THE Halesowen Hound Dog will no longer be Only The Lonely as the town's only world class tribute act because a Roy Orbison imitator is about to hit the big time.

Barry Steele will be "driving all night" this year from gig to gig as he embarks on his biggest tour yet hot on the heels of Mark Summers who has travelled the globe as Elvis.

The closest Mr Steele will be performing The Roy Orbison Story to Halesowen is at the The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham on June 16.

His biggest fan is his wife Lynne, she said: "Barry has stunned audiences across the globe with his uncanny similarity and ability to authentically revive the exquisite toe-tapping sound of this music giant.

"He is quite simply unmissable, as he takes you on this specially produced musical journey in time, featuring Orbison’s hits from the early 1960s leading up to the internationally acclaimed concert The Black and White Night and The Traveling Wilburys."

She added: "Barry is backed in this all live multi- media show, with not only a fabulous band and musicians, but a big screen featuring both live streaming, and images from the life and times of Roy Orbison, and stars who worked and shared centre stage with him, interspersed with factoids and information about the life and times of what is considered to be one of the best singers the world has ever known."

Barry has been plying his trade as The Big O for 16 years.

He said: "It was on a family holiday in Cornwall in 2001 that I took the first steps on the road to becoming a professional singer, when my wife Lynne and daughter Leonie entered me into a singing competition without my knowledge.

"A fellow competitor said to me: “You know you sound just like Roy Orbison singing Robbie Williams” so with the help of family and friends a tribute to The Big ‘O’ was born.

However, Barry knows where his popularity springs from.

He said: "Roy Orbison’s songs not only have wonderful melodies and tunes, the lyrics are some of the most sublime ever written.

"Not only does the music take you back in time, they can make you happy, sad and emotive all at the same time."

He added: "Orbison is known as a balladeer, but he also recorded and performed rocky and contemporary songs, his songs are quite simply timeless."

Mark Summers, who is currently touring the world as Elvis, said: "Barry is brilliant, this town is definitely big enough for the both of us.

"Halesowen must be the only UK town can boast two Las Vegas legends."