“His songs are the yearnings of the heart.”

We asked for your stories of how the music of Roy Orbison has touched your life, how the Big O soundtracked the good times and the bad.

Here are your stories. Here’s why you love him…

“My mum, Susan Elizabeth Hopgood, loved Roy Orbison and bought our family up on his music. When she died 18 months ago we found letters to her from Roy and his wife, as well as autographs and other memorabilia. They are currently on display at the Roy Orbison museum in Wink, Texas as a tribute to my mum.

“For the next generation in the family we have booked tickets for the hologram tour – you could say Roy has inspired our family for generations and helped us get over the loss of our mum and nan.”
– TIM KNIGHT

“His voice made you feel like the world had stopped and you’d got off to listen.”
– KRD

“When Roy sang, he sang the truth every single time. He put himself into every song every time. He was one of a kind. Sweet & gentle & unassuming until he hit the stage, guitar in hand. Then he ruled!”
– ELEANOR CROMWELL

“Growing up in the 80s, I watched the Black and White night with my father on PBS. I was so young but it made such an impact on me. Roy’s voice mesmerized me. It was unlike anything I had ever heard. I even dressed as Roy for Halloween one year.

“Today I love Roy’s music more than ever. I play it all the time and my children love it too. In fact, it is great at helping them fall asleep. My 4-year-old says one of her favourite songs is ‘She’s a Mystery to Me’ off of the Mystery Girl album.

“I hope Roy’s music lives on forever and I’m so happy to pass it on to my kids.”
– DOE CADIGAN

“His voice had such a deep drama to it. He was the Sinatra of rock.”
– JAMES DELANEY

“I have always loved this incredible voice. I was most fortunate to personally meet Roy, as my husband Reg Dlouhy played with the Dlouhy band, and opened for Roy as he travelled across western Canada and down the west coast of USA.”
– LOUISE MOHL

“My love story with the great Roy Orbison started from a very early age when I was brought up on his music by my Dad. His voice sends you to a world of your own. No matter how I am feeling his voice seems to speak to me.

“The new ‘A Love So Beautiful’ CD is out of this world, it send goose bumps right through me. I will never stop loving Roy Orbison.”
– LEAH SOUTHAM

“His songs are the yearnings of the heart. His heart and mine.”
– WALTER RALSTON

“He is the Master of All; voice, look, coolness, songwriting ability, charm. He had it all. He doesn’t get the recognition he truly deserves. Nobody can touch his voice.”
– MARTIN NEWTON

“Roy simply means this to me; he wrote how all guys feel like when they lose a loved one. Roy lived his music in his personal life – his voice just speaks to me in a way that no other artist can.

“Thanks for letting me share this.”
– KINDALL WANN

“When my wife of 50 years and I were courting we saw saw Roy breaking his ankle falling off a motor bike.

“Two days later we saw him topping the bill at a concert in Chester, he sat on a high stool in the centre of the stage with his foot in plaster giving a fabulous performance. I believe that was 1965.

“Roy has been with me all my 70 years. He is in my soul. Top, top man.”
– JOHN BRANAGAN

“I love Roy Orbison because, even as a young boy, he understood what a gift he had and persevered, through many hurdles, setbacks and more than his share of heartaches, to nurture and bring his voice to all of us.

“I can play his music in my car, in my home, and be comforted or lifted up or inspired to dance around the kitchen just as I did 62 years ago, when I heard the first rock and roll songs on the radio.”
– CAROLYN A KENNEDY