Mercy!

Roy Orbison gets Hollywood Walk of Fame star

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Late rock 'n' roll pioneer Roy Orbison has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Orbison's widow Barbara accepted the star in front of the Capitol Records building on his behalf on Friday. Orbison died in 1988 at the age of 52, in the midst of a comeback with The Traveling Wilburys, a whimsical supergroup that included Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne.

Lynne attended the ceremony, as did Eric Idle, Chris Isaak, Joe Walsh and Dwight Yoakam.

Orbison was famous for the wide range of his distinctive and emotional voice, especially in his songs about unrequited love like "Only the Lonely," "Crying," "In Dreams" and "Oh, Pretty Woman."

Actor Dan Aykroyd says Orbison was a great balladeer and a great rock 'n' roller who could be both gentle and vicious.
Just running scared, each place we go.
So afraid that he might show.
Yeah, running scared, what would I do
If he came back, and wanted you?

Just running scared, feeling low.
Running scared. You loved him so.
Just running scared, afraid to lose.
If he came back, which one would you choose?

Then, all at once, he was standing there.
So sure of himself, his head in the air.
My heart was breaking. Which one would it be?
You turned around and walked away with me.
From my mother: “I’ve heard that song close to a million times…and yet, I still get that chill of surprise when the woman chooses Roy at the end.”