Imagine sitting in your living room in 1960 while the radio glows in the corner. Suddenly, a voice comes on that sounds like it was dipped in velvet and moonlight.
This was the year Roy Orbison stepped up to a microphone at Monument Records and changed our lives forever. When he sang the first few words of Only the Lonely, the whole world seemed to lean in a little closer to listen.
Watch Roy Orbison Perform “Only the Lonely” (1960)
Roy was a man who walked through a lot of shadows, but he always chose to give us light. He looked so lonely under those stage lamps, almost like he was carrying all our heartbreaks for us. You could hear the pain in his voice every time he hit those impossibly high notes that no other man could reach.
One person said that hearing him is the only thing that makes them feel young again. Another viewer wrote that Roy was the soundtrack to their most beautiful and most painful memories.
Listen to the Original “Pretty Paper” by Roy Orbison
In this famous song, he tells us about a poor man on the sidewalk that everyone else is too busy to see. He sings about the pretty paper and the ribbons of blue with such a tender mercy in his voice. Roy had a way of finding the beauty in the people that the rest of the world forgot to love.
Roy Orbison was more than just a singer. He was a healer for the soul. He taught us that it is okay to be sensitive. Even though he is gone, his family keeps his spirit alive so we never have to say a final goodbye. Follow Roy Orbison on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep that light burning.