It is hard to believe that a single calendar date could hold so much power over one family. On December 6, 1988, the music world stopped when a massive heart attack took Roy Orbison at just 52 years old.
He had spent the day flying model airplanes with his sons before his heart simply gave out at his mother’s house. This tragedy happened just as he was becoming a superstar all over again. He left us right as he was singing his way back to the top with a song called You Got It.
The man in the dark glasses always seemed to carry a bit of mystery with him. In this final chapter of his life, he looked healthy and sang with a voice that could reach the heavens. He stood still in his black suit while his powerful notes did all the work.
Roy Orbison – You Got It (Official Video)
People who watch him sing today still feel a deep tug at their hearts. One viewer said that Roy was the best singer ever heard. Another fan mentioned that he is their favorite artist of all time and they still miss him every day.
Roy was not alone in his journey back to the spotlight because his wife Barbara was right by his side. She was the one who helped him find his smile again after he lost his first wife and his two oldest sons.
Barbara did more than just love him. She managed his career and made sure the world remembered his name.
Their souls were so close that even death could not keep them apart for long. This deep bond led to a moment that feels more like a movie than real life.
Roy Orbison – Oh, Pretty Woman (Black & White Night 30)
Years after Roy passed away, Barbara continued to protect his memory with every ounce of her strength. She put together a famous show where the biggest stars in the world stood behind Roy to play his greatest hits.
During the song Oh Pretty Woman, you can see the results of her hard work as Roy beams with pride. She made sure he was treated like royalty before she joined him on that same spooky date of December 6.
Roy Orbison had a voice that felt like a warm velvet blanket on a cold night. He showed us that it is okay to be vulnerable and show your emotions through music. His journey was full of steep hills and dark valleys, but he never stopped singing from his soul.
We lost him and Barbara on the very same day of the year, exactly twenty three years apart. They now rest side by side in a quiet park in Los Angeles. Follow Roy Orbison on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.