Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988), also known by his nickname
the Big O, was an American singer-songwriter and musician, known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Between 1960 and 1964, 22 of his songs placed on the
Billboard Top 40, including "
Only the Lonely", "
Crying", and "
Oh, Pretty Woman".