orion jimmy ellis the official website
You tell your friends who tell their friends who tell their friends WHAT IS THUNDERCLAP? It will focus on his early years before he became the masked singer Orion. He could laugh about most anythinghe was alot of fun at home and especially on stage!! Among the titles are 'Such A Night', 'Honey', 'Patches', 'Ebony Eyes', 'Rocky', and 'Release Me'; the complete overdubs with Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, and Carl Perkins, plus many previously unissued titles. Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. Hopefully in time the details given can be guaranteed to be100% correct but a great deal more info is required before reaching that stage. [13], "Orion (musician)" redirects here. EIN: Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? This site is very much a "work in progress" and is being updated all the time. 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. The guy shot at Jimmy again but missed. He once said: you cant make it on someone elses coattail. THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO JIMMY ELLIS "ORION" THE MUSIC & LEGEND OF THE MAN WHO HAD THE VOICE OF A KING. Jimmy Ellis - If I Can't Have You 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. The other lady fell to the floor with blood on her and played dead while Jimmy tried to crawl behind a computer desk. 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. The label credited the recordings simply to "? [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. 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. [3], In 1978, writer Gail Brewer-Giorgio published a novel, Orion, about a leading popular singer based on Presley who faked his death. This blog does not store any files on its server. Who was that masked man?.Sadly, the convergence of artistic, commercial and greed/fame infused forces which would shape Jimmy's future meant he became a pawn in a multi-faceted promotional campaign involving author Gail Brewer-Giorgio (9 years before her best-selling non-fiction books asking if Elvis really died in 1977) and new Sun Studio owner, Shelby Singleton, when because of his voice Jimmy was marketed as the mysterious, masked singer, Orion. Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. He started the album on the record player to play Echoes of Love. The sale is temporary to offer fans who missed these CDs the first time around a real deal. Watch the stunning trailer for Orion The Man Who Would Be King. On Monday I carried his CDs to work and played them throughout the day. Scan of the German cassette release COUNTRY & WESTERN CLASSICS VOL.1 on the Sun/Bellaphon label. Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. ORION (JIMMY ELLIS) A STRANGER IN MY PLACE 6 RADIO STATION SPOTS SUN 1152 MINT-. [7] Jeffrey Lee was convicted of the murder of Ellis and Ellis's ex-wife Elaine Thompson, who was working as an employee at the store, and the attempted murder of employee Helen King. Fittingly, his legend lives on, and quite ironically, both as Jimmy Ellis and Orion! He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. I love music too and do some song leading at church. Watch a fascinating interview in 1979 with both Orion and Gail Brewer-Giorgio promoting his career and Ms Brewer-Giorgio's "Orion" novel, (BTW, the back story to the "Orion" novel, full of dirty dealings, "he says-she says" and legal machinations, is deserving of an article all to itself!). But, it was really him. For unofficial publicity purposes Orion continued to strike a favorite pose for the cover of: (one of nearly 150 'unofficial' Jimmy Ellis/Orion/Ellis James albums - with a striking but obvious graphically altered 'rip-off' cover design/image of the "reborn" Sun Records "Reborn" LP - as with its origination - Orion's facial expression on the cover nicely reflects the album title), The Comeback.While Jimmy probably never wanted to resurrect the Orion character, there was an inevitable comeback. While in Germany, met my future wife, the daughter of a Major, fighter pilot stationed at the same base. 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. 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. 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 . Adios till we meet again! The film 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. 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. And, you wonder if helistened to "Ebony Eyes" and the rest of the LP. The girls went wild. For the next 10 years Jimmy would balance music and his business interests. At one point he even released the single Im Trying Not to Sound Like Elvis. During his time with Sun, Ellis/Orion cut over 11 albums and toured with the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other stars like Dionne Warwick. 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. 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. As they say all PR is good PR! He then dragged the cash register off the counter and got about $135.00 out of it. Dates, venues, photographs would all be of great help. ***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***. 26th. If you can add to the info given please e-mail me. It will be presented at this years Las Vegas Elvis Fest at the LVH formerly the Las Vegas Hilton on July 11th. 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. 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. Born February 26, 1945, Jimmy (Bell) Ellis was adopted and raised in Orrville, Alabama. Artist of the Year Theme by Foxhound Band Themes. [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". 2. He was NOT an impersonator, as he tried desperately to explain. Jimmy Hodges "Orion" Ellis Sr. Bobby D.: Actually, I know there are bootleg ones out there, but Im not familiar with all of them. He left Sun Records, never again appearing to the public as Orion. 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. He said, "Don't worry about it, you don't buy the fuckin records anyway." Very soon after Jimmy entered the store, a young black guy came in carrying a sawed off shotgun and demanded money. Leave a comment or question. 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. Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! 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. Jimmy Fallon goes "Orion" - Fallon does segment on worst albums he says doNOT buy. Chet came back and said: Bobby, he sounds the same on all of them. These books arevintage - new and are a collector's item. Born in 1945 in Orville, Alabama. A year prior, Jimmy Ellis voice had been overdubbed with Jerry Lee Lewis on an old single from the Sun archives, Save the Last Dance for Me; on it, Ellis was billed only as Friend. The single made the Top 20 and caused quite a stir as listeners tried to guess the mysterious Friends identity. 'My voice is both a blessing and a curse' (Jimmy Ellis/Orion during media interview), Controversial Sun Records 1978 Orion 'Reborn' (coffin) album cover. The film is being produced by Jeanie Finlay, a British artist and filmaker. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. AVAILABLE HERE LOWER PRICE! 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. Bobby D.: Jimmy's story and music is important- he was very talented - and these releases will celebrate his life and career. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, A selection of the many colorful Orion masks, each with its own name. The coffin cover caused a lot of controversy and was replaced. 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. I am looking for information concerning Orion's many concert appearances in the USA and several countries in Europe where he performed. The King is gone.Long live the King!.Jimmy's mortal life ended tragically when, on 12 December 1998, he was fatally shot in his Alabama pawn and package shop during a robbery gone bad. It doesnt cost a penny but has great impact! A talented athlete, Jimmy was awarded a two-year athletic scholarship at Middle Georgia Junior College and was courted for a baseball career and a tryout with the Milwaukie Braves but turned it down. 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). The album cover itself generated controversy because it depicted a phantom singer rising from a coffin, and was later withdrawn. If I Can Dream.The internal struggle that Jimmy Ellis had with his Orion alter-ego and his burning desire to record quality music appears to have been ever present. The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. Orion". Pinterest. How did that come about and what can fans expect to find on the site? And that's the way it was. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. was blessed with a natural singing voice remarkably similar to Elvis. Thanks, Nigel!! How many Elvis tribute artists have commercially produced memorabilia released about them? Memorial ID. '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. He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. While performing at the Eastern States Exposition, Ellis took off the mask and swore to never wear it again. 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 Who was he? We were married when I returned to the states. In an outstanding article in The Nashville Tennessean newspaper on August 12, 1997, it was reported that "Orion having the same vocal cords as Elvis has been both a kiss and a curse, but Orion sings his own tune!!!". 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.. Later that day, sheriff's deputies caught up with the two alleged accomplices, Andre Darren Lee, 19, who is the alleged gunman's brother, and Jerry Dewayne Johnson, 17, who is his cousin. The guys in the room were mostly the colleges basketball players. Mr. Bobby D.: I loved music but needed to use my education to pay the bills. http://www.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Jimmy-Ellis-Early-years-PROMO.mp3. ..replaced with a completely new cover and no coffin! EIN: Jimmys first Orion album, Reborn. 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. Bobby D.: Not really. EIN:Jimmy Ellis, the personaway from the stage or recording studio. This boxed set documents Orion's career on the legendary Sun Records label. The Dan Lentino Management Group in Las Vegas is honoring Orion / Jimmy Ellis posthumously with a lifetime achievement award. I am always on the lookout for Orion/Jimmy Ellis concerts that I dont have. 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". Anyway, he got that voice from somewhere in his original family.not from Sears, as he once said. What you see is what you get. Ellis was born in either Pascagoula, Mississippi,[2] Orrville, Alabama,[3] or Washington, D.C.,[1] United States, into a single parent home. Links to Orion / Jimmy Ellis sites. Bobby D.: A few months before Jimmy passed away, I had suggested we put a web site together to sell his CDs. Scheduled for release next year is Jeanne Finlay's intriguing film, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, and also due for release in 2015 is a radio documentary about southern USA music which includes a segment about the Jimmy "Orion" Ellis story. '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. That's not a career. Jimmy's contributions to the group, both in his personality and in his amazing tenor, will never be forgotten. At that point Shelby was done with their arrangement and so was Jimmy. I responded: gosh Jimmy what if I did. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky.". Website. On December 12, 1998, Jimmy Ellis and his ex-wife were both shot and killed by a man who was robbing his pawnshop in Alabama. I had just talked to him on Friday December 11. So I said: come on, thats Elvis I have the album. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. How many Elvis tribute artists have had any unofficial album releases let alone 150 bootleg albums released? 1. Are they still available in 2014? Jimmy Ellis was one of the super talented yes like Elvis, Tom Jones, Engelbert my all-time favorite solo artists. 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. His natural voice was very similar to the voice of Elvis Presley, read more [3] When Jimmy would come for a visit to my house in the early days, it was like Elvis was comingthere was electricity in the air. How many Elvis tribute artists made a living without singing Elvis songs for most of their career? [8], In 2015, film-maker Jeanie Finlay released a documentary film, after pitching it at Sheffield Doc/Fest's 2013 MeetMarket, about Ellis' life and career, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King. JIMMY ( ORION ) ELLIS - LIVE ON STAGE 70s d pascalini 4.87K subscribers Subscribe 800 97K views 9 years ago JIMMY ( ORION ) ELLIS -- LIVE ON STAGE -- 70s Show more Comments are turned off.. [3], On December 12, 1998, Ellis was murdered during a robbery in his store, Jimmy's Pawn Shop. The strange part of the tale began in January 1979, when author Gail Brewer-Giorgio received a bizarre early-morning phone call. As Orion, Ellis reached Billboard's country chart with nine singles. How many Elvis tribute artists have several websites devoted to them. Explore. Scan of the Plantation Records cassette release 16 AWARD WINNING COUNTRY SONGS. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. The controversial 'Reborn' album with its "coffin" cover. He makes a mistake and some asshole over here says don't worry about it, it will be alright. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! In 1979 Jimmy Ellis finally merged with an identity, but it still wasn't himself. Bobby D.: No, not really. He loved to have a good time, loved to sing and entertain. All songs in superb quality, unreleased material from Los Angeles in 75, unrelesased home recordings and soundboard. Given Jimmy's keen sense of humor he must be looking down and smiling! Thanks for your help! Read More #MyOrion "If Elvis is alive, he wears as mask and goes by the name Orion" It was obviously a terrible tragedy, and I will never forget the call I got at 11:00 pm on that Saturday night December 12 from Shirley telling me Jimmy was dead. 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. That voice!.While he had a natural Elvis-like singing voice, throughout his adult life Jimmy strove to be recognised as a serious artist in his own right, a person who was inherently a wonderfully talented and gifted entertainer whose magical presence touched many people.That talent was genetically pre-determined and embryonically, DNA dictated.its essence was not because he sounded remarkably like Elvis! I really like the way he sang songs that Elvis never recorded in versions that still sounded a lot like Elvis. 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. Orion's mystique and allure was so universally popular among fans that Orion singles and albums were released in Europe and "downunder" in Australia. Scans of the unofficial CD titled JIMMY ELLIS THE SINGLES. The jury recommended Lee be sentenced to life without parole, but the judge sentenced Lee to death. Scans of the orange label version of the CD single SUNDAY FATHER on the Lanier Records label. It was issued on Sun without an artist name, and created a furor because Ellis bore such an uncanny vocal resemblance to Elvis. How many Elvis tribute artists have a fan club with more than 15,000 members? December 1998. 17 Comments / How many Elvis tribute artists have had 10 Top 100 hits on the Country Music Chart? 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. Bobby D: Jimmy Ellis was actually the same off stage as he was on stage. Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi, USA. Here's a new link to an excellent Orion page done by Nigel Patterson with the EIN (Elvis Information Network) in Australia. 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 was an accomplished songwriter who could write uptempo, slow and country songs as recordings such as the rockin' Washing Machine, poignant ballad It Ain't No Mystery and catchy, toe tapping Some You Win, Some You Lose, attest to. (EIN Comment: Bobby D. should get back to playing "live" - he is naturally gifted with a great voice!). '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. Jimmy Ellis In The Shadow Of a King Book NOW AVAILABLE! iTunes, Amazon) and not physical discs. The album featured some excellent songs including "Ebony Eyes", "Honey", and "Washing Machine". : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. It is also very possible that several other titles circulating on the internet . After winning a state fair competition, his first professional performance was in a Demon's Den nightclub in Albany, Georgia. Then, shortly after Elvis's death, legendary producer Shelby Singleton reconnected with Ellis, signing him to Sun, and creating the myth of Orion, the hero of a book, in which a famous star fakes his own death, and takes himself and his music back the roots. For the soul singer, member of The Trammps, please see Jimmy Ellis (2) Sites: Wikipedia, orionjimmyellis.com, oriondiscs.com Aliases: New 2016 DVD release of the award winning documentary on the life and career of Jimmy Ellis. : Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive, Elvis at Madison Square Garden 40 Years Ago. (Orion) Jimmy Ellis He Has A Great Voice And We Loved All Of His Music. 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. 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. If you want to support the artist or artists that recorded and released this music, please go and purchase their music. Excitement - Orion (Jimmy Ellis) was fun loving, had a great sense of humor, and a great personality. That eventually led to Sun Records in Nashville. 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. This is the definitive book on a man with the voice of a King. That's not recording. Well, Jimmy finally had enough and took the mask off at a New Years show in the Atlanta area in 1981. JIMMY ELLIS, LTD., LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1975 CONTRACT RARE! Thank you very much!! While friends of the singer Jimmy Ellis have speculated that Orion could well have been The King's half-brother. Jimmy really liked my version of My Special Angel that we listened to for the first time while riding around in Nashville. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. 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. 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. How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? Problem is he doesn't play enough ofthe song for the audience to hear. EIN: Bobby, you currently have a special offer on the site. Jimmy came from a Christian family and held his belief in God the Father throughout his life. It begins with the 1972 single on which Orion, then simply Jimmy Ellis, recorded 'That's All Right/Blue Moon Of Kentucky.' 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." Inevitably, being born 10 years after Elvis, his struggle could never be won. Bobby D.: Yes, that is just my natural voice.