Do you know the secret behind Roy Orbison glasses?He did not try to look ‘cool’. Instead he was just desperate to see the stage. In 1963, he stepped off a plane for a massive tour with The Beatles and realized he had left his clear prescription glasses in the seat pocket. He was legally blind without them, so he grabbed the only pair he had left. Thick prescription sunglasses.
Those dark glasses became a shield for his extreme shyness and stage fright. They allowed him to hide while he sang those high notes that made grown men cry. It is a rare thing to see a mistake turn into a trademark that lasts a lifetime.
Watch his signature style in glasses below:
Why Roy Orbison WORE Dark Sunglasses!?
Fans still talk about how they used to think he was truly blind. One viewer wrote that his voice was a gift to the world, while another said he stood still on stage because he was simply too nervous to move. It is clear that the mystery of his eyes only made people love his music more.
That accidental image eventually led him to a stage filled with the biggest stars in the world. He stopped being the shy boy from Texas and became the leader of an all-star band. Even when he was surrounded by rock legends his dark shades and his still posture made him the center of attention.
Roy Orbison & Friends (1988)
In a famous performance filmed in black and white, he showed the world he still had every bit of that magic. He hit notes that seemed impossible while standing perfectly still like a statue. It was the ultimate proof that his talent was much bigger than any pair of glasses.
Roy Orbison was a gentle soul who changed music by being himself. His story reminds us that our biggest flaws can sometimes become our greatest strengths. Follow Roy Orbison on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.