Alex Orbison
{{short description|American drummer (born 1975)}}
{{Cleanup-PR|date=April 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Alex "Orbi" Orbison
| image = Alex Orbi Orbison .jpg
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name =
| alias = Orbi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|5|25}}
| birth_place = Hendersonville, Tennessee, U.S.
| genre =
| instrument = Drums, background vocals
| occupation = Musician
Publisher
film producer
film director
| years_active = 2000–present
| label = Sony Legacy
Atlantic Records
| past_member_of = Whitestarr
| website = {{URL|https://stillworkingmusicgroup.com/alexorbison/}}
}}
Alexander Orbison (born May 25, 1975), also known as Orbi, is an American drummer, writer, director, and film producer. He is the president of Still Working Music Group, a publishing company. He is also president and co-founder of Roy's Boys LLC, which manages the legacy of his father, musician Roy Orbison; the organization also includes his brothers, Roy Orbison Jr. and Wesley Orbison.Recordings, Legacy. "A Love So Beautiful: Roy Orbison With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" To Be Released November 3 By Roy's Boys And Legacy Recordings. PR Newswire. 25 May 2017. Web. 1 June 2017.
Biography
Orbison is the youngest son of Roy Orbison and Barbara Orbison, born on May 25, 1975. He is their second-born child, following Roy Kelton Orbison Jr., born October 18, 1970. He has an older half-brother, Wesley Orbison. In addition, he had two older brothers from Roy's first marriage who died in a fire. They lived on Old Hickory Lake, next door to his god-parents Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash in Hendersonville, Tennessee."Widow of Singer Roy Orbison." Los Angeles Times, 2011. Web. December 4, 2016. Growing up in a musical household, Orbi's first instrument was violin, as his hands were too small for the guitar,{{cite web |last=Button |first=Simon |title=My favourite photograph: Rock and roll singer Roy Orbison’s son Alex |url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/491337/My-favourite-photograph-by-Roy-Orbison-s-son-Alex |website=Express.co.uk |access-date=November 18, 2021 |date=July 27, 2014 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118054912/https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/491337/My-favourite-photograph-by-Roy-Orbison-s-son-Alex |url-status=live }} followed by guitar and piano before landing on drums."Interview: Alex Orbison on Roy Orbison's MGM Years-part One." Superdeluxeedition. N.p., n.d. Web. After Roy travelled to California to co-write with Jerry Lynn Williams and Will Jennings, Roy decided to move his family to Malibu, California, in 1985.@TexasMonthly. "He Writes the Songs." Texas Monthly. Texas Monthly, 1996. Web.
Following the death of his mother in 2011, Orbison moved back to Nashville, Tennessee, after promising her he would "get down to Nashville and take care of business" following her battle with pancreatic cancer.ROrbison. "ROrbison." Still Working Music Group. N.p., 2014. Web. He currently lives there with his wife, Erika Wolf Orbison, and two children, Eden Orbison (b. September 27, 2018) and Wylie Cozy Wolf Orbison (b. February 14, 2021)."Orbison Sons Take Over Roy's Legacy." Orbison Sons Take Over Roy's Legacy. N.p., n.d. Web.
In 2024, Orbison joined The Allman Betts Band replacing their former drummer, R. Scott Bryan, who died in December 2023.
Early musical career
In the early 1990s, Orbison made friends with Jerry Lynn Williams' son Chris Williams, co-founding a band called Backbone69. Along with guitarist–vocalist Williams and drummer Orbison, Backbone69 included guitarist Duane Betts, son of the Allman Brothers' Dickey Betts, and bass player Berry Oakley Jr., son of Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakley.09, August. "Fans Mourn Sudden Death of Popular Rock Band Leader." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 2001. Web.
In 1992, Orbison took his first professional position in publishing with Don Williams Music Group, but as Backbone gained popularity amongst the community, Orbison left his position in publishing to tour with Backbone69.ROrbison. "ROrbison." Still Working Music Group. N.p., 2014. Web. December 4, 2016.
In 2001, Chris Williams was in a fatal car accident, which led to the dissipation of the band. As Betts described it, "It was like the tribe lost its chief."Mark Bassett. "Malibu Rockers Whitestarr to Headline Battle for De Beach." The Malibu Times. N.p., 2004. Web.
While Williams was alive, the members of Backbone frequently played as backing band for the son of Lou Adler, Cisco Adler's project called Whitestarr. After Williams' death, Cisco invited the boys of Backbone to formally join the band.
After signing with Atlantic Records in 2000 and a television series on VH1, Whitestarr disbanded in 2008.
Executive career
Since 2012, Orbison has been president of the publishing company, Still Working Music Group and Roy's Boys LLC, managing his father's catalog with his brothers.
=Mystery Girl Deluxe (2014) =
Alex Orbison • Executive Producer, Liner Notes{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/mystery-girl-deluxe-edition-mr0004134518/credits|title=Mystery Girl [Deluxe Edition] - Roy Orbison - Release Credits - AllMusic|publisher=|access-date=December 5, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220234333/http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/mystery-girl-deluxe-edition-mr0004134518/credits|url-status=live}}
For the 25th anniversary of the posthumously released Mystery Girl, a Deluxe version was released with a new song "The Way is Love" . The record was mixed at the Johnny Cash Cabin, produced by John Carter Cash, remastered by Richard Dodd and released on Sony Legacy. The bonus track "The Way is Love" includes guitar, vocals and drumming by the Orbison brothers – Alex, Roy Jr. and Wesley with the vocal by their father."Roy Orbison's Three Sons Use Technology to Create New Song by Their Father." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, n.d. Web. December 4, 2016."Roy Orbison / "Mystery Girl" Deluxe." Superdeluxeedition. N.p., n.d. Web.
=One of The Lonely Ones (2015)=
Alex Orbison • Producer, Executive Producer, Liner Notes{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-of-the-lonely-ones-mw0002889025/credits|title=One of the Lonely Ones - Roy Orbison - Credits - AllMusic|publisher=}}
One of The Lonely Ones, recorded between January and August 1969, was previously unreleased due to a "logjam of releases"."Roy Orbison's 'Lost' Album Debuting as Part of 'MGM Years' Box." Ultimate Classic Rock. N.p., n.d. Web. December 4, 2016. The album was mixed at the Johnny Cash Cabin, produced by Alex and Chuck Fleckenstein, remastered by Richard Dodd and released on Sony Legacy.
=The MGM years 1965–1973 (2015) =
Alex Orbison • Producer, Executive Producer, Liner Notes
The MGM Years box set was a complete reissue of all 13 records made during Roy Orbison's deal with MGM Records. All 13 records were re-mixed at the Johnny Cash Cabin, produced by Alex and Chuck Fleckenstein, remastered by Richard Dodd and released on Sony Legacy."Interview: Alex Orbison on Roy Orbison's MGM Years-part One." Superdeluxeedition. N.p., n.d. Web. December 4, 2016.
=Roy Orbison: The Ultimate Collection (2016)=
"Roy's son, Alex Orbison, painstakingly selected songs that were most representational of his father's vast catalog, which totals 27 studio albums, four live albums, and over 60 singles, 22 of which placed in the U.S. Billboard Top 40 chart. Narrowing it down was no easy task. 'It is a great honor for me and my brothers, Wesley and Roy Jr., to finally and definitively distill our father's entire career onto a single disc as best one can possibly do and, certainly, as never done before,' said Alex. 'It is the result of years of research, archiving and listening, and it is with supreme and heartfelt pleasure that we will be able to share it with the world.'"@SonyLegacyRecs. "'The Ultimate Collection' Marks The First-Ever Anthology of Roy Orbison." Legacy Recordings. N.p., 2016. Web.
=Black & White Night 30 (2017) =
The remastered version of the Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night was released February 27, 2017, with Orbison as producer.{{cite web |last=Graff |first=Gary |title=Expanded Edition of Roy Orbison’s Iconic ‘Black & White Night’ Concert Film & Album Coming for 30th Anniversary: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/roy-orbison-black-white-night-concert-anniversary-expanded-7654371/ |website=Billboard |access-date=November 17, 2021 |date=January 12, 2017 |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117175105/https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/roy-orbison-black-white-night-concert-anniversary-expanded-7654371/ |url-status=live }}
=The Authorized Roy Orbison (2017) =
The estate-authorized biography was released October 17, 2017.{{cite web |last=Blistein |first=Jon |title=Royal Philharmonic Scores New Roy Orbison Album |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/royal-philharmonic-scores-new-roy-orbison-album-198317/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=November 17, 2021 |date=May 25, 2017 |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117172021/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/royal-philharmonic-scores-new-roy-orbison-album-198317/ |url-status=live }} The book is written by Alex, his brothers Roy Jr. and Wesley Orbison alongside Jeff Slate.{{Cite news|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2017/10/14/author-q-roy-orbison-jr-wesley-orbison-alex-orbison-and-jeff-slate/750985001/|title=Author Q & A with Roy Orbison, Jr., Wesley Orbison, Alex Orbison and Jeff Slate|work=The Tennessean|access-date=2017-12-01|language=en}}
=A Love So Beautiful (2017) =
A Love So Beautiful: Roy Orbison With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was released November 17, 2017. Alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orbison contributed to the making of this record. The philharmonic recorded in Abbey Road Studios.
= Only The Lonely (2018) =
Alex Orbison • Co-Producer
Orbison and his brothers signed on for the first ever estate authorized biopic, written by Ray Gideon and Bruce A. Evans. The film will be co-produced by Alex Orbison alongside Marty Katz and Roy Kelton Orbison Jr., executive produced by Chuck Fleckenstein, Wesley Orbison and Ron Moore.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/roy-orbison-biopic-movie-ray-gideon-bruce-evans-write-script-1201827631/|title=Roy Orbison Biopic In Works; Ray Gideon & Bruce Evans To Write Script|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|website=Deadline|date=September 28, 2016}}
= ''The Beatle Who Vanished'' =
Alex Orbison • Co-Producer
Alex, along with close friend Ashley Hamilton secured the rights to The Beatle Who Vanished, the 2013 book by Jim Berkenstadt about Jimmie Nicol who filled in for Ringo Starr for 13 days during the Beatles' 1964 world tour.{{cite web |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |title=Roy Orbison's Son Acquires Rights to 'The Beatle Who Vanished' Film |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roy-orbisons-son-acquires-rights-to-the-beatle-who-vanished-film-111952/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=November 17, 2021 |date=February 15, 2017}}
Discography
=with Roy Orbison=
=with Whitestarr=
- Fillith Tillith (2007)
- Luv Machine (2006)
=with Backbone69=
- "Backbone69" (1999, re-issued 2016)
Filmography
- Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl – Unraveled (2014)"Biography." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web.
- Roy Orbison: One of the Lonely Ones (2015)"Roy Orbison's 'Lost' Album Debuting as Part of 'MGM Years' Box." Ultimate Classic Rock. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Roy Orbison: Black and White Night 30 (2017)
- Only the Lonely (2018)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1446801}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orbison, Alex}}
Category:Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee
Category:20th-century American drummers
Category:American male drummers
Category:American people of German descent