The great Roy Orbison finally got his star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on Friday. It was about time!
Thanks to the persistence of his widow, the intrepid and beautiful Barbara, Orbison has lived on well after his death at age 52 in 1989.
The star was unveiled on Vine Street, right in front of the Capitol Records tower, and right next to Garth Brooks. Not bad.
With “Pretty Woman” playing in the background, Barbara and sons Alex and Roy Jr., and Roy’s son Wesley, received the proclamation from the city of Hollywood. Dan Aykroyd (who was there with gorgeous wife Donna Dixon) and T Bone Burnett each spoke about their love of Roy — who didn’t love Roy Orbison, that’s the question!
And Barbara Orbison, in accepting the citation, turned around from the mic and thanked the community of friends who’ve grown around her since Roy’s death: Jeff Lynne, Joe Walsh and his wife Marjorie, Olivia Harrison, Barbara Bach Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Phil Everly, Chris Isaak, Jonathan Clyde from the Beatles’ Apple Records, and so on.
The sun got very warm and buttery just as they unveiled the star, too, and the whole crowd put on signature Roy Orbison sunglasses in the singer’s honor.
One postscript: Roy will be joined nearby on the Walk of Fame on February 8th by none other than… Ringo! The whole gang will return to the scene that night. Nice!
January 30th, 2010 at 11:28 am
What people dont realize is that you have to pay for the star. Costs $24,000 up from $18,000 a couple of yrs ago. Even though they nominate you, the celeb doesnt receive it unless paid by the sponsoring group. SMH. Sort of waters down the significance of the event. One of the reasons why Whitney Houston refused her star back in 1996 for The Bodyguard. Other reason was she felt she didnt “want people stepping on her name”.
January 30th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
So each of the “sponsoring group” paid about $2,400 USD for Barbara’s star? That is nice of them! Roy’s friends are my kind of people for their generosity and musical taste.
January 31st, 2010 at 2:48 am
I am a Swedish huge fan of ELO and Jeff Lynne. I love everything Jeff have been involved in. His music is medicine for my broken soul. So I wonder when the great Jeff Lynne will get HIS star on Walk of fame.
I really do think it’s about time that he gets it. I want him to get it so bad because for me Jeff Lynne is the greatest performer ever.
February 7th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
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