December 6, 1988.....it seems like just yesterday but its been an entire lifetime ago in reality. I had joyfully accompanied my parents to the old Front Row Theatre in Highland Heights, Ohio two nights prior on December 4 to see my absolute idol in life, none other than The Legendary Roy Orbison who was about to play in front of a packed house. My buddy Chris Scott had went with his folks and our other buddy Dan Singleton had went the previous year when Roy was at The Front Row with the equally legendary Carl Perkins. I could go on and on about the show but to say it was awesome doesnt begin to tell the story; Roy was never better and he was always incredible. After the encore of ; Running Scared ( which still to this day gives me goosebumps ) Roy waved to the theatre in the round and smiled shyly and then he was gone, riding all night to his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee for the holidays...........I got up for work on December 7, took a quick shower, and headed to work about 5:00AM and the lead story on CBS Radio news was that singer Roy Orbison had died a few hours prior at his home of a massive heart attack. I pulled my car over briefly to figuratively pinch myself to make sure I was hearing this correctly....... sadly, I heard every word clearly; Roy Orbison had died. How was this possible? I mean I had just seen him two nights ago and he looked and sounded otherworldly. I didnt cry, I didnt know what to do as I was too numb. The entire day at work I said not one word, not one for there was really nothing to say that day. When I got home at about 4:00, my mom asked me if I had heard and I just shook my head yes and went up to my room to make a phone call. I called Chris and neither one of us really had anything to say and then Chris says; Wanna go to the mall and hit Record Den ? I said yeah as it really wasnt as much to buy more Roy Orbison records as we both had just about everything hed ever done, The Traveling Wilburys included. No, it was in a strange way just to mourn I suppose........ have you ever wondered why there has never really been a lot of Roy Orbison covers? Listen to Ride Away , probably my favorite Roy tune and youll understand. NOBODY and I mean NOBODY could or ever will be able to sing like Roy Orbison...........April 23, 1936-December 6, 1988. Rest in Peace Roy.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 12:57:42 +0000
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