Texas, Roy was the son of a guitar-playing oil worker. Already a music fan by age 6, Roy went on to form a high school band. Honky-tonk gigs followed. Then a contract at Elvis Presley's label, Sun Records, where Roy found mentors and friends among the likes of Carl Perkins. Following a shift to Monument Records, he shared a bill with a group called the Beatles, who were huge fans of his.

After experimenting with different styles, Roy edged closer to a sound all his own. He found it with smash singles including "Only the Lonely," "Crying," and "Oh, Pretty Woman," songs heavy with pathos and remarkable vocals. It was gold. But what lay ahead was a professional downswing, and personal tragedy with the death of his wife and two sons. 20 lean years followed. Yet Roy Orbison was far from over.

Amid the rockabilly revival of the 1980s and the formation of the British-American supergroup the Traveling Wilburys--with, among others, Jeff Lynne, who would eventually produce Roy's posthumous albums--Roy's comeback was legendary. Asked how he'd like to be remembered, Roy said, "One day when they are mentioning people who had an impact, if they just mention me among the rest of the guys and gals, it would be great." He got his wish. Roy Orbison: King of Hearts seals it.

Review Quotes

Praise for Roy Orbison: King of Hearts

"The look, the voice, the name--all of which seemed to suggest Roy Orbison was a music specter from another galaxy. I'm so proud to have the record on 'Crying, ' and so happy for what it did for this really beautiful human being. I'm also proud to call him my friend. Our paths are forever crossed. His music is perfect, like this book." --Don McLean

"One day, as I was listening to Roy's song 'A Love So Beautiful' back-to-back with Giacomo Puccini's 'Nessun dorma, ' I found a small clue to understanding the music of Roy Orbison. His effortless tenor triumphs over life, love, and loss with heartbreaking bravery, as this book attests. The message is timeless: Vincerò! Vincerò!" --Jennifer Warnes, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter

"Jeff Apter has done his homework. Roy Orbison emerges from these pages brimming with life. Apter tells a frank and sharply observed story of an American treasure--a recording star in the 1960s and '70s--when music was changing faster than 45 rpms." --Bob Spitz, New York Times bestselling author of The Beatles: The Biography and Led Zeppelin: The Biography

About the Author

Jeff Apter is the author of more than 30 books about music and musicians, and his work has been published all around the world. His subjects include Keith Urban, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, AC/DC's Bon Scott and the Young brothers, the Bee Gees, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Cure, and Dave Grohl. He was on staff at Australian Rolling Stone for several years. He lives on the NSW South Coast with his wife and two children, and enough pets to fill a small zoo. Visit him online at JeffApter.com.au.