Roy Orbison Net Worth

What was Roy Orbison's Net Worth?

Roy Orbison was an American singer, songwriter, and musician who had a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death in 1988. That's the same as around $21 million in today's dollars after adjusting for inflation.

Roy Orbison was one of the most distinctive and influential voices in rock and roll history, celebrated for his operatic vocal range, emotional ballads, and haunting stage presence. Rising to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Orbison carved out a unique niche in a music era dominated by upbeat rockabilly and dance hits. Unlike many of his contemporaries, his songs often carried a darker, more vulnerable tone, marked by themes of longing, heartbreak, and loneliness.

After beginning his career with Sun Records, the same label that launched Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, Orbison found his stride in the early 1960s with Monument Records. There he recorded a string of timeless classics, including "Only the Lonely," "Crying," "In Dreams," and "Running Scared." His most enduring hit, "Oh, Pretty Woman," released in 1964, became a worldwide phenomenon and cemented his reputation as a leading figure in rock and pop music. With his trademark dark sunglasses, jet-black hair, and somber stage presence, Orbison stood out in both sound and image, earning the nickname "The Caruso of Rock."

Despite his success, Orbison endured personal tragedies during the 1960s, including the loss of his wife, Claudette, in a motorcycle accident and the death of two of his sons in a house fire. His career waned in the 1970s, though he remained a revered figure among musicians and fans.

In the 1980s, Orbison enjoyed a major resurgence. His song "In Dreams" featured prominently in David Lynch's film "Blue Velvet," sparking renewed interest in his work. He later joined the supergroup Traveling Wilburys alongside George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. In 1988, just weeks before his death at age 52, Orbison released the critically acclaimed album "Mystery Girl," which included the hit "You Got It." His legacy endures as one of the most original and emotionally powerful voices in rock history.

Early Life and Education

Roy Orbison was born on April 23, 1936, in Vernon, Texas. He was the middle son of oil-well driller and car mechanic Orbie and nurse Nadine. In 1942, the family moved to Fort Worth; there, Orbison went to Denver Avenue Elementary School before a polio scare caused the family to move back to Vernon. Roy first got interested in music around this time, thanks to a guitar his father gave him for his birthday. At the age of eight, he started singing on a local radio program that he would later become the host of. In 1946, Orbison moved again with his family, this time to Wink, Texas. As a teen, he formed the band the Wink Westerners with his friends and performed at local honky-tonks. Roy went on to attend North Texas State College and then Odessa Junior College. Meanwhile, he continued to perform with the Wink Westerners on local television. Eventually, the group got its own show on KMID-TV, which led to another show on KOSA-TV. The Wink Westerners were soon renamed the Teen Kings.

American singer-songwriter Roy Orbison (1936 – 1988), circa 1980. (Photo by Tim Roney/Getty Images)

Career Beginnings

In 1956, the Teen Kings signed a contract with Sun Records in Memphis. For the label, they re-recorded their song "Ooby Dooby," which became a modest hit when it made it to #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Teen Kings went on to tour with Johnny Horton, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Sonny James. Eventually, the group broke up, and Orbison began writing music for other artists. For a brief while, he worked for the songwriting firm Acuff-Rose.

Success in the '60s

In the early 60s, Orbison signed with Monument Records and recorded the song "Uptown." He had his first significant hit a little bit later with "Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)," co-written with Joe Melson. The song made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 in the UK. Following this, Orbison and Melson released several other hits, including "Blue Angel," "Running Scared," and "Crying." Between 1960 and 1966, Roy had 22 singles that peaked inside the Billboard Top 40; some of them included "In Dreams," "Falling," "Mean Woman Blues," and "Blue Bayou." One of his greatest hits, "Oh, Pretty Woman," remained on the charts for 14 weeks. Thanks to Orbison's brooding public image, signature black hair and sunglasses, and morose ballads, he became one of the era's most popular music icons.

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Career Decline and Personal Tragedies

Upon the expiration of his Monument Records contract in 1965, Orbison was moved to MGM Records. However, he was unable to replicate his past success, as his first album for the label, "There Is Only One Roy Orbison," sold poorly. Moreover, the burgeoning popularity of the British Invasion began driving Roy from the charts. His misfortunes were compounded in 1966 when he fell off a motorcycle on tour in the UK and broke his foot in front of thousands of fans. Later in the year, while riding with his wife, he got into a crash that killed her instantly. Orbison attempted to get back into his work following this tragedy, partnering with Bill Dees to write music for the film "The Fastest Guitar Alive," in which he also starred.

While on tour in 1968, Roy was informed that his Tennessee home had burned down, claiming the lives of his two eldest sons. He continued to work recording albums over the ensuing years, although none of them were successful.

Career Resurgence

Due in part to the many popular covers of his songs, Orbison began a career resurgence in the '80s. Early in the decade, he and Emmylou Harris won a Grammy Award for their duet "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again." Later, in 1987, Roy paired up with Bruce Springsteen to film a concert in Los Angeles. Orbison cemented his career resurgence the following year, when he formed the rock supergroup the Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and George Harrison. The band's debut album, "The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1," was a critical and commercial hit and received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Following this, Roy released a solo album entitled "Mystery Girl," which was released posthumously in 1989.

Personal Life and Death

In 1957, Roy married Claudette Frady; together, they had sons named Roy, Anthony, and Wesley. The relationship became a troubled one in the early '60s, when Frady had an affair with the contractor who constructed their new house in Tennessee. Other infidelities resulted in the couple's divorce in 1964. Two years after that, Frady was killed in a motorcycle accident while riding with Orbison. In 1969, Roy wed German teenager Barbara Jakobs, with whom he had sons named Roy and Alexander.

Orbison faced some health struggles during his life. In 1977, he underwent a triple coronary bypass to fix obstructed coronary arteries. Before this, he had suffered from ulcers due to his heavy smoking. On December 6, 1988, Orbison passed away from a heart attack at his mother's home in Tennessee at the age of 52.

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