Roy Orbison (vocals, guitar; born April 23, 1936, died December 6, 1988)
Roy Orbison possessed one of the great rock and roll voices: a forceful, operatic bel canto tenor capable of dynamic crescendos. He sang heartbroken ballads and bluesy rockers alike, running up a formidable hit streak in the early Sixties. From the release of "Only the Lonely" in 1960 to "Oh! Pretty Woman," a span of four years, Orbison cracked the Top Ten nine times. His most memorable performances were lovelorn melodramas, such as "Crying" and "It's Over," in which he emoted in a brooding, tremulous voice.