ORION: The Man Who Would Be King, a film by Jeanie Finlay tells the story of Jimmy Ellis - an unknown singer plucked from obscurity and thrust into the spotlight as part of a crazy scheme that had him masquerade as Elvis back from the grave. 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. We have just received an intro and preview clip from the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". Copyright the Elvis Information Network. He then left the store and caught up with his two young friends waiting down the road in a car. Jimmy had the voice and charisma that drew you to him. The upcoming Orion documentary being done by Jeanie Finley in England should broaden exposure. She was 16 going on 21 and I was 21. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! This blog is for preview purposes only and all music downloaded should be deleted within 24 hours. Ellis entered Middle Georgia College on an athletic scholarship, then transferred to Livingston State University. Sun Records legend Orion (Jimmy Ellis) is known internationally for his gifted singing ability and dynamic personal appearances. In reality, Orion was the club singer Jimmy Ellis, who was born in Orrville, Alabama, in 1945. It has hundreds of unseen photos, interviews with musicians and other people close to Jimmy. 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. If you take something from the container, leave something in exchange. Ellis was gunned Down in His Alabama Pawn Shop December 12, 1998. 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!. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, A selection of the many colorful Orion masks, each with its own name. Are they still available in 2014? THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO JIMMY ELLIS "ORION" THE MUSIC & LEGEND OF THE MAN WHO HAD THE VOICE OF A KING. (Orion) Jimmy Ellis He Has A Great Voice And We Loved All Of His Music. 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! The controversial 'Reborn' album with its "coffin" cover. Then it happened. Ellis appeared with many . Bobby D. on YouTube (who does Bobby sound like? Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi, USA. EIN: What is Bobby D. doing, musically, these days? Popular Ellis/Orion bootleg releases included titles such as Crazy on the Blue Danube and Jimmy In A Viennese Cellar. Dradco will release a 6 CD set in 2018 to commemorate the 20th anniversary since Jimmys passing. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. For the next 10 years Jimmy would balance music and his business interests. Actually, I think it made him more determined to try to be accepted by radio and the music industry as Jimmy Ellis, even though he sounded like EP. I am always on the lookout for Orion/Jimmy Ellis concerts that I dont have. His natural voice was very similar to the voice of Elvis Presley, read more Just before noon, he decided to go by his pawn shop to check on things. 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. Leave a comment or question. Im on the upper deck of our cabin in the picture here (see photo above). Ellis first album appearance for Sun was as an unidentified singer singing duet with Jerry Lee Lewis on ten tracks of the 1978 album Duets (Sun 1011). An album featuring the duet came out and the controversy really heated up when Good Morning America had the Friends voice scientifically scanned and analyzed and concluded that it could be no one but Presley. Ellis hair and long sideburns were dyed black, and he dressed in a loud, bejeweled polyester jumpsuit, with a mask to protect him from crazed fans. Bobby Dillard was a close friend of the late Jimmy Ellis.the man who, wearing a mask, became a key part of the 'Elvis is alive' movement, as the mysterious singer, Orion! Available now! After the first blast, which left the 53-year-old Ellis mortally wounded and crawling for safety, the gunman turned his weapon on the singer's 44-year-old ex-wife, Elaine Thompson, who was on a stool behind the counter. Jimmy Hodges "Orion" Ellis Sr. : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Which brings us to the incredible story of Orion. Scan of the 8 track cassette release ORION 20 ALL TIME FAVORITES. 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. One of them, a tall guy with a buzzed haircut, was sitting on a single bed by an old record player and a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Jimmy was very happy we did this and he liked getting a periodic check for CD sales. To The Official Orion - Jimmy Ellis Web Site, http://tribecafilm.com/stories/tribeca-film-festival-2015-viewpoints, http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/orion-the-man-who-would-be-king. He tells in great detail the story of Jimmy Ellis, a successful horse farmer who took over the family business in the small town of Orrville, Alabama. Well, once all the other guys left, Jimmy and I sang until late in the night with me strumming a small red guitar he had borrowed and Jimmy and I singing Elvis and Beatles songs. At that point Shelby was done with their arrangement and so was Jimmy. Youmans formed a small group and had Jimmy sing at a few local schools. [12] It was released theatrically in the US by Sundance Selects on December 4, 2015. Ellis made a public confession in 1983 admitting he was Orion. We have a limited supply of this1979 hardcover version of the book "Orion" by Gail Brewer-Giorgio. So who is this person a performer whose sad end is one we normally expect from a fabricated and dramatically intensified Hollywood film? To see the film clip and make a donation, please click on the link below. We have just received an intro and preview clip of the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". 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. '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 . How many Elvis tribute artists are still remembered nearly 20 years after their death? He then dragged the cash register off the counter and got about $135.00 out of it. It is pertinent to say that while Jimmy was fanatically worshipped by fans, it was Gail Brewer-Giorgio and Shelby Singleton (remember the infamous "Duets" album with Jerry Lee Lewis) who were banking the lion's share of money as the cash registers kept on "ching chinging" as Jimmy Ellis/Orion connected with an avid, loyal and increasingly fanatical audience. 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. Explore. Lets hope this music finds a way out at some other point. 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. He loved to have a good time, loved to sing and entertain. Add your masked portrait to I Am Orion, THE ROLLERCOASTER RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Masked Man label. Here's a new link to an excellent Orion page done by Nigel Patterson with the EIN (Elvis Information Network) in Australia. Sundance Selects acquires Orion: The Man Who Would Be King for US Theatrical release. Ellis recorded an album under his own name, Sometimes Words Just Get In The Way, for a small label in . 2) Jimmy Ellis aka Orion. As Jim Ellis, he released an album in 1987 and continued to tour North America; interestingly, he resumed wearing his mask. Inevitably, being born 10 years after Elvis, his struggle could never be won. He was very generous and good-hearted. This boxed set documents Orion's career on the legendary Sun Records label. Support Good Music. Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site Welcome!! He was professionally known as Orion, and his double-edged claim to fame was that his natural speaking and singing voice sounded almost exactly like that of Elvis Presley. EIN: The Jimmy Ellis story "lives on". Orion was well-known in the sixties and seventies for having a singing voice. EIN: Jimmy Ellis, the person.away from the stage or recording studio. 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. Born in 1945 in Orville, Alabama. The other lady fell to the floor with blood on her and played dead while Jimmy tried to crawl behind a computer desk. This dynamic performer differentiates himself from all others for a number of reasons. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. In their illuminating examination of the infamous 'Elvis Underground' and activities around the belief Elvis did not die in 1977, Professors R. Serge Denisoff and George Plasketes addressed the Orion phenomenon. Directors Statement Who was that masked man? The tape recorder was playing the song Echoes of Love from Elvis Kissin Cousins album. In the 2006 EIN article, A Tribute to the "Masked Man": Jimmy Ellis aka "Orion", I observed: Of course his friends knew him from his early days as a child and when he started out as a singer, but this didn't stop the promoters of the "Elvis is alive" conspiracy theory. Born February 26, 1945, Jimmy (Bell) Ellis was adopted and raised in Orrville, Alabama. How many Elvis tribute artists have had any unofficial album releases let alone 150 bootleg albums released? In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. 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. Take a look at the following table for more information. Scan of the German cassette release COUNTRY & WESTERN CLASSICS VOL.1 on the Sun/Bellaphon label. And, you wonder if helistened to "Ebony Eyes" and the rest of the LP. I really like the way he sang songs that Elvis never recorded in versions that still sounded a lot like Elvis. [3], Singleton tore off his mask at a performance in 1983, saying he would not wear it again. While friends of the singer Jimmy Ellis have speculated that Orion could well have been The King's half-brother. 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. If you have further details on any releases not included or would like to trade Orion recordings or material please drop me an email. [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". We are told that the documentary is moving along but, as with many projects, monetary donations would be appreciated to help get to completion. This is thebookthat started the Orion legend created by Shelby Singleton at Sun Records. He didnt know anything about computers and web sites so I had a company in Raleigh, NC develop the original site for us. Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. 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. Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. Two years before she had begun a novel about a musical superstar, Orion, who faked his own death to find much-needed peace and privacy, based on the circumstances surrounding Elvis death. Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! They were sung in the same style in which Elvis would have sung them. He travelled to Nashville and tried to break into the music business - but found. That one along with the first original album now on CD - Orion Reborn are offered for $8.95 each. Look for a micro hidden container. : Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive, Elvis at Madison Square Garden 40 Years Ago. Here is the bizarre story of Jimmy Ellis, or, as he was also known, Orion. After winning a state fair competition, his first professional performance was in a Demon's Den nightclub in Albany, Georgia. He wanted better recording material (new songs) and production sound in other studios but Sun (Shelby Singleton) would not agree. compilation added to various unofficial releases page. Watch the stunning trailer for Orion The Man Who Would Be King. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. That was December 4, 1998 - The Nightlife Theatre in Nashville, TNwhat a show!!! That's not recording. December 1998. The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. Orion: The Man Who Would Be King: Directed by Jeanie Finlay. 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. 'The Wedding' Elvis & Priscilla EIN special Spotlight: 'Elvis In Ottawa' Spotlight & Elvis Interview: 'Elvis: Live at the International' Book Review: Elvis By Special Request '71 At 40 (Book Review): "Kissed By Elvis" Janet Fulton Interview: "ReBooked At The International'- in-depth Review: 'The Elvis Files Vol. 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. MYSTERY MASKED MAN WITH THE VOICE OF A LEGEND. 17 Comments / Who was he? No breach of copyright is intended or should be inferred. ***Orion - Jimmy Ellis: The Official Web Site***: (includes news, photo gallery, Books, CDs and DVDs 'For Sale' and 'Free' MP3 downloads), (includes brief Orion biography, worldwide Jimmy Ellis/Orion discography info, bootleg info and gallery of the many different Orion masks), ***Orion Merchandise (available online) from Cafe Press***. He left Sun Records, never again appearing to the public as Orion. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. Mr. Could you clarify who was working with him that day? To use this website you must enable JavaScript. Ellis, Jimmy "Orion" Type: Person Gender: Male Born: 1945-02-26 Born in: Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States Died: 1998-12-12 (aged 53)Died in: Selma, Alabama, United States Area: United States ISNI code: 0000 0004 3983 0212 Rating Problem is he doesn't play enough ofthe song for the audience to hear. Her 1978 novel Orion told the story of a rock and roll singer, very much like Elvis, who faked his own death. Oh well, it is publicity!! Who is this person??? We join the Ellis family and friends and fans all . 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. Here is what the website says: ORION: The Man Who Would Be King tells the story of Jimmy Ellis an unknown singer plucked from obscurity and thrust into the spotlight as part of a crazy scheme that had him masquerade as Elvis back from the grave. Bobby D.: As mentioned before, it was Elaine Thompson, Jimmys ex-wife and another lady who normally worked at the store. They wrote both of the songs. If you can add to the info given please e-mail me. Fittingly, his legend lives on, and quite ironically, both as Jimmy Ellis and Orion! ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. Find out more about the Orion - Jimmy Ellis story: ***Orion - Jimmy Ellis: The Official Web Site***: (includes news, photo gallery, Books, CDs and DVDs 'For Sale' and 'Free' MP3 downloads), (includes brief Orion biography, worldwide Jimmy Ellis/Orion discography info, bootleg info and gallery of the many different Orion masks), ***Orion Merchandise (available online) from Cafe Press***. One of the guys asked me if I knew who that was singing on the tape recorder. 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. 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. Well, he then said: no, its that guy, pointing to the guy sitting on the bed. Official site; Kenneth Dokkeberg's Jimmy Ellis / Orion website; Musiclovers - Discography, audio samples and a lot more! An attempt to compile a complete list of official DVD recordings by Glimmer Films featuring the U.S.A. recording artist Jimmy Ellis also known as Orion. He appeared as Orion Eckley Darnell, the character created August 16, 1977, by a Marietta [Georgia], housewife Gail Brewer-Giorgo. Jimmy continued, commmenting on the frustration he felt when he would have to stop the recording session because Shelby Singleton had arranged for a tour group to come through the studio: Now, what's the priority. How many Elvis tribute artists have commercially produced memorabilia released about them? I miss him a lot! 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. The gunman, who police believe is Plantersville resident Jeffery James Lee, then fired twice more in an attempt to blast Ellis a second time as he struggled to find a haven behind a computer desk, Huffman said. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." James Burton Interview - Rick Nelson & Elvis: Elvis Drummer Jerome "Stump" Monroe EIN Interview: Elvis in 1969 - Ann Moses & Ray ConnollyInterviews: Ernst Jorgensen interview about 'On Stage' and Elvis' Legacy in 2010: 'The Nation's Favourite Elvis Song' Spotlight. Who was he? I could not believe what I was hearing. This blog does not store any files on its server. Very sadly, it is possible, even probable, Jimmy Ellis never fully realised the enormity and significance of his impact as a recording and performing artist! Genesis.Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. The . His birth certificate states the mother was a secretary named Gladys Bell, and the father was Vernon (no surname). How did that come about and what can fans expect to find on the site? )more than 20 items including coffee mugs, beer steins, calendars, mouse pad, t-shirts, sweat shirts and clocks, is the only Elvis stylist who nearly 20 years after his tragic death still elicits interest from his fans, is promoted today by a commercial company operating in his name, has several websites devoted to his life and music, had several of his recordings featured on the soundtrack of a number of films, has featured in a number of documentaries about music in the southern states of the USA, is the subject of a documentary film being released in 2015. A few weeks later, some guys asked me to come down to their room where they were playing music so I decided to go. Jimmy Ellis, the soulful lead singer of the Trammps, whose 1970s hit "Disco Inferno" was immortalized in the film "Saturday Night Fever," died on Thursday in Rock Hill, S.C.He was 74. It begins with the 1972 single on which Orion, then simply Jimmy Ellis, recorded 'That's All Right/Blue Moon Of Kentucky.' These songs has appeared on other compilations or a collection of songs. Boomer on Shelby. Discover (and save!) He started the album on the record player to play Echoes of Love. Similarly, there was an incontrovertible and diametrically opposed outcome for each side. Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Orion Records label. The guys in the room were mostly the colleges basketball players. EIN: Did he come to resent the Orion character and if so, how strongly? 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. 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). [9][10][11] The film won the Discovery Award at the British Independent Film Awards 2015. 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. 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. 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!!! 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. And, after I heard Jimmy, I knew I was not.>. Source: www.orionjimmyellis.com & www.lasvegaselvisfestival.com, 1 Comments / And that's the way it was. Along the way, and particularly towards the end, Jimmy was not happy with the whole thing. I thought that was an odd question but I said: sure, its Elvis Presley. On Monday I carried his CDs to work and played them throughout the day. Memorial ID. [3], On December 12, 1998, Ellis was murdered during a robbery in his store, Jimmy's Pawn Shop.
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