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. 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. Bobby D.: I loved music but needed to use my education to pay the bills. This dynamic performer differentiates himself from all others for a number of reasons. Again, he was who he was period. The mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice, claiming to be Orion. That's not a career. 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. At first with all the attention he was getting, Im sure he had fun with it but he really wanted to be known as himself and not try to fool people into thinking he might be Elvis Presley. The association ended in 1982, and this boxed set includes the very best of the recordings that Jimmy Ellis made for Sun. 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. Scan of the German cassette release LET YOUR LOVE FLOW on the Sun/Bellaphon label. It was (at least initially) a win-win-win situation as all three parties benefitted: Jimmy became an international star, Gail Brewer-Giorgio sold hundreds of thousands of copies of her "Orion" novel and Shelby Singleton sold truckloads of "Orion" records.. I miss him a lot! He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. Bobby D.: Well, we just had a limited number of the out-of-print CD - Orion Country repressed. She was 16 going on 21 and I was 21. Spotlight article by Nigel Patterson, June 2014, (for the purposes of this article I will use the term Elvis stylist in reference to the person in question). With fans more interested in seeing "Kemo Sabe" rather than Jimmy Ellis, he spent the next few years focusing more on his business affairs than his music career. The book is also available along withtheReborn CD (the first LP on Sun by Orion). Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. Orion in Sweden Production costs turned out to be too high compared to the demand on the box set, making the release too economically challenging to make. He wanted better recording material (new songs) and production sound in other studios but Sun (Shelby Singleton) would not agree. He loved to have a good time, loved to sing and entertain. [3], In 1978, writer Gail Brewer-Giorgio published a novel, Orion, about a leading popular singer based on Presley who faked his death. Jimmy Ellis 1937-2012 It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of our friend and original lead singer, Jimmy Ellis, on Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. To use this website you must enable JavaScript. Low prices on Jimmy Ellis discography of music albums at CD Universe, with top rated service, Jimmy Ellis songs, discography, biography, cover art pictures, sound samples, albums, etc. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________. 3. "Mr. Ellis never had time to do nothing or say nothing," Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman Jr. told APB News. Directors Statement Who was that masked man? Her 1978 novel Orion told the story of a rock and roll singer, very much like Elvis, who faked his own death. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/orion-the-man-who-would-be-king, A Georgia-based writer,Gail Brewer-Giorgio concocted a tale about a charismatic rock 'n'roll singer,Orion Eckley Darnell,who came to be called 'King' because of his enormous popularity across the world.However. The story of Jimmy "Orion" Ellis is either one of the greatest cons to be forged in the history of American music or it's one of its greatest unsolved mysteries. He was NOT an impersonator, as he tried desperately to explain. In high school his teachers encouraged him to sing for the school's "Religious Emphasis Week," leading him to enter his first talent contest in 1963. Bobby D.: Jimmy's story and music is important- he was very talented - and these releases will celebrate his life and career. 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. It is also very possible that several other titles circulating on the internet . The guys in the room were mostly the colleges basketball players. During that same year, with record in hand, I took Jimmy Ellis to Macon to meet Bobby Smith at his recording studio. All songs in superb quality, unreleased material from Los Angeles in 75, unrelesased home recordings and soundboard. Police later found Lee holed up in a motel about 30 miles outside Atlanta. Bobby Smith, owner of Boblo Records once told his engineer, Chet Bennett: take him in the studio and record different songs. EIN: Bobby, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers and Jimmy Ellis/Orion fans? Also like Elvis (surviving twin), he experienced an early life major event when, at the age of 4, he was adopted by Robert and Faye Ellis. For almost 5 years the Orion phenomenon captivated its natural audience, not only in the US where fans had easy access to Orion, but also overseas - somewhat surprisingly given it was a snail mail, pre-tabloid, pre-Internet era. On this website you will find the latest Orion/Jimmy Ellis news along with other info you might find useful. Thank you very much!! Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. the story behind Bobby D's friendship with Jimmy Ellis, how Jimmy felt about his "Orion" character. It has 408 pages, harcover and a CD included with some of Jimmy's finest performances and also unreleased gems from the archives of Sun Records. EIN often receives requests for information on these releases. iTunes, Amazon) and not physical discs. Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. The shot missed, and then Lee allegedly turned his attention to the cash register, which he knocked off the counter after he could not open it, Huffman said. Listeners of Orion were initially split into two camps: those who knew that Orion was Jimmy Ellis just having some fun sounding like Elvis , and others who sincerely believed or wanted to believe that he was truly Elvis coming back on the scene after faking his own death. 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. MYSTERY MASKED MAN WITH THE VOICE OF A LEGEND. Jimmy said: Ill kill you, and we had a big laugh. Orion". Feb 6, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Patricia Milligan. The album featured some excellent songs including "Ebony Eyes", "Honey", and "Washing Machine". 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! The CDs are offered on the official web site: www.orionjimmyellis.com. Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site Welcome!! Scans of sleeves and labels would be of real interest as would track listings of further foreign releases. Orion was well-known in the sixties and seventies for having a singing voice. The shooter is in jail with a death sentence. Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site Michael Stevens ORION Almost ELVIS Official American Singers Orion Elvis The Man Official Jimmy Ellis "Orien" Graham Carpenter Elvis Aaron Presley Waiting In The Wings Apocalypse Ellis Jimmy Interview Besides, I had childhood issues that I was not good enough. Giorgios book had just come out, so Singleton decided to cash in on its popularity and transform Jimmy Ellis into the mysterious Orion who had phoned the author earlier that year. Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. Ellis was born in either Pascagoula, Mississippi,[2] Orrville, Alabama,[3] or Washington, D.C.,[1] United States, into a single parent home. The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. At that point Shelby was done with their arrangement and so was Jimmy. 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. That day, Elaine Thompson, his x-wife was filling in for Shirley Connell who had gone home to Memphis for the weekend. 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. Memorial ID. A WARM WELCOME TO ORIONDISCS This website is a tribute to the U.S. recording artist Jimmy Ellis, and focuses on his many record releases. Are they still available in 2014? Oh well, it is publicity!! The answer.Jimmy Ellis aka the masked man, Orion. The Jimmy Ellis/Orion story is one of great potential, qualified success, ongoing disappointment and ultimately, tragedy! A few weeks later, some guys asked me to come down to their room where they were playing music so I decided to go. More recently, one of the few remaining groups in the once prolific and infamous (so-called) 'Elvis Underground' has stated that Jesse (aka the 'still alive' Elvis) believes some of the Orion/Jimmy Ellis recordings are actually him (Jesse) singing. and goes by the name He appeared as Orion Eckley Darnell, the character created August 16, 1977, by a Marietta [Georgia], housewife Gail Brewer-Giorgo. For the musician also known as Orion, see, "Jimmie Ellis and the Appolos: Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch", "U.S. Supreme Court won't review cases of two Alabama death row inmates", "Orion: The Man Who Would Be King review wonderfully weird | Film", "Orion: The Man Who Would Be King (2015)", "British Independent Film Awards 2015: the winners in full", "Sundance Selects acquires 'Orion: The Man Who Would Be King' for US Theatrical release", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_%22Orion%22_Ellis&oldid=1135156032, This page was last edited on 23 January 2023, at 00:00. After winning a state fair competition, his first professional performance was in a Demon's Den nightclub in Albany, Georgia. It doesnt cost a penny but has great impact! Jimmy Ellis - If I Can't Have You EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? While in Germany, met my future wife, the daughter of a Major, fighter pilot stationed at the same base. He travelled to Nashville and tried to break into the music business - but found. EIN: What did Jimmy say to you about his career as Orion? Jimmy had the voice and charisma that drew you to him. Shelby Singleton of Sun International decided to disguise Ellis' identity on his first Sun single, "That's All Right (Mama)"/"Blue Moon of Kentucky" (Sun 1129), leaving listeners to speculate that the songs might be alternate takes of Elvis' first first two songs. Even before the Orion phenomenon had really taken off he released a self-penned single on the small Boblo label, I'm Not Trying To Be Like Elvis. Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? This blog is for preview purposes only and all music downloaded should be deleted within 24 hours. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." You know , it was like, here I am creating this and doing the work. The tape recorder was playing the song Echoes of Love from Elvis Kissin Cousins album. Some listeners believed that Orion was, in fact, Presley, who had supposedly faked his death. Before we talk about your friendship with Jimmy Ellis, who is Bobby D? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Orion to recieve Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas! Again, the speculation was that Elvis had sung on the songs, particularly "Save the Last Dance for Me". he wears as mask The story of Orion, the singer whose voice bears an incredible likeness to that of Elvis Presley, is an interesting and unusual one to say the least. Bobby D.: Basically he was very happy to get all the publicity from all the albums and live shows Sun Records provided, but he did not like wearing the mask. February 1945 - 13th. Orion had several hits on the country music chart, including "Am I That Easy to Forget" (1980), "Rockabilly Rebel" (1981), and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (1981). While performing at the Eastern States Exposition, Ellis took off the mask and swore to never wear it again. Copyright the Elvis Information Network. No breach of copyright is intended or should be inferred. Copyright the Elvis Information Network. Singleton then persuaded Ellis to start appearing as "Orion", wearing a small mask with dyed hair and in similar clothing to that worn by Presley. He then left the store and caught up with his two young friends waiting down the road in a car. He began by overdubbing him onto recordings by Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich, and then recording solo albums which many fans thought were better than many of Elvis's later LPs. The answer is: ONE! 2. Then, he introduced me to Jimmy Ellis, the guy by the tape recorder who had said nothing. Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. Leave a comment or question, Jimmy Fallon made a mention of Orion and played snippets of Washing Machine on his show Monday, April 7, 2014. The sale is temporary to offer fans who missed these CDs the first time around a real deal. He was the one who produced Jimmy Ellis first 45 rpm record Love Is But A Love and Dont Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch recorded at a radio station in Kibbee, GA. These titles and their eye catching specially made front covers would appear to be exclusively for internet downloads (eg. Bobby D.: Jimmy Ellis and I met in college at age 18 in 1963. However, in the beginning recordings like Save The Last Dance For Me, Ebony Eyes and Honey convinced many Elvis fans that their King was still physically among them. His voice was similar to Elvis Presley's, a fact which he and his record company played upon, making some believe that some of his recordings were by Presley, or even that Presley had not died in 1977. Orion mention on The tonight show with jimmy fallon, http://beta.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/17-Out-Of-My-Life-live.mp3. With few bookings for Jimmy Ellis 'live on stage' there was still a substantial (albeit diminishing) demand of fans to satisfy their deep-seated psychological need and hope that their King had not left them. Consequently, this meant Jimmy could only get well paying work if he donned the Orion mask and (to him) even worse, an Elvis jumpsuit.
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