Barry Steele In The Roy Orbison Story ‘West End Special’
Barry Steele In The Roy Orbison Story ‘West End Special’ is coming to Liverpool’s Empire Theatre.
Fresh from his West End Debut at The Adelphi Theatre Barry Steele returns to celebrate the music of Roy Orbison and his friends. The production will take you on a musical journey in time, as Barry and a sensational cast of musicians present a contemporary twist on The Big O’s back catalogue and culminates in a stunningly brilliant accolade as the whole cast comes together to pay homage to the original super group ‘The Traveling Wilburys.’
Barry Steele is a very unassuming man with a great sense of humour, but above all he has an incredible talent. In fact he is so convincing in his role as Roy Orbison that many have wondered if he is miming! It is for this reason and to allay any fears that the show features songs that Roy never actually sang.
Barry has toured across the globe in his role as Roy Orbison, but it is a far cry from his time in the RAF when he was stationed at RAF Waddington, Scampton, Wattisham and RAF Tongeren in Belgium. Whilst in the Forces, Barry has refuelled both Vulcan Bombers (The Ladies of the Sky) and The Red Arrows.
It was at Waddington that Barry met Lynne his wife, and it was during his time in the forces that he and Lynne raised their young family, in fact their daughter Leonie was born whilst Barry was serving in Belgium, and the military tradition continued as Leonie was a Squadron Leader in The RAF before leaving the forces to concentrate on her dental career.
When Barry left the RAF he moved back to the West Midlands with his young family. He became a long distance lorry driver, and it was during those long lonely hours out on the road that be began singing to artistes as diverse as Michael Jackson, Wet Wet Wet, and Chris Rea.
It was on a family holiday in Cornwall that Barry took the first steps on the road to becoming a professional singer, when Lynne and their daughter Leonie entered him into a singing competition. It was there that a fellow competitor said to him “you know, you sound just like Roy Orbison singing Robbie Williams!” And so, with the help of family and friends, a tribute to The Big ‘O’ was born.
Barry quickly became totally enveloped in the music and sheer magic that was Roy Orbison. His aim was simple, his vision clear, to deliver the songs to Roy Orbison fans in the same manner in which they were originally performed. Barry has toured across New Zealand, Holland, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Ireland. Whilst in the United States of America, Barry sang in front of Roy’s son Wesley, as well as duetting with Bill Dees, the co-writer of many of Roy’s songs.
Barry is currently touring the UK in The Roy Orbison Story as he presents an upbeat and contemporary tribute to the Big ‘O’. With a host of solid gold hits and a feel-good factor built in, this show really does have something for everyone!
Barry Steele In The Roy Orbison Story ‘West End Special’ Tickets
Barry Steele In The Roy Orbison Story ‘West End Special’ comes to the Empire Theatre on Wednesday March 4. To buy tickets, click here or call 0844 871 3017.
