Link between Roy Orbison and The Beatles

Roy Orbison (April 23, 1936 - December 6, 1988) was an American singer-songwriter, famous for wearing dark sunglasses, having an characteristic vocal range and hits like Pretty Woman, Only the Lonely and Dream Baby

His career is closely linked to The Beatles. Not only was he a major influence on them (Please Please Me was supposed to be a "Roy Orbison"-style song, only slower. George Martin suggested speeding it up a bit.

The Beatles also performed work by him, including "Dream Baby", the very first song they recorded for the BBC (broadcasted on March 8, 1962 on "Teenager's Turn")

From May 18 till June 9, 1963, The Beatles and Roy Orbison toured together and played in 20 different venues.

George Harrison remained a good friend of Roy Orbison, playing accoustic guitar on his last album (Mtystery Girl) and inviting him to join his "super-group" The Travelling Wilburys.

Complete list of Roy Orbison and The Beatles Tour 1963

After playing for smaller audiences in April and May 1963, The Beatles went again on a monster tour, this time with Roy Orbison. Orbison was a major star, having had a string of hits which included Only The Lonely, Crying, Love Hurts, Running Scared, In Dreams and many many more.

Much later Roy Orbison would become one of the Traveling Willburys (together with George Harrison)

18 May Adelphi, Slough
19 May Gaumont, Hanley
20 May Gaumont, Southampton
22 May Gaumont, Ipswich
23 May Odeon, Nottingham
24 May Granada, Walthamstow
25 May City Hall, Sheffield
26 May Empire, Liverpool
28 May Gaumont, Worcester
29 May Rialto, York
30 May Odeon, Manchester
31 May Odeon, Southend-on-Sea
1 June Granada, Tooting
2 June Hippodrome, Brighton
3 June Granada, Woolwich
4 June Town Hall, Birmingham
5 June Odeon, Leeds
7 June Odeon, Glasgow
8 June City Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
9 June King George's Hall, Blackburn