Roy Orbison Net Worth - Pulptastic

Publish date: 2024-06-07

What is Roy Orbison’s Net Worth?

Roy Orbison, the late singer, songwriter, and musician, had a net worth of $20 million dollars at the time of his death, adjusted for inflation. He was known for his dark, complex songs and iconic black hair and sunglasses. Orbison achieved his greatest career success in the 60s with hit songs such as “Crying,” “In Dreams,” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.” In the late 80s, he experienced renewed success with the rock supergroup the Traveling Wilburys.

Roy Orbison’s Early Life and Music Career

Roy Orbison was born on April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas. He grew up in Fort Worth and Vernon, where he attended Denver Avenue Elementary School and began playing the guitar. He started singing on a local radio program at the age of eight and formed a band called the Wink Westerners as a teen. The group performed at local honky-tonks and eventually got their own TV show on KMID-TV, which led to another show on KOSA-TV. The Wink Westerners were later renamed the Teen Kings. Orbison went on to attend North Texas State College and Odessa Junior College while continuing to perform with the Teen Kings on local television.

Roy Orbison’s Early Career

In 1956, the Teen Kings signed a contract with Sun Records in Memphis. They re-recorded their song “Ooby Dooby,” which became a modest hit, reaching number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. Orbison and the Teen Kings went on to tour with several notable artists, including Johnny Horton, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Sonny James. After the group disbanded, Orbison began writing music for other performers. He briefly worked for the songwriting firm Acuff-Rose.

Roy Orbison’s Musical Career

Roy Orbison signed with Monument Records in the early 60s and had his first significant hit with “Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel),” which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. He went on to release a number of other hits, including “Blue Angel,” “Running Scared,” and “Crying.” Between 1960 and 1966, he had 22 singles that peaked inside the Billboard Top 40. One of his greatest hits, “Oh, Pretty Woman,” remained on the charts for 14 weeks. Orbison’s brooding public image, signature black hair and sunglasses, and morose ballads made him one of the era’s most popular music icons.

Roy Orbison’s Struggles and Tragedies

In 1965, Roy Orbison’s contract with Monument Records expired, and he signed with MGM Records. However, his first album with the label, “There is Only One Roy Orbison,” sold poorly, and the British Invasion began to push him off the charts. In 1966, he suffered a motorcycle accident that broke his foot, and later that year, his wife died in a car crash. Despite his tragedies, he wrote music for the film “The Fastest Guitar Alive” and continued to record albums, although none were successful. In 1968, Orbison’s Tennessee home burned down, killing his two eldest sons.

Roy Orbison’s Career Resurgence

Roy Orbison experienced a career resurgence in the 1980s, thanks in part to the popularity of covers of his songs. He won a Grammy Award with Emmylou Harris for their duet “That Lovin’ You Feelin’ Again” early in the decade. Orbison also collaborated with Bruce Springsteen on a concert in Los Angeles in 1987. The following year, he formed the 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 success, receiving a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Orbison released a solo album, “Mystery Girl,” which was released posthumously in 1989, cementing his resurgence.

Roy Orbison’s Personal Life and Health Struggles

Roy Orbison married Claudette Frady in 1957, and they had three sons together. However, their relationship became troubled in the early 60s due to Frady’s infidelities, which ultimately led to their divorce in 1964. Two years later, Frady died in a motorcycle accident while riding with Orbison.

In 1969, Orbison married Barbara Jakobs, and they had two sons together. Throughout his life, Orbison faced health struggles, including ulcers from heavy smoking and a triple coronary bypass in 1977 to fix obstructed coronary arteries. Sadly, Orbison passed away from a heart attack on December 6, 1988, at his mother’s home in Tennessee.

SwiftBlog