Special Sub-Topic: The Big O: Part 3 Click Here To Play: The Big O: Part 3

In the mid 1950's Sam Phillips' Sun Record Label included Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and what other singer who later got together to record the album "Class Of '55"?

Jerry Lee Lewis. In 1985 Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash got together and recorded the album "Class of '55". One of the songs they sang was "We Remember The King", a reference to one of their contemporaries and also one-time member of the Sam Phillips stable, Elvis Presley.

What was Roy's middle name?

Kelton. Aaron was the middle name of Elvis Presley. Orbie Lee was Roy's father's name, and Grady was Roy's older brother.

"Ooby Dooby", released on the Jew-El record label in 1956, was Roy's first ever record release.

t. "Ooby Dooby" by The Teen Kings was recorded at Tom Petty's studio in Clovis, Texas. Jew-el was not successful in maketing the record; later that year Sun Records re-recorded the song and attributed it to "Roy Orbison and The Teen Kings".

In September 1968, what happened that made Roy cancel part of his UK tour?

His house burned down. Roy's father, Orbie Lee, had fallen asleep and two of Roy's three children were playing in the basement. Orbie Lee was awakened by the sound of an explosion and rushed to the basement. He grabbed the baby and led the older two children, Tony and Roy Jnr, up the stairs and to the front door. At that moment a huge explosion from petrol (gasoline) cans in the basement killed both Tony and Roy Junior.

Roy has been twice married. His first wife's maiden name was Barbara Wellnoener-Jakobs.

f. His first wife was Claudette Frady, for whom he had written the song "Claudette". Backstage at an Everley Brothers concert Roy was asked if he had a song for the Everleys for the 'B' side of a forthcoming record. Roy scribbled the words down on a scrap of paper, and "Claudette" became one of the Everley Brothers' greatest hits. Barbara was his second wife.

Who accompanied Roy in the recording of the song "Indian Wedding"?

Bill Dees. "Indian Wedding" was recorded in the days before overdubbing became the norm, and Bill Dees, who was a memeber of Roy's backing band The Candymen, sang counterpoint to Roy. So alike were their voices that it is impossible to tell on the record who sang lead during the chorus and who sang counterpoint.

"Too Soon To Know" was recorded shortly after Roy's wife Claudette was killed in a motorcycle accident.

f. "Too soon To Know" was recorded and released shortly before Claudette's death, but became a hit which boosted Roy's flagging career on the back of the tragedy. The song starts with the words "It's too soon to know, if I can forget her."

Which Roy Orbison penned song became a UK hit for Brian Poole and The Tremeloes?

"Candy Man". "Candy Man", penned by Roy and Bill Dees, had been recorded by Roy two years before it was offered to the Tremeloes. The Tremeloes were riding high in the charts and were topping the bill where Roy was the support act. Needing a follow up record, Roy played "Candy Man" on an acoustic guitar backstage. The Tremeloes liked the song and took it straight to the top of the charts.

Roy had a passion for vintage cars and would stop a driver of a car he liked in the street and offer to buy it. If the owner refused he would simply increase the offer until the owner agreed.

t. Roy collected a great number of vintage and historical cars; several were destroyed in the fire that killed two of his sons.

What was the title of Roy's only album of new songs for Monument after leaving MGM?

"Regeneration". "Regeneration" was recorded at Fred Foster's Monument studios after MGM released Roy from his contract. Fred remarked that the old magic was still there, but "Regeneration" was an unremarkable effort and left Roy dissatisfied.

Why did Roy leave Monument after recording "Regeneration"?

Bad health. During the recording of "Regeneration", Roy began suffering chest pains and a doctor told him that he was overworking and simply needed rest. With the album completed, Roy had a triple bypass heart operation. He asked Fred Foster to release him from his contract.

Some say that Roy started wearing his trademark dark glasses because he'd lost the spectacles that compensated for his shortsightedness. But what reason did Roy give in interviews?

To shade his eyes from the sun. On Roy's first UK tour he stepped from the 'plane and into bright sunlight. He put sunglasses on and forgot to put his spectacles in his pocket, so he wore the sunglasses to prevent the glare of the stage lights hurting his eyes throughout the UK tour.

Roy always wore black whenever on stage.

f. Roy was so impressed by the white jumpsuit worn by Elvis that he had a similar set of clothes made and wore them on stage during 1977.

What specifically did Roy ask a surgeon to do prior to having his triple bypass operation?

Make the scar small. Roy always wore an open-necked shirt on stage and wanted the scar to be as small as possible so that it did not show while he was performing.

Who said "I wanted a record with words like Bob Dylan, that sounded like Phil Spector- but most of all I wanted to sing like Roy Orbison"?

Bruce Springsteen. At Roy's induction to Rock'n'Roll's Hall of Fame, Bruce Springsteen describe how he wanted his album "Thunder Road" to sound. He concluded by saying "Now everbody knows, no-one sings like Roy Orbison."