Rock and roll legend Roy Orbison, who attended North Texas in 1954-55, was honored posthumously with the 2,400th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January. His widow, Barbara Orbison, accepted the award, with special guests including Dan Aykroyd, Michelle Branch, Jeff Beck, Chris Isaak, Jeff Lynne, Jason Mraz, Joe Walsh, Dwight Yoakam and more.
Orbison, whose hits include Oh, Pretty Woman, Crying, In Dreams, Blue Bayou, Only the Lonely and She, was part of The Traveling Wilburys and recorded with artists such as U2, k.d. lang and others.
In 1956, he came to the attention of Sam Phillips of Sun Records — who also gave Elvis Presley his first recording contract — thanks to Ooby Dooby, a song written by Dick Penner (’58) and Wade Moore, fellow students at North Texas. Orbison is one of the very few artists to have been accepted by the world in most genres of music and to have won Grammys in pop, rock and roll, and country categories.
Orbison’s star is at 1750 N. Vine St. in front of the historic Capitol Records Building and next to the stars of his great friend John Lennon and Traveling Wilburys brother George Harrison.
