+R.I.P. +Barbara Orbison (January 10, 1950 – December 6, 2011)+

 Roy Orbison's widow Barbara dies of cancer aged 60.

Former rock 'n' roll pioneer's manager died on the 23rd anniversary of his death

/By Wil Longbottom, 7th December 2011

 Barbara Orbison, the widow and manager of rock 'n' roll pioneer Roy Orbison, has died on the 23rd anniversary of her husband's death.

The 60-year-old died from pancreatic cancer at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center yesterday surrounded by her sons.

Since the 1980s, Barbara Orbison devoted her time to managing her husband's estate and keeping his legacy alive.
With her son, Roy Kelton Orbison, she co-produced a four-CD box set of her husband's 107 recordings.

Roy Orbison: The Soul Of Rock And Roll was released in 2008 and contains all of his hits and 12 previously unreleased tracks.

The package marked the first all-inclusive body of his work from his earliest recordings to The Travelling Wilburys' debut album, Mystery Girl and his last live performance.

Roy Orbison died the same say, December 6 in 1988 at the age of 52, in the midst of a comeback with The Travelling Wilburys.

Lisa Swayze, widow of actor Patrick Swayze who died in September 2009 from pancreatic cancer, said: 'Patrick and I always had a warm connection with them both.
'Now we ahve lost this wonderful lady.'

In 1998, Mrs Orbison issued Combo Concert on her label Orbison Records, a collection of previously unreleased live recordings from Holland and France made in 1965, according to Roy Orbison's official website.

That same year, she accepted the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award on her husband's behalf, which honoured his contribution to the recording industry.

In January 2010, Mrs Orbison accepted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on her husband's behalf.

Still Working Music, her music publishing company based in Nashville, Tennessee, was recently awared BMI's 2010 Song of the Year for Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me.

She had been in hospital since May battling cancer.

Mrs Orbison will be buried next to her husband at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles, publicist Sarah McMullen said. A celebration of life is planned in Nashville.

She is survived by her sons Wesley Orbison, 46, Roy Kelton Orbison, 41, and Alexander Orbison, 36.
*** COMMENTS:
*This is so sad. i saw her on the show selling new york (american real estate show) about 7 months ago, and she looks fantastic. so sorry!

- jaydee, hot springs, us, 07/12/2011

*What a beautiful lady, and so respectful of her late husband's career. Far too young to pass from this incredibly cruel disease. Rest in Peace Barbara!
- Minnie, Cornwall, 07/12/2011

**I'm so sad to hear that Barbara has passed away. And shocked, 60 is my own age, and no age at all.
Barbara was a great source of consolation and inspiration to Roy, the other great love and pretty woman in in life, but not always duely recognized as such. She was instrumental in Roy's successful bid for a comeback in the eighties and stood by him in difficult times in the late sixties and gave him a new family in the seventies. She was the inspiration of beautiful songs like God Love You. In recent years she gave us THE Roy Orbison Collection The Soul of Rock and Roll along with many other releases over the years many, many other important Roy releases.
Many years back I had some correspondence with Barbara and was later updated about the lives of the family members through mutual friend Derek Neill, an old fan and trusted associate of the estate. From the little I knew Barbara personally she was a considerate and giving person. As to her role in Roy's life and career, she was of immense importance.
My heart goes out to Roy2, Alex and big brother Wesley and the rest of the Orbison family.
/Jesper



*****
+Barbara Orbison (January 10, 1950  – December 6, 2011) was a German-born United States-based entrepreneur, music producer/publisher, and the widow of American musician Roy Orbison.+
Barbara Anne Marie Wellhöner Jakobs was born in Bielefeld, Germany.On July 21, 1968, Barbara (then 18 years old) met the 32-year-old Orbison when he asked friends to introduce him to her at a nightclub in Leeds, England, during Orbison's tour of Great Britain. They married on March 24, 1969, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. They divided their time between Nashville and Malibu, California, raising their two sons, Roy Kelton Orbison, Jr. (born 1970) and Alexander Lee Orbison (born 1975).

During the 1980s, she managed her husband's career and was the executive producer of his 1987 album, In Dreams: The Greatest Hits plus his highly acclaimed January 1988 televised music special, Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night. Following her husband's death in December 1988, she took charge of his business affairs and dedicated herself to promoting his music to ensuing generations. She worked with friend and fellow artist Jeff Lynne to put together the posthumous release of the King of Hearts album in 1992 (an album which was re-issued in 2007 by Sony BMG after they took charge of Virgin's catalog in 2005) as well as other record projects. She co-produced Only the Lonely: The Roy Orbison Story, a European stage musical.
In late 1993, the family home in Malibu was destroyed by brush fires. Although she maintained a residence on the West Coast, she returned to Nashville where she purchased a home as well as a commercial property to house her music publishing business. Her company, "Still Working Music", employs songwriters such as Tommy Lee James and Billy Burnette.

Orbison was also involved with charitable causes in aid of the homeless. For Showtime, in 1991, she produced a Roy Orbison tribute at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles that raised in excess of $1 million for the city's homeless. She personally funded "Orbison House", a 21-unit residence for the mentally impaired homeless of Los Angeles.

She produced Damien Leith's album, Roy: A Tribute To Roy Orbison, which was released by Sony BMG in Australia on April 15, 2011 to coincide with what would have been Roy Orbison's 75th birthday.
 Death
Barbara Orbison was hospitalized from May 2011 until her death on December 6, 2011, aged 61, from pancreatic cancer, 23 years to the day after her husband's death. She was buried next to her husband at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. This was followed by a celebration of her life in Nashville, Tennessee. She was survived by her sons Roy Kelton Orbison (born 1970) and Alexander Orbison (born 1975). /by Wikipedia/
***

/I thank you so much for this info, Robert!/
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ROY ORBISON - UNDER THE COVERS /A Birthday Tribute CD

New artists pay tribute to Roy Orbison at the Roy Orbison Birthday Tribute Concert held at the Gibson Guitar Studio, London – 23rd April 2009
A host of new and established International singer songwriters took time out to perform many of Roy Orbison’s greatest hits in their own style to a specially invited audience. The tribute concert was hosted by Barbara Orbison, Roy Orbison Jr and Alex Orbison and held at the Gibson Guitar Studio in London. The concert was timed to mark the birthday of the legendary Roy Orbison (23rd April 1936) and to celebrate his life and legacy. The event was also an opportunity to unveil the new Limited Edition Epiphone Roy Orbison “Oh, Pretty Woman” 12 String acoustic guitar which was played by various artists including Ex-Fleetwood Mac and John Fogerty guitarist Billy Burnett. The tribute concert saw musicians from around the world celebrate Roy’s life and music by recording and performing songs written by the great Roy Orbison. All the songs will be available world-wide on iTunes from April 27th

The tribute concert opened with a touching introduction from Barbara Orbison who talked openly about the life of Roy Orbison and what the event would have meant to him, she then handed over to her son Alex Orbison who introduced each act onto the stage.
Artists who performed live at the Roy Orbison Birthday Tribute Concert included:
Mary N'Daiye/ Phil Marshall / Vera Bohl/ Findlay Brown/ Gary Nock/ Ginger Redcliff/ Honey Ryder/ Kaycee Cole/ Reid & Stanners/ Netsayi/ Smoke Fairies/ Tone Damli Aagerge/ Peter Conway/ Katie Vogel/ Billy Burnett/ Fyfe Dangerfield (The Guillemots)/ Aruba Red/ Dave Stark Five Group.
The night climaxed with Roy’s classic “Oh,Pretty Woman” which saw all the artists take to the stage to sing the final verse and chorus. A specially made birthday cake in the shape of the Epiphone Roy Orbison “Oh, Pretty Woman” guitar was cut after everyone sang happy Birthday to Roy.
***************************************************************************************
Roy Orbison & Roy, JR.


 




Roy & Barbara
***********************************************************************************************************
Last night Dave and I attended the Roy Orbison Birthday Party celebration at the Gibson Guitar Studio in London.

There was a tribute show in honor of the late singer, with bands and artists performing songs written by Roy Orbison. Barbara Orbison, sons Alex and Roy Jr. along with 19 new artists and friends from around the world celebrated the life and music of one of music’s biggest legends.
It was a pleasant surprise seeing Fyfe Dangerfield from Guillemots there, who we were happy to share a table with, along with Guillemots drummer Greig Stewart. Fyfe performed a superb rendition of “Only The Lonely”.
We took quite a few pictures…I went a little crazy with the camera, but with all the other photographers there taking pictures, it felt natural to join in with the other flashes going off for each act.
Roy’s son Alex Orbison MC’d the event, introducing other artists that performed their favorite Big O hits - (in order) Mary N’Daiye, Phil Marshall, Vera Bohl, Findlay Brown, Gary Nock, Ginger Redcliff, Honey Ryder, Kaycee Cole, Reid & Stanners, Netsayi, Smoke Fairies, Tone Damli Aagerge, Peter Conway, Katie Vogel (green eyed monster), Billy Burnett, Fyfe Dangerfield (Guillemots), Aruba Red, Dave Stark Five, Group - Oh Pretty Woman.
The event was supported by Epiphone in celebration of the upcoming launch the new Epiphone 12 String ‘Pretty Woman’ acoustic guitar - the Epiphone acoustic guitar was originally used by Roy when he penned that song. Other sponsors on the night include BMI, Denzyl Feigelson and his team at AWAL (Artists Without A Label).
Over 30 artists have recorded one of their favourite Orbison songs for an iTunes only album called ‘Roy Orbison Under the Covers’.
(By: Jenny May)
---



                           Barbara Orbison


Roy Orbison Jr., Tone Damli Aaberge (Norway Pop Idol winner), Barbara Orbison, Fyfe Dangerfield, Alex Orbison





Fyfe Dangerfield










Mary N’Diaye - “Oh Pretty Woman”


Findlay Brown






Gary Nock - “You Got It”




Honey Ryder - “Love In Time”







Kaycee Cole - “In Dreams”








The Smoke Fairies - “It’s Over”





Peter Conway - “There Won’t Be Many Coming Home”





Katie Vogel - “Blue Bayou”






Billy Burnett (ex Fleetwood Mac) w/ Alex Orbison on Drums - “Ooby Dooby”






Aruba Red (Jack Bruce’s daughter) - “You Fool You”
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Comments:*****
Dennis L. Tredinnick:
I would just like to say a Happy Birthday to Roy on this day, April 23,2009 which would have been his 73rd Birthday. He is truely missed and will always be remembered. My Best to his family.
---
Declan:
God I hope this posts correctly! It is 'rare' that an artist transcends, rises 'above' their God-given gift... Roy did that like no other... When I was in the worst time in my life, Roy's voice was the voice not from this world, that touched me like no one else and brought me into the light.. Roy is my favorite artist of all time. Period. I have never ever seen nor heard anyone like Roy. Roy's family are so amazing and the nicest people I have gotten to know. I love Roy and his family and am so grateful that on this side of heaven, I was given a taste of what the afterlife will be like.. Thank you Roy!!! 
---
Walter:
Greastest Singer ever. I have been so Bless to be able to sing just like Roy. It's been my saving Grace all my life.
---
Valspace:
What a great project! Congrats - I am sure you've done Roy's music proud. I am wearing sunglasses in his honor today. ..
 
---
Emanuele D.:
I can believe it! I love this song! When this album come to Brazil?..Good luck guys!..
 
---
Kimberly:
Your music is amazing and I can't wait to hear your new album! ...**********************************************************************************
ROY ORBISON - UNDER THE COVERS -A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE
2009

01-You Fool You 2:02 Aruba Red
02-Running Scared 1:52 Disa
03-Claudette 2:41 The Carter Twins
04-Blue Bayou 2:43 Katie Vogel
05-You Got It 3:48 Rooney
06-Best Friend 2:53 Vera Bohl
07-Crawling Back 3:17 Shez
08-It's Over 2:23 Smoke Fairies
09-Oh, Pretty Woman 3:59 Hanan
10-You're the One 3:29 Reid & Stanners
11-Running Scared 2:41 Findlay Brown
12-In Dreams 4:35 54 Seconds
13-Wild Hearts Run Out of Time 3:30 Helgi Jonsson
14-Not Alone Anymore 3:26 Lucy Walsh
15-Paper Boy 3:30 Ginger Redcliff
16-You Got It 3:24 Winterplay
17-Running Scared 2:38 DePedro
18-Crying 3:23 Anthony Roth Costanzo
19-Falling 2:39 Netsayi
20-You Got It 4:39 The Spectaculars
21-Oh, Pretty Woman 2:30 Molly Beanland
22-There Won't Be Many Coming Home 3:36 Peter Conway
23-Oh, Pretty Woman 4:15 Bora Yalcinduran
24-A Love So Beautiful 3:38 Tobias Fröberg
25-Oh, Pretty Woman 6:53 Fractal
26-Working for the Man 3:02 Benjamin Olson
27-Oh, Pretty Woman 2:28 Mary N'Diaye
28-In Dreams 2:49 Kaycee Cole
29-Oh, Pretty Woman (Live) 3:29 The Dave Stark Five
**********************************************************************************

ROY ORBISON - THE MAN THAT LASTS

/*CELEBRATING ROY ORBISON BIRTHDAY, April 23/

(„No one will ever know

     the truth, but me“)

I knew him only through his songs. In the voice, which painted every song of his, there was both sadness and joy, love and friendship, past and future. Right are those in saying that his voice was a blue neon in darkness, a light at the end of the tunnel. Words are superfluous and sometimes even not enough insufficiently expressive to describe the feelings that overflew during listening to each of his songs. He drew nearer a whole World unknown to us by then and it seemed that we could see and feel all the roads of Texas, that endless red ground with oil towers, lake coast lines in Tennessee, the blue of California, those long magical American cars, sad good-byes and merry weddings, a whole distant life.

This was a tender, fair and persistant man. A man of happiness and of sorrow. Still, even in sad moments, he found strength to exit, for tomorrow, for forthcoming happy hours. People loved and respected him which he recompensed them with his beautiful voice. The compositions which he created were so sentimental that he really deserves a place among the greatest singers of the World. A peaceful man who could through his seemingly weak voice so powerfully express the loveliest and strongest emotions of life.

A man who was kind. Why do the kind men stay with us for such a short time? 52 years are too little for a life opus of such a great and good man. I believe that he had so much more to tell us in his compositions and songs. Roy lasts we don’t yet know the answer to the question why he was the best or one of the best. This is why he is unique and unrepeatable.

Because of this, the grave in the graveyard near Los Angeles is not the definitive end of this man – it will rather be a mark in memory and recollection that he physically is there. But, his deeds and his voice will always be with us. He is around us, in our memories, loves, journeys...

People say that he was a lucky man. I don’t know. I believe more formly that he kept his sadness caused by overdoleful disasters inside himself. He didn’t want to hurt others. The singing and the life have beaten the pain; life had to move on. Even when he’s gone, precisely because of him, he is still with us. He will really and always be there. With his compositions and songs he entered our lives, and there is where he endures.

A man that lasts. Roy.

Slobodan, Belgrade, 1997  

(Translated from „Roy Orbison – Remembrance, Part 3“)

(*Thank you so much, Paula)

************************************************************************************************************
Roy Quotes:

* There is always someone who knows me. I must be one of the most unloneliest people in the world!

* There was a lot of loneliness in West Texas where I grew up. We used to say it was the center of everything, five hundred miles away from anything.

* The sense of 'do it for all it's worth, do it now, and do it good' has always stayed with me.

* Life is something I don't want to run way from. I am interested in what it has to offer, both good and bad. I have the balance in my life to see what the bad is, what the good is and where the in between lies

* I use to be asked how I would like to be remembered. My answer was that I would just like to be remembered. And I think maybe if I made a contribution, some form of a contribution. That maybe brought a little happiness to someone, or held a few things together. Then that would be great.

* The intensity of your emotions is something awe-inspiring, no matter how painful it might sometimes seem. I believe that none of us ever really grows out of that.

* My life is a never-ending dream. I take one day at a time and never look too far into the future.

* ... Just keep carrying on. Go ahead, because you could stop one day short of the good thing that's gonna happen.
-------
/*Thank you so much, Aurora from Lubbock,TX!

ROY ORBISON - ČOVEK KOJI TRAJE

   /*Celebrating Roy Orbison Birthday, April 23/

     

                                                                                                              

 („No one will ever know

   the truth, but me“)

Poznavao sam ga samo preko njegovih pesama. U glasu kojim je slikao svaku pesmu bilo je i tuge i radosti, i ljubavi i prijateljstva, i prošlosti i budućnosti. U pravu su oni koji kažu da mu je glas bio plavi neon u tami, svetlost na kraju tunela. Reči su suvišne a ponekad i nedovoljno izražajne da bi se opisala osećanja koja su se izlivala slušanjem svake njegove pesme. Približio nam je čitav svet koji nismo mogli osetiti i videti, sve puteve Texasa, beskrajnu crvenu zemlju sa naftnim tornjevima, obale jezera u Tennessee-u, plavetnilo Californije, ona dugačka čarobna američka kola, tužne rastanke i srećna venčanja, čitav jedan daleki život.

Čovek je bio blag, dobar, istrajan. Čovek sreće i čovek tuge. Ipak, i u tužnim momentima našao je snage za izlaz, za sutra, za buduće srećne časove. Voleli su ga i poštovali a on im je uzvraćao svojim divnim glasom. Kompozicije koje je stvarao bile su tako osećajne da zaista zaslužuje da bude medju najvećim pevačima na svetu. Miran čovek koji je umeo tako snažno da preko naizgleg slabašnog glasa izrazi najdivnija i najsnažnija osećanja života.

Čovek je bio dobar. Ali, zašto su dobri ljudi tako malo sa nama? 52 godine je premalo za životni opus tako velikog i dobrog čoveka. Verujem da je imao toliko puno da nam kaže kroz svoje kompozicije i pesme. Zato što još ne znamo odgovor na pitanje zbog čega je Roy najbolji, ili medju najboljima, zato on traje. Zato je on jedinstven i neponovljiv.

I zbog toga, grob na groblju u blizini Los Angelesa nije definitivni kraj ovoga čoveka – pre će to biti jedno obeležje u spomen i potsećanje da je on fizički tu. Ali, njegova dela i njegov glas biće uvek sa nama. Jer, on je svuda oko nas, u našim sećanjima, ljubavima, putovanjima...

Kažu da je on bio srećan čovek. Ne znam. Pre verujem da je on svoju tugu zbog pretužnih nesreća držao u sebi. Nije hteo da povredjuje druge. Pesma i život su pobedili bol, život je morao da ide dalje. Čak i kada ga nema, upravo zbog njega, on je uvek sa nama. I biće uvek tu. Svojim kompozicijama i pesmama ušao je u naše živote. I tu on traje.

Čovek koji traje. Roy.

 Slobodan, Belgrade, 1997.

(from „Roy Orbison – Remembrance, Part 3“)

CELEBRATING ROY ORBISON BIRTHDAY - April 23

*************
I've listened to Roy Orbison as far back as I can remember! I love his voice and beautiful songs - and I always will!
Thank you Roy for your contribution to making me the music lover that I am!
(Zelma,Sweden)*************

Roy Orbison is great because while he wasn't the best singer in the world, he always got the job done like none else could. his vocal lines were pure and no one could touch him.
(Matthew,USA)
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ROY ORBISON - IT"S OVER
What's the greatest break-up song ever? Thing is, I'm looking for the best because today is a momentous day. At 3pm I kissed goodbye to the love of my life over the last few months - my dissertation! And as I passed it over to my tutor I could hear strains of Roy Orbison beginning in my head: 'your baby doesn't love you anymore.'

I'm no expert on break-up songs but I just cannot believe there is one better than this one by Roy Orbison (More of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits, 1964). It's so good it's almost worth breaking up with someone just so you can send it to them as a kind of parting gift! There's just something amazing about that voice and the backing singers - it's heartbreaking.

So it's offical - me and my dissertation are no longer an item. Praise God!
(Nick Coke
Stepney,London,United Kingdom)****************

ONLY THE LONELY
It seemed natural to focus our next post on one of the greatest at speaking to the broken-hearted, Mr. Roy Orbison. I first heard Orbison's music when I was probably 8 or 9 years old, can even remember the moment when I was made aware that this music was special music by my father. We were in the car back from a soccer tournament and an Orbison Greatest Hits tape was put in and my dad told me about the man in black with the greatest voice of all-time. I didn't like it at first, probably because it was so far from my first love of hip-hop, plus it was a recommendation from a parent. But, these songs wouldn't have made sense to me then anyway; I was too young to understand what this guy was singing about.

As my man sang, "Only the lonely know know why I cry, only the lonely." Indeed. At a certain point, this music makes sense to us all, as no one escapes unscathed. For sad music, though, it sounds so beautiful, majestic at times, it doesn't hide in minimalism and off-notes. Strings, backup vocals, an early rock/abilly sound slowed down, hints of doo-wop, fans of the Jens Lekman can hear one influence on his music. If you are discussing Orbison's music, there's one aspect that you have to mention, that you speak of in awe: that voice. Maybe the greatest to ever grace pop music, it can hit the high notes and go down low with authority. Listen to it on "Crying," it covers the entire vocal range in an almost operatic style and makes a nearly three minute rock song sound like so much more. There's not much to add to all of this, these songs above are some of the saddest you'll ever here, a reminder of the other side of all those great love songs. I'll end with the lyrics to "Crying," my favorite:

I was all right for a while, I could smile for a while
But I saw you last night you held my hand so tight
As you stopped to say hello
Oh, you wished me well, you couldn't tell
That I've been crying over you, crying over you
And you said, so long
Left me standing all alone
Alone and crying, crying, crying, crying
It's hard to understand but the touch of your hand
Can start me crying

I thought that I was over you
But it's true, so true
I love you even more than I did before
But darling, what can I do
For you don't love me and I'll always be
Crying over you, crying over you

Yes, now you're gone and from this moment on
I'll be crying, crying, crying, crying
Yeah, crying, crying over you.

Whew. Try to top that. Thank you Roy for reminding us that it's okay for boys to cry.
(Jack,New York,USA)

**************

ROY ORBISON BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE CONCERT IN LONDON

Big O Birthday Bash
Roy Orbison birthday tribute concert and iTunes release announced
Gibson Guitar Studio, London
Thursday 23rd April 2009
New signed and unsigned artists from around the world celebrate the life and music of ROY ORBISON by recording songs written by the legend. The songs will be available world-wide on iTunes on April 23, Orbison’s birthday. To launch the release, several artists will perform their Orbison song at a tribute concert and birthday party at central London’s Gibson Guitar Studio on April 23 beginning at 6:30pm
Some 30 new artists from around the world have recorded their rendition of Orbison classics and other songs. Confirmed performances on the night so far include:
• UK singer Rhys Morgan (Sony Music) who sang “After the Love is Gone”
• UK singer/songwriter Jamie Hartman recorded “Only the Lonely”
• Jack Bruce’s daughter Aruba Red who has put a reggae slant on “You Fool You”
• Spencer Gibb (son of Barry Gibb) recorded “In Dreams” – TBC at time of issue
• American band Luna Halo who did a rockin’ version of “You’re the One”
• Alex Orbison (Roy’s son) will get up and play drums with some artists
• and Billy Burnett of Fleetwood Mac is going to perform Ooby Dooby
Other artists who have recorded songs include Norway Pop Idol winner Tone Damli Aaberge, South African band Parlotones have recorded “Crying”, Ben Taylor (son of James Taylor), Peter Anderson (Lucky Dog Records), Mary N’Diyae (from Sweden), have each recorded tracks. The Carter Twins (CMT) from America paid homage to both Orbison and The Everly Brothers with their treatment of “Claudette”.




Some special guests are also to be announced.
The recent boxset Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock & Roll will also be made available for the first time on i-Tunes outside America.
The event is supported by Epiphone in celebration of the upcoming launch the new Epiphone 12 String ‘Pretty Woman’ acoustic guitar – the Epiphone acoustic guitar was originally used by Roy when he penned that song. Other sponsors on the night include BMI, Denzyl Feigelson and his team at AWAL (Artists Without A Label)
The idea for the event was conceived by Barbara Orbison and Denzyl Feigelson, who wanted to promote new and emerging talent across the world. Barbara Orbison, who will be present on the night, states “This is an event that Roy would have loved – to hear new voices sing his songs. Supporting new artistic talent is something we are so happy to do in Roy’s name. I would like to thank all our sponsors and particularly Henry Juszkiewicz Gibson Guitar’s Chairman and CEO for all of his companies’ support.”
The Roy Orbison Birthday Bash starts at 6:30 pm and is by invitation only.

HUDSON RESIDENT HELPS KEEP ORBISON LEGACY ALIVE

(Used with permission)
from HUDSON HUB-TIMES
December 7, 2008


Photo By Special to Record Publishing Co.
Bill Dees, seated, and Wesley Orbison play during a Jan 25 concert at Arizona State University.  The college honored Roy Orbison with a three-day tribute in which he was posthumously given a Career Achievement Award. A group of Roy Orbison fans, including Hudson resident Marty Erbaugh, gather annually in December to celebrate his career.


by Tim TroglenReporter
Hudson
 -- Twenty years ago, a man from Vernon, Texas, brought his trademark straight black hair, dark glasses and hauntingly melodious voice to Ohio's Front Row Theater.
A few days later, the world mourned as that man, Roy Orbison, died at his home in Tennessee.
A year later, two men, Marty Erbaugh from Hudson and David Shoenfelt of Akron, got together and formed a group of Roy Orbison fans which have met every year since -- including this weekend in Akron.

Erbaugh said his love of the legendary singer's music began in 1965 when the band he performed with opened for Orbison at a concert near Cincinnati.
"We opened for several bands that have become very famous," Erbaugh said.
However, Erbaugh said he had never seen Orbison perform live until 1965.
"He was very unassuming, but approachable," Erbaugh said. "And he was shy."
From then on, Erbaugh, who is a private investor and sits on the board of trustees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, said he was hooked.
When Orbison came to Ohio 1988, Shoenfelt, a professional photographer and Orbison fan, was there to capture the images, not knowing this would be the Orbison's last concert.
Shoenfelt said he "connected" to Orbison's music the first time he heard it.
"I was the only one in my family who liked him," Shoenfelt said.
After the concert, Shoenfelt put an add in Rolling Stone magazine's tribute edition to Orbison, advertising the selling of the pictures.
"I responded to his ad, found out he was in Akron and said 'let's get together,'" Erbaugh remembered.

He said the pair talked about their love for Orbison's music and discussed the possibility of getting together with other fans. Their first gathering was in 1989.
According to Shoenfelt, fans from all over the world continued to contact him to buy the pictures.
"I kept track of all the people and talked to Marty," Shoenfelt said. "He said, 'Wouldn't it be cool if a few of us got together and listened to Roy and talked?' We did, and that was 20 years ago."
Erbaugh said two people from the West Coast and other fans from Alabama and Maine attended the first gathering.
"There were about 10 people, and we thoroughly enjoyed the time," Erbaugh said.
He said word spread, and now members come from as far away as Australia, England and Holland.

Shoenfelt said the group, which meets in private homes, has grown from two to more than 100.
"I've never met a Roy Orbison fan I didn't like," he said. "His music attracts a certain style of personality."
The gatherings are not open to the public. Group members bring Orbison memorabilia and discuss their favorites songs, memories and thoughts on his music and life, Erbaugh said.
Erbaugh said he owns the original acetate recordings of several or Orbison's songs, and members of the group have an entire collection of original Orbison studio sessions.
Over the years, members of the Orbison family have gotten involved, including Wesley Orbison, who is a regular attendee to the annual get together in Akron and Hudson.
Wesley is the son of Roy Orbison and his first wife, Claudette. She was killed in motorcycle accident in 1966.

"It took Wesley about four or five years to get used to our group," Shoenfelt said.
Shoenfelt said the group "never really worked to be something."
"But we always enjoyed ourselves and always come back," he said.
Erbaugh said the group continues to grow and meet because the music of Orbison "never grows old."
Another attendee is Bill Dees, co-writer on 67 of Orbison's songs, including "Pretty Woman." Shoenfelt said Wesley, who also toured with country legend Johnny Cash, and Dees are "best friends" and sometimes perform together.
"I love this," Dees said of the get-together to honor his friend. "Roy Orbison fans are like family."

Dees, who said Orbison had a great influence on him, added it is "amazing that anyone would do something like this for anyone."
He said the pair worked on 10 songs together the year Orbison died.
"He was a wonderful friend and the kindest, most patient man -- most of the time," Dees laughed.
Dees said he believes his friend and writing partner, who he also shared a deep faith in God with, has "passed from death and into eternal life."
And he also said Orbison would have been pleased by the group's efforts to honor him. Dees said Orbison used to tell him "I'd just like to be remembered."

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(*Thank you so much, Tim Troglen)
(*Thank you so much, Barb)
    * It seems that at least some of the media agree with “Roy to the World”. I was a wonderful time, friends, Wesley Orbison, Bill Dees remembering ROY make the sad time, enjoyable.  Wesley is such a nice young man and he is so comfortable with us now........very special * -Barb.

DION REMEMBERS

On his new album Dion remembers his musical heroes
* By Leslie Gray Streeter
Palm Beach Post
September 26, 2008


There are no Gene Simmons songs on Dion DiMucci's new album. But he did influence it, kind of.

"I was talking to a friend of mine, a record collector, and I asked "Do you know who Gene Vincent is?'" recalls the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, doo-wop legend and Boca Raton legend. "He said 'Did he sing with KISS?'"
The fact that anyone would confuse Gene Vincent, the rock pioneer of Be-Bop-A-Lula fame and Gene Simmons, of demonic face paint fame, was enough to send DiMucci on a crusade to turn the spotlight on the long-neglected architects of early rock - his contemporaries.
"I got the feeling that people were looking at the '50s like this (creatively) light era," says Dion, whose newest album, Heroes: Giants of Early Guitar Rock (Saguaro Road Records) comes out Tuesday. It finds him putting his own spin on the music of Vincent, Ricky Nelson, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Roy Orbison and others.

"Les Paul guitars were invented in the '50s. Fender guitars were invented in the '50s. Grunge was invented in the '50s, really, with Link Wray," he says. "And then there were all these great guitar players that flew under the radar. I thought 'Let me put it together under one umbrella.' It was definitely a labor of love."
The Bronx native and long-time Palm Beach County resident recently expounded on his musical crusade. And how not taking that fateful flight almost 50 years ago, the one that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper and was immortalized as "the day the music died" on Don McLean's American Pie, helped shaped his faith.

Question: The thing that strikes me is that while many artists do tribute albums, it is interesting to see it done by a contemporary of those artists.
Answer: A lot of those songs, I heard four times a day. I did shows with these people, like with Buddy Holly and the Winter Dance Party (tour), I heard Rave On all the time. I lived with those songs, in a sense. It's been 50 years, coming up, that Buddy and Ritchie (Valens) died in that plane crash in 1959. That must be working up something in my system. Most of the guys (whose songs are covered) on the album are gone. The only ones that are left are the Everly Brothers and Chuck Berry.
Q: And you want people to know how beautiful it was, musically.
A: I see the '50s jammed, choked, with important artists. It's the only (era) that giants walked the earth, between the '50s and early '60s. The first thing was Chuck Berry, and the second thing was the Beatles. Then everything is kind of a spin-off, if you know what I mean, as far as rock and roll goes.
Q: What kind of response have you gotten from this project?
A: Yesterday, I spent a half-hour with Conan O'Brien - a friend of mine knows him. I didn't know how into the music he was. He was very aware of Eddie Cochran, and the sense of humor that he had - "I'm gonna take two weeks, gonna have a fun vacation/Gonna take my problem to the U-nited Nations/ Well, I called my congressman and he said 'Quote: I'd like to help you, son, but you're too young to vote.'" (Laughs) That's pretty cool for the '50s.
You know, Conan has a lot of beautiful guitars. He's a collector. He knows Rave On inside and out. He opens his show with it.
Q: He does?
A: Before the taping starts, he goes out there with guitars and plays all this stuff. I didn't know it, either. He's very bright about all that music.
Q: In some cases, you picked songs other than the ones the artists are primarily known for, like with Chuck Berry and Del Shannon.
A: There are some songs I loved so much that I just couldn't stay away from them, like (Johnny Cash's) I Walk The Line. That song's so different. It changes key five times. For Del Shannon, I was gonna do Hats Off To Larry, but with Runaway, I thought there might be somebody who hasn't heard it. Everybody in the world has done that song, but in the end it was hard not to do it. I traveled with Del, and that's such a great song.
And I was gonna do (Ritchie Valens') La Bamba, but I thought "I'm gonna ruin the Spanish," so I did Come On, Let's Go instead. And that Ricky Nelson song, Believe What You Say, is a great song. It was originally done by the Johnny Burnette Trio. Johnny died in a boating accident in 1964. But with him and his guitar player, Paul Burlinson, you can hear the beginning of rock and roll. They wrote that song and sent it to Ricky, and with (guitarist) James Burton behind him, you got a classic. There was so much history in one song, I couldn't stay away.
Q: So this is a musical history lesson.
A: Rolling Stone magazine started in 1967, and they sometimes seem to think that rock started with the Beatles. And it started to get on my nerves, to be honest. That's why I called the last album Son Of Skip James, because (the early Delta blues guitarist) was the father of it all. At my age, I wanna champion the cause and get those names out there. Even black people today, they think B.B. King is singing white music. They don't know the roots of a lot of stuff.
Q: On the DVD (that comes with the CD), when you're explaining the stories behind the songs, you seem to be having a ball.
A: Man, we rocked out!
Q: You told two very personal stories, about your relationship with Roy Orbison and about how you were nearly on the plane crash in 1959 that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.
A: Roy had that very soft-spoken way about him. He was a very tall, very easy guy to be around. He was a Southerner... he wasn't a New Yorker! (Laughs) Sometimes we can be kind of energetic. But Roy had that warmth - Europeans are like that, too. I don't know the word... kind of laid back? Not pushing or pulling. He was a very warm gentleman. Carl Perkins was like that, too, an easy guy to be around, and very generous. He would show you chords on the guitar, and was so open, a very front porch kind of a guy.Q: Do you mind talking about the plane crash? (DiMucci, who was on the Winter Dance Party, opted not to pay for a seat on the rented plane that was taking Holly and others from Clear Lake, Iowa, to Fargo, N.D., because they'd tired of the freezing tour bus.)
A: No. You know, at 19, I was baffled. I was shocked. My wife was standing right there (when the news came), because she was my girl at the time. When I got back to the Bronx, she said I was in shock for three weeks. You think about what happened to me.
Q: So what do you do with that at 19?
A: It made me go deeper about what life is about, who I am, what it's all about - all those questions. Here I am, 19 years old, feeling like I'm on a field trip with all these guys. I'm on the bus and we're just playing. It was just wonderful for two weeks. I wish I'd had a tape recorder going on that bus. And when it's ripped out from under you, all of a sudden you're alone. Waylon Jennings and I became lifelong friends after that. He was the bass player. He was supposed to be on the plane.
Q: You're very open about your faith. Did having that experience have any influence on that quest for meaning and, ultimately, your faith?
A: I think it did. It made me ask questions I probably wouldn't have asked. If you don't ask questions, you don't get answers. You get stuck. People just get stuck in life, living with these false belief systems. I could see it, everything that your mind is thinking that isn't true. It can tell you all of this (stuff) - "I'm ugly. I'm not good enough."
Q: So ultimately, you want to make sure that these guys, and this era, aren't forgotten. Does it ever make you angry to think that it could be?
A: It's a funny thing. I'm one of the only guys - and I don't even know how, to this day - but I'm not angry. I don't feel self-righteous. That blinds you from seeing stuff more accurately, if you're seeing them through a net of resentment. A lot of the early rockers have a lot of resentment, with (losing out) on publishing royalties and things like that. In my case, I kind of put everything to rest. I don't know... I see the era as a beautiful time for me.

Dion, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, talks about the songs on his new album, Heroes: Giants of Early Guitar Rock.

1. "Summertime Blues", Eddie Cochran: "It's got a real sophisticated sense of humor, that one."
2. "Come On, Let's Go," Ritchie Valens: "It's got just a kind of 17-year-old, total passion about it, a Latin passion."
3. "Rave On," Buddy Holly: "Just the title! Come on! 'Rave On!' It's awesome!"
4. "Believe What You Say," Ricky Nelson: "That's me. That's my story. It's what I believe."
5. "Bye Bye Love," The Everly Brothers: "It's a happy sad song. Or a sad happy song. I don't know which... How would you put that?"
6. "Be-Bop-A-Lula," Gene Vincent: "Oh...(Chuckles) Was that one written about a hooker? (Cracks up) I don't know. But I wore that record out."
7. "Runaway," Del Shannon: "It's a classic. I love that song because of the changes. It goes from minor to major, and there were few songs in the '50s that did that. It's beautiful, with four movements to it, four distinct parts - the verse, the lead up to the falsetto, the falsetto and the instrumental."
8. "Jailhouse Rock," Elvis Presley: "It's a classic rock song, and the words are awesome. Who wrote that? Leiber and Stoller, right? Come on! In the verses , I almost feel like a rapper. It's in the rhythm."
9. "I Walk The Line," Johnny Cash: "It's about leaning into your relationship, not leaning out of it. This is such a different song."
10. "Blue Suede Shoes," Carl Perkins: "That's another song I wore out. It's the total feel of it. When I was a kid and heard that song, dime after dime went into the jukebox. God knows what I spent on that."
11. "Who Do You Love," Bo Diddley: "He was a genius, a back road country poet. He was actually fashioning his own guitars, electronically. The guy was way, way ahead of his time. He was such a beast! He just embraced the rawest and most futuristic sound I ever heard. He was another beautiful guy, very easy to get along with. He was sweet, like 'Come on in, I'll cook you something!'"
12. "Sweet Little Rock and Roller," Chuck Berry: "Chuck is a dynamo. He could get in your face. But I love him. I just go, 'Go, Chuck!' I think this song is not the most done of the Chuck Berry songs, so I went a little outside on that (choice). It's pure Chuck Berry."
13. "Dream Baby," Roy Orbison: "It's one of my favorite Roy Orbison songs. I added a bridge to it, that had never been done. It really is on the border between fantasy and reality, like a dreamy quality."14. "Shake, Rattle and Roll," Big Joe Turner/Bill Haley and The Comets: "There are two versions, and the one I liked was Big Joe Turner, because it was the first one I heard. I never really cared for the Bill Haley version, to be honest with you. It's a little rinky-dink compared."
15. "The Wanderer," Dion: "It's there because of my wife. She said 'If you don't put one of your songs on there, I'm gonna kick your a—.' I said 'No, it's about my heroes, not about me,' but she said 'You really belong there.' It's my signature song. I think I did a good version of it, after all these years."
- Leslie Gray Streeter
(*Thank you so much, Barb!)

MY EVENING WITH ROY ORBISON (...and Friends)

MY EVENING WITH ROY ORBISON (...and Friends)
by Ronnie Lyon
I arrived at the Travelodge in Anaheim (corner of Ball and Harbor behind Disneyland) at around 5:00 or 6:00 PM. It was still daylight. The hotel manager said Roy would be down in few minutes or so. Roy and his road manager, who also played percussion in the touring band, came out soon after. I had the limo door open and after the usual niceties, the three of us sped off to the venue located a few miles away.
I knew the Celebrity Theater from a couple of shows I'd gone to. It had the revolving stage in the middle, and held five or six hundred people. I pulled the limo around to the artists’ entrance where some security guys whisked Roy into the building. I parked the limo across the street and got the interior squared away. About a half hour later I went to the same backstage door and the security guys let me in. I hadn't driven around a lot of musicians nor had I had much success getting backstage passes in my life, but I knew the routine. Shut up and make friends with whoever was in control.

 Inside, I cruised down the long, wide hallway, walking straight toward the doors that opened to the concert area. At the end of the large hallway, another big hallway opened up to my left. That's where you could see people milling about in front of the dressing rooms drinking and carrying on. Beyond the twenty or thirty people there, at the other end of that hallway, was the Green Room. That was where all the food and drink was. As I was standing there, taking it all in, I noticed a group of six or seven people standing in a small circle in front of one of the dressing rooms. They were chatting and drinking quite innocently. Then one of them cracked a joke and took a step back to light his cigarette. I noticed it was Tom Petty. I said to the security guy I was standing next to "Whoaaa! Dude! Check it out!" Looking a little closer, I saw that the group included Jeff Lynne, George Harrison and three fine looking women. Needless to say I was thrilled to see three of the greatest rock musicians standing not more than forty feet from me. I was a big fan of ELO, the Beatles and the Heartbreakers.
Showtime was approaching so I nonchalantly meandered down the hallway and stood with my heals to the wall just a few feet behind the group. I was within arms length of George Harrison. I tried not to look too conspicuous, but when you're wearing a black pinstripe suit backstage, it's not hard to miss the limo driver. George actually looked over his shoulder at me and nodded, kind of like "hey...how's it going". It was unbelievable!
Shortly thereafter, Roy came out of his dressing room with his wife Barbara and their son, and followed his band mates out the stage door for the show. He played hit after hit. Hearing his voice live was incredible. He was killing it. I came to appreciate instantly what others had known for decades. This man was a true artist and an American treasure.
During the encore,before he came off stage, all the VIPs went back to the backstage area near the dressing rooms. Being the wallflower that I am, I again planted myself close to George, Tom, Jeff and the others. By this time George had taken over the conversation. He told a story of a time back in 1963 when the Beatles were on tour with Roy in northern England. When Roy finally emerged backstage, George broke away from the others, took a few steps, got down on two knees and began to bow his praises. Roy, who was approaching from the other end of the hall, laughed, and then he and George hugged each other.
I hung around awhile, soaking it all up, watching as everyone backstage congratulated Roy on a great show. Soon after, his wife Barbara told me that he would be leaving soon and asked if could I get the limo ready to take him back to the hotel.
As I left the building, I noticed a few dozen fans had gathered outside the artists' entrance. Security had them roped off and an aisle to the curb had been cleared. I brought the limo around and parked it at the curb. I had planned to get out, walk around and open the door for Roy, as is customary. As I stepped out from behind the wheel, the security guards said they would get it and I should be ready to pull away. Just as I got back in the driver's seat, Roy came out the backstage door to a big cheer from the fans.
I realized that the situation could turn out dangerous if I didn’t get him away clean. I wasn’t bonded or registered to carry a weapon for protection, as are most drivers who ferry around celebrities. I instantly became nervous realizing this was the real thing. I would be responsible to get him clear of the venue and back to motel safely. I waited for security to get him to the limo, and then we sped off for the hotel. I noticed a couple of cars were following us so I made a couple moves in traffic to lose them. On our way back to the motel, Roy asked if I could stop and get some cigarettes for him. I pulled into a nearby 7-11, and locked the limo doors as I went in. When I came out, I opened the door and handed him the cigarettes. He offered to pay me but I said they were on me. Luckily, nobody had followed us and I just wanted to get back to the hotel ASAP.
We got back to the Travelodge within a few minutes. I walked him inside and through the lobby. The hotel restaurant cook and several others shouted out to the famous guest as we walked to the elevator. He pushed the button on the elevator and I said to him what a memorable evening it was and that I was honored to meet him. We shook hands. The elevator door opened, he went in, turned around and said thanks for the ride. The door closed shut and off I went.
The bill had been paid beforehand and I didn’t get a tip. I didn’t even care.
Roy died eight months later on December 6.
Not long after, Rolling Stone did an entire issue paying tribute to Roy. One article had quotes from people who knew him and had worked with him. Tom Petty wrote a paragraph in the article where he described the night all the Wilburys (except Dylan) had gone to that show in Anaheim to ask him about joining the group full time. The Wilburys had already cut "Handle with Care" at Bob Dylan's recording studio in the Hollywood Hills. George, Tom, Jeff and their wives had all come down to Anaheim to see his show and ask him to join the group full time, finish the rest of the album and maybe do a tour.
I think I still have that issue somewhere. I kept it because I knew I had seen a piece of rock history happen before my eyes. It is the highlight story from the years I drove limos. 
One night, years later I heard Tom Petty on the radio. He was doing an interview on Rockline. I thought about calling in to remind him of that night, but the interview was half over and I didn't think I'd get through. I’d love to hear his memories of that night. I know l’ll never forget it.


Roy Orbison and Friends at the Celebrity Theater, April 1988




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