Rockers We’ve Lost in 2012: ‘Pretty Woman’ Songwriter Bill Dees

Songwriter Bill Dees died Oct. 24, at the age of 73, reportedly after suffering from an inoperable brain tumor. Dees co-wrote a number of hits with the one and only Roy Orbison, including the classic ‘Oh, Pretty Woman.’ The song topped the charts both in America and England in 1964, and Dees joined Orbison’s road band. They remained friends until Orbison’s death in 1988.

He reunited with Orbison on his 1989 album 'Mystery Girl,' writing the song ‘Windsurfer.' Dees also wrote for such artists as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Glen Campbell. He released his first solo album, ‘Saturday Night at the Movies,’ in 2002.