The Mystery of Roy Orbison

Nearly 25 years have passed since Roy Orbison last prowled the Earth in one of his signature jet-black ensembles, with those trademark sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose. The rock pioneer responsible for the lascivious growl of “Oh, Pretty Woman,” the swoony high notes of “Crying” and a personal style best described as geek-noir chic died of a heart attack in 1988, which means he’s now been gone for almost as much time as he spent recording albums. Given his catalogue of classics and the long list of significant artists he influenced — from Bono to Bruce Springsteen to Bob Dylan — he’s hardly been forgotten. But in a music landscape where trends change as fast as our Spotify playlists can shuffle, reminders of the lasting timelessness of his work are welcome.