Friday Music

American singer-songwriter Roy Orbison hails from Texas and is remembered for his emotional vocal style.   A tribute to his prolific song writing - from 1960 to 1964 twenty-two of his songs placed on the Billboard Top 40.  Only the Lonely was released in 1960 as a 45 rpm single by Monument Records in May of 1960 and went to No. 2 on the United States Billboard pop music charts by the end of July.   

Among his many honors Orbison has been induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while Rolling Stone lists him in the number 37 spot on their list of the Greatest Artists of All Time and number 13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.  Orbison's performance style included dressing in black to match his dark sunglasses and black hair.   

Which leads to this video - A Black and White Night is a 1988 Cinemax television special recorded in September of 1987 at the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles fourteen months before Orbison’s death.  It featuring the TCB Band which accompanied Elvis Presley from 1969 until his death in 1977.  Additional vocalists and musicians included Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Steven Soles, K.D. Lang, Jennifer Warnes and Bonnie Raitt.  

Enjoy the all-star line-up…