Today in Music History: Remembering Roy Orbison
April 23, 2015
History Highlight:
Roy Orbison was born today in 1936. A singer-songwriter and guitarist best known for his distinctive and powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads, Orbsion's career had its first peak in the early 1960s — when he had a U.S. No. 1 single in 1964 with "Oh, Pretty Woman" — and was revived in the 1980s when he performed as part of the supergroup The Travelling Wilburys. While most men in rock and roll in the 1950s and '60s portrayed a defiant masculinity, many of Orbison's songs conveyed a quiet, desperate vulnerability instead. He was known for performing while standing still and solitary, wearing black clothes and dark sunglasses, which lent an air of mystery to his persona.
Also, Today In:
1971 - The Rolling Stones released their classic album Sticky Fingers. The cover was designed by Andy Warhol, who was paid $15,000 for his efforts. Although it's widely assumed the cover model is Mick Jagger, the jeans in the photo were actually worn by actor Joe Dallesandro.
1976 - The Ramones released their eponymous debut album.
1978 - Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious filmed his version of "My Way" for the Sex Pistols' film The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.
1988 - Whitney Houston smashed a chart record held by The Beatles and The Bee Gees when "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", became her seventh consecutive U.S. No. 1.
1991 - Founder member of The New York Dolls Johnny Thunders (John Anthony Genzale, Jr), died of a drug overdose.
2008 - Amy Winehouse went out on a drink- and drug-fueled spree, and over the course of the night, she allegedly hit and head-butted two men.
Birthdays:
David Gedge of the Wedding Present is 55.