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April 23, 2025
Today in Texas History
On this day in 1936, rock and roll singer Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas. He grew up in Wink, and while attending Wink High School, he formed a country music group called the Wink Westerners.
Later, while attending North Texas State College, he transformed the Wink Westerners into his first rock and roll band, the Teen Kings. The group played throughout West Texas and recorded "Ooby Dooby," which brought him to the attention of the Sun record label in Memphis.
Orbison rerecorded "Ooby Dooby" for Sun, and in 1956, it became his first chart hit. In 1959, Orbison joined the small Monument label in Nashville, for which he recorded a string of international hit records, including "Only the Lonely" (1960), "Blue Angel" (1960), "Running Scared" (1961), "Blue Bayou" (1963), "It's Over" (1964), and "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964).
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and died the following year.
Later, while attending North Texas State College, he transformed the Wink Westerners into his first rock and roll band, the Teen Kings. The group played throughout West Texas and recorded "Ooby Dooby," which brought him to the attention of the Sun record label in Memphis.
Orbison rerecorded "Ooby Dooby" for Sun, and in 1956, it became his first chart hit. In 1959, Orbison joined the small Monument label in Nashville, for which he recorded a string of international hit records, including "Only the Lonely" (1960), "Blue Angel" (1960), "Running Scared" (1961), "Blue Bayou" (1963), "It's Over" (1964), and "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964).
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and died the following year.