"Rhapsody in Black: The Life and Music of Roy Orbison" by John Kruth

When I worked in music retail in the late 1990's and early part of the 2000's, I gained a new appreciation for Roy Orbison by listening to The Very Best of Roy Orbison compilation CD. That disc was kept in heavy rotation and could be heard throughout the store. While I was already a fan of the late singer for some time, I never realized the true power of his voice or the overall quality of so many of his recordings. My favorite Roy Orbison tune up to that point was the remake of "Crying," with Roy and K.D. Lang, and it remains a favorite, but his cover of "I Drove All Night" is his very best, in my opinion. The Very Best of Roy Orbison is one of those rare compilations that lives up to its name and every song is worth listening to over and over again.

Even though I am a longtime fan of Roy Orbison, I was not aware of the personal tragedies that he suffered and the questionable career decisions that he and his associates made during his decades long career. That information and much more is included in John Kruth's biography Rhapsody in Black: The Life and Music of Roy Orbison (Backbeat Books). The author details Orbison's early life and struggles with finding love and feeling accepted, as well as his unconventional first marriage to Claudette Frady and the peculiarities of his second marriage to Barbara Jacobs. In addition, every studio album that Orbison released is discussed in detail, from the high points of the early 1960s to the low points of 1970s and then a resurgence in the late 1980s, before the singer's untimely death.

Despite the considerable problems that he faced in life, Orbison is described as a very kind, yet sometimes distant person, particularly to those who did not know him well. Of course, he had an outlet for his heartbreak, which is reflected in many of his songs, which became big hits over the years, including "In Dreams," "Only the Lonely" and the aforementioned "Crying." I found it fascinating to learn how Roy Orbison would prepare to sing a new song by testing his vocals until he discovered the exact approach to take. He appeared to have an innate sense of what would work. In addition, the story of how he came to wear his trademark black sunglasses is interesting and somewhat amusing.

Roy Orbison's connection to other legendary music industry talents, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and his brothers in The Traveling Wilburys make for fascinating reading. In addition, the recording of Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night, which aired as a television special in 1988, recalls the amazing number of entertainers and fellow musicians who attended the event, which served to reignite Orbison's career. Indeed, he was a beloved figure who influenced many others during his long career.

John Kruth often refers to Roy Orbison as "the Voice" and deservedly so. His unique vocals and emotional delivery often conveyed heartbreak or sadness, but his fans loved those songs, perhaps because most everyone's heart has been broken at one time or another. Indeed, love and loss is relatable to almost everyone and few singers have ever expressed those emotions so honestly or powerfully as Roy Orbison. Perhaps that is why, a quarter century after his death, he is still remembered and revered by so many of his fans and peers.

Rhapsody in Black: The Life and Music of Roy Orbison is now available from Backbeat Books and includes 16 pages of photographs.