Who Is Roy Orbison Jr?

Roy Orbison Jr. is a perfect example of how being the child of a music legend has its perks. 

Roy Jr. watched as his father performed to thousands of fans in the US and internationally. Music seems to run in Roy Orbison, Jr’s genes as he carries on his dad’s legacy. 

We’re bringing your more about the son of one of music’s most beloved artists.

Let’s jump in! 

The Story of Roy Orbison Jr.

Roy Kelton Orbinson Jr. was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1970 to music legend Roy Orbinson. His mother, Barbara Orbinson, was also an accomplished music producer. His father is best known for hit songs like Oh Pretty Woman, Crying, and Only the Lonely. 

Soon after his birth, his parents moved the family to England. At the age of five, Roy Jr. was called out on stage by his dad, who gave him his first guitar. The first song he learned to play was You Are My Sunshine. The song was also the first piece his dad learned to play from Roy Jr’s grandfather. It seems tradition was an important thing in the Orbison family. 

Music was an integral part of Roy Jr’s upbringing. Not just from his parents, but his godparents, Johnny and June Carter-Cash, were also influential. 

When he was 14, Roy Jr. and his parents returned to the US and settled in Los Angeles, California. By this time, he was proficient on the guitar and three years later was invited to write a song with Bono from U2.

When his dad formed the supergroup Traveling Wilburys in 1988, Roy Jr. found himself close to other musical legends. The band consisted of Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison.

From being backstage in venues worldwide to traveling in tour buses, Roy Jr. got the whole “fly on the wall” experience. What fan of any musician wouldn’t love the opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes?

Throughout his early adult life, Roy Jr. played guitar and involved himself heavily in preserving his father’s music. Roy Orbison’s fans have his three sons to thank for keeping his songs alive. 

Is Roy Jr. Married? Does He Have Kids?

Roy Jr. is married and has two sons, Roy III and Bo, ages 5 and 3, respectively. 

His wife, Asa, is of Swedish descent and lived in Sweden when the two met in 2013. Roy met her while spending time in Stockholm. The couple maintained a long-distance relationship for two years before Asa moved to Nashville. 

The number 5 has become significant to the couple. Roy Jr. asked Asa five times to move to the US before she finally agreed to relocate. There were also five marriage proposals before Asa finally said, “yes.” Roy Jr. was nothing if not persistent!

They tied the knot in 2017 at the Cash Cabin Studio. The venue sits on property owned by the Johnny and June Carter-Cash estate and is still in the Cash family. Their only son, John Carter Cash, manages the estate and studio. He also officiated Roy Jr. and Asa’s wedding. 

The Orbison family will be growing by one more member when Asa gives birth to their third child in March 2022. 

What Does Roy Orbison Jr. Do For a Living?

Roy Orbison Jr. is a musician, author, music producer, and publisher. He’s very active in the music industry along with his brothers, Alex and Wesley.

Roy Jr. and his brother, Alex, run the Orbison family music publishing company, Still Working Music. It was founded in 1990 by their mother, Barbara. Songwriters who have recorded songs through the company include Rod Stewart, Tim McGraw, Conway Twitty, and Celine Dion.

All three Orbison brothers authored the 2017 biography, The Authorized Roy Orbison. The book chronicles their father’s life and extensive music career. 

The brothers also founded Roy’s Boys LLC, which manages the legacy of their famed father.

Has Roy Jr. Been on TV or Movies?

Roy Jr. has made appearances as himself on screen a few different times. 

A reality TV series called Strange Inheritance ran an episode about a previously unreleased Roy Orbison song. His three sons discussed a song their father recorded on a home cassette tape but was never released to the public. 

Roy Jr. and his family appeared in two episodes of the Bravo reality show Below Deck. The series chronicles the lives of young people working on yachts in various tropical settings. 

While the first appearance on the show went smoothly, the second did not go as well. Roy Jr. had gotten pretty rowdy and blackout drunk, even coming close to jumping ship as they were docking. 

He’s also appeared in a couple of TV biographies about his father’s life. The first, Roy Orbison: One of the Lonely, aired in 2015, and the second, Roy Orbison: Love Hurts, aired in 2017.

Why Does Roy Orbison Jr. Have an Accent?

Roy Jr’s accent comes from spending his first five years of life in England plus traveling in other parts of Europe. In his own words, “I have a little bit of a European kind of marbled English accent.”

Roy Orbison Jr. Keeps His Father’s Legacy Thriving

Sometimes, the people keeping legacies alive aren’t given the recognition they deserve. Roy Orbison Jr. might not be that well-known to the general public. But his work behind the scenes has been vital in keeping his father’s music available for future generations.