(Orion) Jimmy Ellis He Has A Great Voice And We Loved All Of His Music. We were in the same dorm building on campus at Middle Georgia College in Cochran, GA. Every morning from my room I would hear this loping sound of cowboy boots coming down the hall and some guy humming and singing lowly. [5] His vocals closely resembled those of Elvis Presley, and in 1969 Shelby Singleton, who had acquired the rights to Sun Records' back catalog, other than Presley's recordings for the label, released a single of Ellis' recordings of Presley's early songs, "That's All Right (Mama)" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky". What you see is what you get. They vociferously took advantage of, and preyed upon, those Elvis fans, the "true disbelievers", who had a deep seated need to disbelieve a more prosaic, greed fuelled reality and motivation for the carefully constructed "Orion" character. To see the film clip and make a donation, please click on the link below. The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. I could not believe what I was hearing. EIN often receives requests for information on these releases. Unfortunately, despite the fact that most of the songs he recorded were not covers of Elvis songs, he could not escape the uncanny similarities between their natural voices. Today. We are told that the documentary is moving along but, as with many projects, monetary donations would be appreciated to help get to completion. We have just received an intro and preview clip from the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". Dates, venues, photographs would all be of great help. This is a fan site. 2) Jimmy Ellis aka Orion. was courted for a baseball career and a tryout with the Milwaukie Braves but turned it down. They wrote both of the songs. That day, Elaine Thompson, his x-wife was filling in for Shirley Connell who had gone home to Memphis for the weekend. Bobby D.: Yes, that is just my natural voice. The label credited the recordings simply to "? If you want to support the artist or artists that recorded and released this music, please go and purchase their music. Orion". A Tribute to the "Masked Man": Jimmy Ellis aka "Orion". When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The music industry is filled with many strange tales of artists whose lives took unexpected turns on the winding road to success, but the saga of singer Jimmy Ellis is perhaps one of the weirdest of them all. Sundance Selects has acquired North American rights to Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, the feature documentary written and directed by Jeanie Finlay. Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site Welcome!! Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. Links to Orion / Jimmy Ellis sites. Similarly, there was an incontrovertible and diametrically opposed outcome for each side. Jimmy just could not help that he sounded like someone else EP. In reality, Orion was the club singer Jimmy Ellis, who was born in Orrville, Alabama, in 1945. With an outlandish fictional identity torn from the pages of a pulp novel, the backing of the legendary birthplace of rock n roll Sun Records and a voice that seemed to be the very twin of Presleys himself, the scheme concocted in the months after Presleys death exploded into a cult success and the Elvis is alive myth began. Jimmy Fallon goes "Orion" - Fallon does segment on worst albums he says doNOT buy. These songs has appeared on other compilations or a collection of songs. EIN: Bobby, you currently have a special offer on the site. [3], After Presley died in 1977, Singleton revived the hoax by releasing singles that overdubbed Ellis' voice onto known Sun recordings by Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and others, including a version of "Save the Last Dance For Me," [6] on which there was simply a credit to "Friend". Jimmy Ellis Also known as Orion. However, after failing to retain his popularity using his real name, he returned to performing as Orion in 1987. Bobby D.: Not really. This is thebookthat started the Orion legend created by Shelby Singleton at Sun Records. Ellis appeared with many . 1. All three men were apprehended. The albums were quite popular, and Orion had three Top 70 hits, including Am I That Easy to Forget. He had four minor hits the following year, including the contemporary rockabilly song Crazy Little Thing Called Love, originally recorded by the rock group Queen. As the Orion story unfolded, it was clear these forces played straight to the hearts and deep-seated psychological needs of many Elvis fans! he wears as mask In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. Brewer-Giorgio's novel, Jimmy Ellis' career aspirations, and Shelby Singleton's business converged to create Orion, the masked singer who allowed Jimmy to essentially perform as Elvis Presley for those grief-stricken audiences who wanted to believe he was still alive. Lee's appeal against the sentence was refused by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on October 9, 2009,[7] and a writ of certiorari was denied by the Supreme Court of the United States in April 2018. I had just talked to him on Friday December 11. Just before noon, he decided to go by his pawn shop to check on things. By the late 1980s, Jimmy was again performing on stage in his Orion persona and while not enjoying the buoyant career he had between 1978 and the early 1980s he had regular bookings, including in Europe where he was especially sought after. (Jimmy Ellis single on the regional Boblo label - released in 1978 - it is viewed by many as the singer's plea for acceptance in his own right rather than because of his uncanny Elvis-like singing voice). That's not recording. Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. He used to say: you can sound like other artists and make it but if you sound like Elvis they dont want to play your records. The film is being produced by Jeanie Finlay, a British artist and filmaker. Bobby D.: Jimmy never commented about the LP coffin cover to me, but he was not hot on the mask gimmick from the start. Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. EIN: What is Bobby D. doing, musically, these days? Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. A lot of the people traveled many miles to see himsome were on a tour of Nashville from England andGermany andhad made the trip to see Orion. He was standing before the display counter in his Jimmy's Pawn and Package Store just after noon Saturday when the gunman burst in and, in seconds, turned the quiet shop into a slaughterhouse. 17 Comments / So, thats how Jimmy Ellis and I met and became lifelong friends. If he sounds different on them, I will know he is faking. Scans of sleeves and labels would be of real interest as would track listings of further foreign releases. Born in 1945 in Orville, Alabama. Three thugs intent on thievery pulled up outside the pawn shop on Dec. 12, 1998, and one of them Jeffrey Lee walked inside, pulled a sawed-off shotgun hidden in his heavy . We hope that thisweb site will in some way bring to light thetalent of Jimmy Ellis (Orion) and that it will bring you, as fans, or as new comers, joy through the love of his music and his short life on this earth. Some listeners believed that Orion was, in fact, Presley, who had supposedly faked his death. We have just received an intro and preview clip of the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". Then, he introduced me to Jimmy Ellis, the guy by the tape recorder who had said nothing. But later after collegeJimmy and I reconnected and had experiences in the 70s where he did various club shows etc., in Macon and other towns. It was issued on Sun without an artist name, and created a furor because Ellis bore such an uncanny vocal resemblance to Elvis. Jim Highley. 15 November 1937 Died 8 March 2012 (aged 74) There are at least four artists called Jimmy Ellis: 1) Jimmy Ellis. (EIN Comment: Bobby D. should get back to playing "live" - he is naturally gifted with a great voice!). You tell your friends who tell their friends who tell their friends WHAT IS THUNDERCLAP? The . Taken straight from the mastertapes. Along the way, and particularly towards the end, Jimmy was not happy with the whole thing. Scans of the orange label version of the CD single SUNDAY FATHER on the Lanier Records label. He was who he was, no pretense. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Uncategorized and tagged as. [9][10][11] The film won the Discovery Award at the British Independent Film Awards 2015. is the only Elvis stylist to have had bootleg material released more than a dozen labels have released around 150 albums of his studio and live material! How many Elvis tribute artists have several websites devoted to them. had a stage presence which entranced his fans, did not want want to be an Elvis imitator, for most of his career did not make a living singing and performing Elvis songs, had fans who travelled (often as a family) up to 500 miles to see him perform, is the only Elvis stylist to have had an album replaced due to controversy, is the only Elvis stylist to have a best-selling book published about his persona. So I said: come on, thats Elvis I have the album. Again, the speculation was that Elvis had sung on the songs, particularly "Save the Last Dance for Me". Ellis continued recording and performing through 1983 as Orion, and scored only one more minor hit before trying to break his Sun contract to become a recognized performer in his own right. He also had a great personality with a quick wit. Perhaps critically, Jimmy had made a decision that a sporting future wasn't to shape the his story, and in so doing his future would be frustratingly shaped by his vocal chords as Jimmy's singing voice sounded remarkably like Elvis'. Bobby D.: It was a pleasure. Read about his childhood, reaching for the music scene, chasing his dream and finally his tragic end. Newspaper adverts and reports of his numerous appearances also very much appreciated. Jimmy Ellis (with mask) as Orion (note his hair color), Orion (sans mask) as Jimmy Ellis (note his natural hair color), Above images sourced from the official "Orion-Jimmy Ellis" website. Boomer on Shelby. Ellis was born in either Pascagoula, Mississippi,[2] Orrville, Alabama,[3] or Washington, D.C.,[1] United States, into a single parent home. Jimmy really liked my version of My Special Angel that we listened to for the first time while riding around in Nashville. Allyson Adams 'The Rebel and The King' Interview: EIN interviews John Scheinfeld director of 'Fame & Fortune', Elvis Paradise Hawaiian Interview - with Peter Noone, Sam Thompson, Elvis' bodyguard, 2011 Interview. Many years later, I recorded four songs at Stargem Studios in Nashville, the same studio Jimmy had also recorded at earlier. James Hodges Ellis (born James Hughes Bell, February 26, 1945 - December 12, 1998), who used the stage name Orion at times in his career, was an American singer. I'm Leavin'.Despite an initially (somewhat) artistically and (somewhat) financially beneficial arrangement for Jimmy Ellis, eventually the combination of an increasingly unfulfilling and unwanted masked career as an Elvis sound-a-like confronted his primal burning desire to be recognised and appreciated as "himself". Ellis made a public confession in 1983 admitting he was Orion. Fittingly, his legend lives on, and quite ironically, both as Jimmy Ellis and Orion! 6 1971-1973' Book Review: 'Elvis - The Man & His Music'#100 review: 'Elvis - Aloha Via Satellite: A 40th Anniv Release' Book Review: 'The Elvis Files Vol. How many Elvis tribute artists have had 10 Top 100 hits on the Country Music Chart? I finished college with a BBA while my wife worked, and I got the GI Bill. . 'There are many that believe that Elvis is still alive - if he is alive he wears a mask and goes by the name Orion' (Nashville News 1979) ORION's the story of Jimmy Ellis, an unknown singer plucked from obscurity, and thrust into the spotlight as part . Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. SUBSCRIBE FOR ARTIST + LABEL NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS AND MORE. In a town steeped in strange success stories, hidden agendas, and dashed dreams, Orion's tale is one of the most curious ever to originate in Music City USA--which is saying something. 1 1953-56'In Depth Book Review: 'Aloha From Hawaii' 40th Anniv LEGACY CD Review: Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive Review: 'Prince From Another Planet In-Depth Review: Once Upon A Time: Elvis and Anita (Memories of My Mother) - Book Review: 'A Boy From Tupelo' special In-depth Review: 'The Elvis Files Vol. My mom had bought me GI Blues and a new record player when I was only 10 years old and I would try to play some of the songs and sing. A couple of songs can be heard at the URLs below. 5 1969-70' Book Review: 'From Hawaii to Las Vegas' FTD CD Review: 'Young Man with the Big Beat' In-Depth Review: 'Fashion For A King' FTD in-depth Review: The Music of Elvis Presley - Australian Radio Show, Elvis Presley In Concert "downunder" 2006, Graceland - The National Historic Landmark. Real Name: James Hughes Bell Profile: James Hughes Bell (February 26, 1945 - December 12, 1998), stage name Orion (based on the character from the same-titled book by Gail Brewer-Giorgio ), was an American singer. Another regular lady was also working that day. Anyway, he got that voice from somewhere in his original family.not from Sears, as he once said. iTunes, Amazon) and not physical discs. Jimmy Ellis was one of the super talented yes like Elvis, Tom Jones, Engelbert my all-time favorite solo artists. The answer is: ONE! Who was he? Scan of the German cassette release LET YOUR LOVE FLOW on the Sun/Bellaphon label. EIN: Jimmys death was tragic! The mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice, claiming to be Orion. So if you filmed him, recorded him or are in possession of anything I might be interested in then do not hesitate to take contact with me thru my e-mail: jimmyellisfan@yahoo.no, All Rights Reserved. Thanks for your help! was blessed with a natural singing voice remarkably similar to Elvis. A special thanks to Shelby Singleton, Sun Records; Bobby Smith, Boblo Records; Wayne Hodge, Stargem Records;Jim Hardin, Kardina Records; and Jerry Adams, Flatland Records, and Nick "Scott" Pettafor producing all the great Orion-Jimmy Ellis-Ellis Jamesmusic that will last a lifetime..Thank you!!! Pictures and track listings are shown below of the titles I have managed to source. Directors Statement Who was that masked man? Scan of the 8 track cassette release TRUCKS, TRAINS & AIRPLANES on Gusto Records. 'Elvis: From Louisiana and Memphis 1976' FTD In-depth Review: FTD continues their extensive look at Elvis' performances in 1976 with three July 1976 concerts. What exactly happened? EIN: Did he come to resent the Orion character and if so, how strongly? He makes a mistake and some asshole over here says don't worry about it, it will be alright. These titles and their eye catching specially made front covers would appear to be exclusively for internet downloads (eg. Help us spreadthe word about our cinema releaseby signing up for an ORIONtweetor aFacebookpost here onThunderclap. : Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive, Elvis at Madison Square Garden 40 Years Ago. He started the album on the record player to play Echoes of Love. EIN: Listening to My Special Angel and Hes Got You it is apparent that you also have a singing voice very similar Elvis. Is that your natural singing voice? He has appeared with Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood, Gary Morris, the Oak Ridge Boys and many many others. The music industry is filled with many strange tales of artists whose lives took unexpected turns on the winding road to success, but the saga of singer Jimmy Ellis is perhaps one of the weirdest of them all. How many Elvis tribute artists are still remembered nearly 20 years after their death? 2. He could laugh about most anythinghe was alot of fun at home and especially on stage!! It will focus on his early years before he became the masked singer Orion. His natural voice was very similar to the voice of Elvis Presley, read more Love For A Lovely Girl.What A Great Song.BY Lester Brown/ Bob Gibson/ Johdn D Loudermilk. $4.00 shipping. 3. How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? We were both only children, but Jimmy was not selfish or too self-centered. Could you clarify who was working with him that day? Problem is he doesn't play enough ofthe song for the audience to hear. Bobby D.: Not very much except recording at home when the mood strikes. Wonder how in the world the producer picked an Orion album?? Bobby knew a lot of people in the business and was a producer for King Records at one time. In 1999, the famed German company, Bear Family Records, released a 4CD box set of 108 Orion recordings: From the pr for the box set: It was Orion Eckley Darnell, keeping the flame of rootsy Southern music alive in the Seventies, and doing it by sounding remarkably like Elvis Aaron Presley. We put the official web site www.orionjimmyellis.comtogether three months before his tragic death in December 1998. Once Jimmy signed with Sun Records in Nashville, we drifted apart.me with my career and Jimmy trying to make it in the music industry. The strange part of the tale began in January 1979, when author Gail Brewer-Giorgio received a bizarre early-morning phone call. Did Jimmy ever comment to you about the cover? We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. The name Orion was borrowed from a book about a very famous but unhappy singer who faked his death in a desperate bid to escape from . Jimmy came from a Christian family and held his belief in God the Father throughout his life. We join the Ellis family and friends and fans all . http://www.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Jimmy-Ellis-Early-years-PROMO.mp3. For one side, they would quite naturally (and self-directed), psychologically rationalise and morph their needs to maintain internal equilibrium and ongoing personal and social engagement.for the other side his outcome would be economically directed and physically terminal, as his 'what if' life diverted to a course which outwardly may have offered some degree of financial and personal satisfaction, but one which (pragmatically) was also underpinned by a volatile socio-economic environment which could potentially (and did) result in a seriously intense incident or incidents: Jimmy Ellis' new (primary) career as a bail bondsman and pawn shop proprietor would very sadly, very unfairly, result in his violent, premature death on 12 December 1998. Scan of the 8 track cassette release ORION 20 ALL TIME FAVORITES. Excitement - Orion (Jimmy Ellis) was fun loving, had a great sense of humor, and a great personality. (much like how each of Elvis' jumpsuits had its own name): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, Orion (Jimmy Ellis) with (also in character) members of supergroup KISS, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------. [1], At the start of his music career, Ellis sang in nightclubs and, in 1964, released a single, "Dont Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch," for a small Georgia label, Dradco. Their fascinating book, True Disbelievers The Elvis Contagion, featured excerpts from several interviews with Jimmy Ellis which shed further light on his frustration with his musical direction, including: On working in the recording studio with Shelby Singleton, Jimmy stated: We'd play it back, you know, in Shelby's office, and I'd say, "That's not right." He appeared as Orion Eckley Darnell, the character created August 16, 1977, by a Marietta [Georgia], housewife Gail Brewer-Giorgo. This blog is for preview purposes only and all music downloaded should be deleted within 24 hours. When Jimmy Ellis decided to give up the horse business and decided to go after a singing career, he sold his horse equipment and formed a company called Jimmy Ellis Productions, INC. Here he sold stock in himself as he needed money before going to L.A. and pursue singing. For a proud man who had so much wanted recognition as Jimmy Ellis - not Elvis Presley - we can only imagine how galling and emotionally and psychologically scarring this was!. That one along with the first original album now on CD - Orion Reborn are offered for $8.95 each. I never gave up music and a friend and I played at a local pub for extra money while finishing school. Shipping is at the media rate in the U.S. Lets hope this music finds a way out at some other point. Running time: 86 minutes in full colour. I couldnt quite make out the voice. [4] Aged two, he moved with his mother to Birmingham, Alabama, where he was put up for adoption and, aged four, was adopted by R. F. and Mary Faye (nee Hodges) Ellis. How many Elvis tribute artists have had any unofficial album releases let alone 150 bootleg albums released? NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. That was December 4, 1998 - The Nightlife Theatre in Nashville, TNwhat a show!!! Given Jimmy's keen sense of humor he must be looking down and smiling! On Orion's 1979 debut album, Reborn (Sun 1912). We were married when I returned to the states. A fine talent in his own right, Ellis recorded the song "I'm Not Trying" (Boblo 536) and the album By Request - Ellis Sings Elvis (Boblo 78-829). Evaluating the Jimmy Ellis/Orion legacy..While many continue to dismiss Jimmy Ellis as simply an Elvis imitator, to do so ignores critically important organic elements which place his story on a very different level to that of normal Elvis tribute artists! He said: man you may make it before I do. Jimmy then met with Phil Walden, owner of Capricorn Records (the Almond Brothers Band and others) in Macon and was offered a contract, but since Jimmy was under age at the time his parents wouldnt let him sign.another huge mistake.