SINGER
Roy Orbison
1936 - 1988

Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his distinctive and powerful voice, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. Orbison's most successful periods were in the early 1960s and the late 1980s. He was nicknamed "The Caruso of Rock" and "The Big O." Many of Orbison's songs conveyed vulnerability at a time when most male rock-and-roll performers projected strength. He performed with minimal motion and in black clothes, matching his dyed black hair and dark sunglasses. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Roy Orbison is the 129th most popular singer (down from 95th in 2019), the 915th most popular biography from United States (down from 576th in 2019) and the 51st most popular American Singer.
Roy Orbison is most famous for his distinctive voice and his successful career as a rock and roll singer.
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Memorability Metrics
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Among SINGERS
Among singers, Roy Orbison ranks 129 out of 4,381. Before him are Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Dolly Parton, Psy, Harry Belafonte, and Mercedes Sosa. After him are Georges Moustaki, George Clinton, Laura Branigan, Bruce Dickinson, Melanie, and Selena.
Most Popular Singers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsBryan Adams
1959 - Present
HPI: 71.02
Rank: 123
Peter Gabriel
1950 - Present
HPI: 71.00
Rank: 124
Dolly Parton
1946 - Present
HPI: 70.99
Rank: 125
Psy
1977 - Present
HPI: 70.88
Rank: 126
Harry Belafonte
1927 - 2023
HPI: 70.72
Rank: 127
Mercedes Sosa
1935 - 2009
HPI: 70.68
Rank: 128
Roy Orbison
1936 - 1988
HPI: 70.61
Rank: 129
Georges Moustaki
1934 - 2013
HPI: 70.54
Rank: 130
George Clinton
1941 - Present
HPI: 70.49
Rank: 131
Laura Branigan
1952 - 2004
HPI: 70.45
Rank: 132
Bruce Dickinson
1958 - Present
HPI: 70.45
Rank: 133
Melanie
1947 - 2024
HPI: 70.41
Rank: 134
Selena
1971 - 1995
HPI: 70.32
Rank: 135
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1936, Roy Orbison ranks 40. Before him are Gerhard Ertl, Robert Downey Sr., Georges Perec, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim Clark, and Alan J. Heeger. After him are Tariq Aziz, Buddy Holly, Michael Landon, Émile Lahoud, Yasuo Fukuda, and Burt Reynolds. Among people deceased in 1988, Roy Orbison ranks 22. Before him are Isidor Isaac Rabi, Chiang Ching-kuo, Tibor Sekelj, Juan Pujol García, Trevor Howard, and Klaus Fuchs. After him are Chet Baker, Hiroaki Sato, Kim Philby, Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad, Virginia Satir, and Raymond Carver.
Others Born in 1936
Go to all RankingsGerhard Ertl
CHEMIST
1936 - Present
HPI: 72.12
Rank: 34
Robert Downey Sr.
ACTOR
1936 - 2021
HPI: 72.11
Rank: 35
Georges Perec
WRITER
1936 - 1982
HPI: 71.72
Rank: 36
Wilt Chamberlain
BASKETBALL PLAYER
1936 - 1999
HPI: 71.64
Rank: 37
Jim Clark
RACING DRIVER
1936 - 1968
HPI: 71.32
Rank: 38
Alan J. Heeger
CHEMIST
1936 - Present
HPI: 70.82
Rank: 39
Roy Orbison
SINGER
1936 - 1988
HPI: 70.61
Rank: 40
Tariq Aziz
POLITICIAN
1936 - 2015
HPI: 70.60
Rank: 41
Buddy Holly
MUSICIAN
1936 - 1959
HPI: 70.51
Rank: 42
Michael Landon
ACTOR
1936 - 1991
HPI: 70.35
Rank: 43
Émile Lahoud
POLITICIAN
1936 - Present
HPI: 70.27
Rank: 44
Yasuo Fukuda
POLITICIAN
1936 - Present
HPI: 70.25
Rank: 45
Burt Reynolds
ACTOR
1936 - 2018
HPI: 70.17
Rank: 46
Others Deceased in 1988
Go to all RankingsIsidor Isaac Rabi
PHYSICIST
1898 - 1988
HPI: 72.02
Rank: 16
Chiang Ching-kuo
POLITICIAN
1910 - 1988
HPI: 71.59
Rank: 17
Tibor Sekelj
WRITER
1912 - 1988
HPI: 71.14
Rank: 18
Juan Pujol García
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1912 - 1988
HPI: 71.09
Rank: 19
Trevor Howard
ACTOR
1913 - 1988
HPI: 70.79
Rank: 20
Klaus Fuchs
PHYSICIST
1911 - 1988
HPI: 70.74
Rank: 21
Roy Orbison
SINGER
1936 - 1988
HPI: 70.61
Rank: 22
Chet Baker
MUSICIAN
1929 - 1988
HPI: 70.21
Rank: 23
Hiroaki Sato
SOCCER PLAYER
1932 - 1988
HPI: 69.31
Rank: 24
Kim Philby
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1912 - 1988
HPI: 69.30
Rank: 25
Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad
SOCIAL ACTIVIST
1927 - 1988
HPI: 68.70
Rank: 26
Virginia Satir
WRITER
1916 - 1988
HPI: 68.47
Rank: 27
Raymond Carver
WRITER
1938 - 1988
HPI: 68.37
Rank: 28
In United States
Among people born in United States, Roy Orbison ranks 915 out of 20,380. Before him are Tippi Hedren (1930), Thomas Friedman (1953), H. H. Holmes (1861), John Huston (1906), Edward Emerson Barnard (1857), and Farrah Fawcett (1947). After him are Pete Seeger (1919), Edwin S. Porter (1870), George Cukor (1899), Alfred Kinsey (1894), Billie Jean King (1943), and Alan Shepard (1923).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsTippi Hedren
ACTOR
1930 - Present
HPI: 70.66
Rank: 909
Thomas Friedman
WRITER
1953 - Present
HPI: 70.66
Rank: 910
H. H. Holmes
EXTREMIST
1861 - 1896
HPI: 70.65
Rank: 911
John Huston
FILM DIRECTOR
1906 - 1987
HPI: 70.64
Rank: 912
Edward Emerson Barnard
ASTRONOMER
1857 - 1923
HPI: 70.64
Rank: 913
Farrah Fawcett
ACTOR
1947 - 2009
HPI: 70.64
Rank: 914
Roy Orbison
SINGER
1936 - 1988
HPI: 70.61
Rank: 915
Pete Seeger
MUSICIAN
1919 - 2014
HPI: 70.60
Rank: 916
Edwin S. Porter
FILM DIRECTOR
1870 - 1941
HPI: 70.60
Rank: 917
George Cukor
FILM DIRECTOR
1899 - 1983
HPI: 70.58
Rank: 918
Alfred Kinsey
PSYCHOLOGIST
1894 - 1956
HPI: 70.58
Rank: 919
Billie Jean King
TENNIS PLAYER
1943 - Present
HPI: 70.55
Rank: 920
Alan Shepard
ASTRONAUT
1923 - 1998
HPI: 70.55
Rank: 921
Among SINGERS In United States
Among singers born in United States, Roy Orbison ranks 51. Before him are Diana Ross (1944), Nancy Sinatra (1940), Anastacia (1968), Steve Perry (1949), Dolly Parton (1946), and Harry Belafonte (1927). After him are George Clinton (1941), Laura Branigan (1952), Melanie (1947), Selena (1971), Art Garfunkel (1941), and Jimmie Rodgers (1897).
Diana Ross
1944 - Present
HPI: 71.67
Rank: 45
Nancy Sinatra
1940 - Present
HPI: 71.34
Rank: 46
Anastacia
1968 - Present
HPI: 71.23
Rank: 47
Steve Perry
1949 - Present
HPI: 71.16
Rank: 48
Dolly Parton
1946 - Present
HPI: 70.99
Rank: 49
Harry Belafonte
1927 - 2023
HPI: 70.72
Rank: 50
Roy Orbison
1936 - 1988
HPI: 70.61
Rank: 51
George Clinton
1941 - Present
HPI: 70.49
Rank: 52
Laura Branigan
1952 - 2004
HPI: 70.45
Rank: 53
Melanie
1947 - 2024
HPI: 70.41
Rank: 54
Selena
1971 - 1995
HPI: 70.32
Rank: 55
Art Garfunkel
1941 - Present
HPI: 70.29
Rank: 56
Jimmie Rodgers
1897 - 1933
HPI: 70.25
Rank: 57