On his beautiful album, Tried & True, Clay Aiken recorded the soulful Roy Orbison song, Crying. According to numerous polls and discussions, many people consider this song one of the best on the album.
Roy Orbison was a popular singer-songwriter and was known for his musicianship and powerful voice. He was born in Texas in 1936 and sang with a country band throughout high school.
Roy was at the apex of his career in the mid 1960s. He had a recording contract with Monument Records and 22 of his songs charted on the Billboard Top Forty, including Crying.
Orbison had a singing range of three to four octaves and he sang with great passion. The musical arrangements were almost always complex and classical in style.
In concert, Orbison seemed almost mysterious. He always wore black clothing and dark glasses. He always stood stock-still and by himself on stage. Orbison said of his motionless performances that his songs did not fit any moving and dancing. Orbison commented about his stage presence, saying:
I’m not a super personality—on stage or off. I mean, you could put workers like Chubby Checker or Bobby Rydell in second-rate shows and they’d still shine through, but not me. I’d have to be prepared. People come to hear my music, my songs. That’s what I have to give them.
Roy died of a heart attack in December of 1988 after spending a full day with his family. He was 52 and his death was a shock. After his death, Roy received many accolades. On Rolling Stone’s list of The Greatest Artists of All Time, Orbison is placed at #37 and is #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. In Billboard Magazine, Orbison was listed as #74 in the Top 600 recording artists.
Did you ever see Orbison in concert? It must have been an amazing time.
On October 14, 2010, Clay Aiken performed Crying with Casey Thompson as part of his WTTW – Chicago PBS Benefit concert. The following video shows not only the great performance by the two of them, but the relaxed friendship that Casey and Clay seem to have.
Enjoy!
Thank you for the pictures and video. I never saw Roy Orbison in concert. I believe he is one the great song writers and singers of our time. There will not be another one like him again.
Roy Orbison has the distinction of having one of the most beautiful voices ever! Of course, Clay is in that distinguish category, too! So beautiful a song with OMC and Casey! Thank you, CANN!
Roy Orbison was one of my very favorite singers all of those years ago. He and I were born in the same year. His death came with much sadness – he was a very special entertainer in my opinion. Loved Clay singing Crying with Casey – I was at that PBS show in Chicago! Loved it when he sang it with Linda also.
Thank you for sharing the photos and the Video!
thanks for the photos and video roy orbison was anther one of the singers that I dint like but when clay and cassey sing crying there voices are amazing