Dear rave

Thirty thousand miles I've travelled this past year - appearing all over Australia, your country and Canada. In fact, I've only just got back from a 21-day tour in Canada - my second in six months

And you know what I'm doing right now? Putting my feet up! It's great!

At times I get the urge to be dead lazy. When I came back from my last trip to Australia I stopped off for an eight-day holiday on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, where I spent all my time lazing in the sun and eating coconuts. But it wasn't anyhere near as good as being home

This is the place for me... with my beautiful Claudette and my two sons, Tony and Roy Duane, around me. But I must tell you about the house which is our great joy at the moment

It's taken a year to build and we've only just moved in. And how's this? In the lounge, I've got TWO swimming pools. Yes, that's right - I like to swim in comfort. And outside I've had built an electric elevator that goes from the house, which is on a mountain side, right down to the water's edge of Lake Hickery. That's where I have my speedboat moored. It's an ordinary boat really, just big enough to sleep the family

But the HOUSE! It's perfect. Built on two acres of land overlooking the lake. It's not surprising I prefer it to Waikiki, is it?

As in my old home I've had a den built. I really need this. It's equipped with a piano, record player, tape recorder and a few guitars and it's here I hope to continue writing songs

Now I must let you into a little secret. The material I write ISN'T country-and-western. You can call me the odd-man-out for saying this: but the c-and-w label doesn't fit. Here in Nashville, I'm known as the ordinary pop singer! And let's be honest, that's all I really am!

Incidentally, I'm hoping that Claudette will be coming to England with me again on my next trip. She usually comes with me on tours as I find that it gets lonely without her. Last time we were in London, in fact, we bought her first mink coat. Can't say who was more pleased - her or me!

What I DO know is that we'll have a good time. England has given my wife and I many happy memories. You always make us feel at home... and we couldn't want for more than that!

Best wishes
Roy Orbison

P.S. One reason why I'm particularly looking forward to my April tour is that I'l be able to say thanks to all the fans... personally. That's even nicer than having the opportunity of writing to them