“Pretty woman, walking down the street…Pretty woman, the kind I’d like to meet…” These song lyrics are familiar to most music fans from Roy Orbison’s 1964 hit song Pretty Woman, a timeless tune that was also a hit in the 1980’s when it was covered by Van Halen. In addition to that classic, Roy Orbison had numerous other hits including Only the Lonely, Crying, Running Scared, In Dreams, and later chart-toppers including Handle With Care (recorded with the Traveling Wilburys) and You Got It, a Top Ten smash at the time of Roy’s tragic passing in 1988.
On Saturday Jan. 29 at 8pm, the music and life of Roy Orbison will be celebrated in Roy Orbison: Shades of Yesterday a special theatrical show presented at the historic Harriston Town Hall Theatre. This unique show will mix all of the favourite Orbison hits coupled with some interesting and witty dialogue relating to the music legend.
Starring as Roy Orbison will be the incredible Bernie Jessome, widely regarded as one of North America’s finest Roy Orbison impersonators. In addition to capturing the trademark look of the music legend, Bernie’s amazing vocal range mirrors the remarkable, unmistakable presence of Orbison himself. Joining Jessome on-stage will be Bill Culp and The Memphis Cats, a top-notch group of musicians dedicated to authentically reproducing the sound of legendary artists such as Orbison, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and Buddy Holly. Culp and his Memphis Cats band are globe-trotting musicians, but are familiar to local residents from their previous theatre appearances in Wingham, Blyth, Walkerton and Harriston. Bernie recently commented “I’ve traveled all across North America doing my Orbison show, and I’m really looking forward to performing in Harriston. The Memphis Cats band has told me it’s a wonderful, historical building, and the audiences are very interactive and receptive.”
Bernie Jessome was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, and the longtime musician now hails from Toronto. He started off his musical career singing with a Canadian group called “The Esquires” and as his career took off, he found himself opening for his idol Roy Orbison and groups like The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones. In 1991, he formed a Roy Orbison Tribute production called Shades of Yesterday.
He then connected with the huge “Legends of Rock and Roll” organization and toured Canada cast in the role of Roy Orbison. Bernie has performed throughout the United States and spent more than a year with the U.S. based “American Superstars”. His spellbinding performances as Roy Orbison throughout England in the 1990’s were the talk of the UK theatre circuit.
Today, as he tours the continent performing the tribute to his musical idol, Bernie Jessome is having the time of his life. Jessome comments, “Orbison was, in the eyes of Elvis Presley and many other great musicians, the best singer in the world. He is a true legend and it is a privilege to sing in the memory of the irreplaceable Roy Orbison.”
Seating for Roy Orbison: Shades of Yesterday is limited and advance tickets are available for only $20 at the Home Hardware in Harriston or by phone at 519-338-2778.
