MORE than two decades after his death, fans are still flocking to hear the music of Roy Orbison.

Now a former Dorset schoolboy is returning to the county with a fabulous stage show that showcases all the Big O’s top hits.

Damien Edwards, who grew up in Wareham and was a pupil at The Purbeck School, is bringing The Voice of Roy Orbison show to the Electric Palace in Bridport next week.

He has also appeared in the Roy Orbison Story, which was a staged biography of the singer’s life, but says that this latest show is very different.

“I have been doing The Voice of Roy Orbison since the New Year and it is more of a concert that a biopic like the other show, which had a script and took the audience through his life.

“This show is a concert as if he was still alive.”

Damien’s show is packed with the songs that made Orbison one of the world’s most popular singers.

His career spanned four decades with hits Only the Lonely, Running Scared, Crying, Dream Baby, In Dreams and It’s Over which was his first UK number one.

The song Pretty Woman racked up sales of seven million records and the 1980s saw a new era of success for Roy with hits such as You Got It, I Drove All Night and a remake of the track Crying with KD Lang.

He was also in a hugely successful collaboration called The Traveling Wilburys alongside Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and George Harrison. In 1987 he was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the following year he died of a heart attack.

Damien, who completed four tours of Bill Kenwright’s Roy Orbison Story and also starred in the show Rock and Roll Heaven, said: “I think my favourite song of his is In Dreams because it’s very evocative and emotional.

“His life was quite tortured because he lost his first wife, who was his childhood sweetheart, in a motorcycle accident and then two of his children died in a house fire.

“He had fame for a decade or two and then his career really hit the doldrums until it was resurrected by friends like Bruce Springsteen who gave him a second lease of life. Orbison’s last few years were very successful and he was doing well right up to his death.

“His songs were very reflective and melancholic, although it’s easy to read so much into them once you know his life story.”

Damien’s concert is supported by West End star, Tim Harwood, performing as Buddy Holly with backing band The Rockets, and the internationally-acclaimed Everlys Experience. These top quality portrayals of these icons have seen them appear at The London Palladium, The Edinburgh Playhouse and across Europe.

l The Voice of Roy Orbison is at The Electric Palace, South Street, Bridport on Thursday.