On 6 June, 1966,
Claudette Frady Oribison, wife of the popular American singer Roy
Orbison, dies in motorcycle accident in Old Hickory, Tennessee, USA. Claudette Frady was
born on September 5 1941 in Odessa, Texas, USA. In 1957 Claudette
Frady marries Roy Orbison. Orbison wrote and sold the song
"Claudette", about his wife Frady, in 1958 to The Everly
Brothers and it appeared on the B-side of their smash hit "All I
Have to Do Is Dream".
In 1963 Claudette
began having an affair with the contractor who built the Orbison home
in Hendersonville, Tennessee , while her husband was touring in
Britain. Their friends and relatives attributed it to her youth and
that she was unable to withstand being alone and bored. In the same year
Roy Orbison was writing with his songwriting partner Bill Dees at his
house when he told Dees to get started writing by playing anything
that came to mind. Orbison's wife Claudette came in and said she was
going to go into town to buy something. Orbison asked if she needed
any money, and Dees cracked, "Pretty woman never needs any
money." Inspired, Orbison started singing, "Pretty woman
walking down the street." Forty minutes later, "Oh, Pretty
Woman" was completed. The single sold over seven million copies.
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| Claudette and Roy Oribison |
In November 1964
Claudette and Roy divorced over her infidelities, though they
remarried in August 1965. Claudette and Roy shared a love for
motorcycles. Claudette grew up around them and Roy claimed Elvis
Presley had introduced him to motorcycles.
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| Roy and Claudette Orbison |
On 6 June, 1966,
Claudette and Roy were setting off on a motorcycle holiday when a
truck driver pulled out in front of her bike. She died in his arms an
hour later, at just 25 years old. Roy was devastated to lose his
beautiful wife. The tragic lyrics and haunting melody of 'Too Soon To
Know', which reached number three in the British charts just two
months later, still tug at the heartstrings four decades on.
Two songs dedicated
to Claudette Frady-Oribison:
"Claudette" perfomed by The Everly Brothers, written by Roy Orbison (1958)
"Claudette" written en sung by Roy Orbison
"Oh, Pretty Woman" written en sung by Roy Orbison (1963)
