Ellis Paul: A Tribute to Roy Orbison

Ellis Paul is celebrating a birthday this month!  Don’t light the candles quite yet, though.  The party belongs to someone else.  Music legend Roy Orbison would have turned 75 on April 23, and Ellis has been invited to contribute to a worldwide video tribute in the singer’s honor.  Produced by Mr. Orbison’s publishing company, the video montage will be backed by Ellis Paul’s cover of Roy’s signature hit “Crying”.  When complete, the montage will be featured in Hard Rock Cafes around the world.

The video is one of many planned tributes.  A new exhibit will open at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on April 29, 2011.  “Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock-n-Roll” will celebrate the life and career of the singer/songwriter.  Remembered for his powerful voice and emotional delivery, Orbison produced hit after hit in the 1950′s and early 1960′s including “Oh, Pretty Woman”, “Only the Lonely”, “Running Scared”, and “Crying”. 

The haunting loneliness of “Crying” and Roy’s effortless delivery of the very difficult song clearly impressed Ellis Paul.  The way Ellis tells it, the song has earned a prominent slot in his jukebox……..

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Now Ellis will play a prominent role in celebrating Roy Orbison and his music.  The following performance of “Crying” was recorded live in concert at Wilde Auditorium, West Hartford on April 8, 2011.

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With his lyrical delivery of the song, Ellis Paul will surely honor the man whose distinctive voice lingers in our collective memory.

Happy Birthday, Roy Orbison!  You made sunglasses cool.  You made the music cooler.  You will always have a place in our jukebox.

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Photo of Ellis Paul courtesy of MacPolski

Video and audio captures of Ellis Paul courtesy of Louise Uznanski

Photo of Roy Orbison and the Beatles from Mr. Orbison’s official website: http://www.royorbison.com/us

More on Ellis Paul: http://www.ellispaul.com/