Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night

The legendary concert was filmed on September 30, 1987, at the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles. It was broadcast on television as a Cinemax special in January 1988. The choice of black-and-white film was intentional to evoke a classic, timeless 1950s aesthetic.

Orbison was backed by an all-star lineup of rock legends, including Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and Jackson Browne. The house band also featured members of Elvis Presley's TCB Band, such as James Burton. T Bone Burnett, k.d. lang, and Jennifer Warnes provided incredible vocal harmonies.

The concert took place in late 1987, just over a year before Roy Orbison died of a heart attack on December 6, 1988. He was experiencing a massive career resurgence at the time, having recently recorded tracks for the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys. The special served as a powerful reminder of his enduring vocal talent to a new generation.

The setlist featured some of Orbison's biggest hits, including 'Oh, Pretty Woman,' 'Crying,' and 'Only the Lonely.' The finale featured a stunning performance of 'In Dreams,' which had recently gained renewed fame from its eerie use in David Lynch's film Blue Velvet. The set was meticulously arranged to highlight his legendary four-octave vocal range.