Ellis entered Middle Georgia College on an athletic scholarship, then transferred to Livingston State University. He then left the store and caught up with his two young friends waiting down the road in a car. 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). 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. [6] His album Reborn, showing the singer emerging from a coffin, was released on gold-colored vinyl on the Sun label in 1978. And that's the way it was. He was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States on February 26, 1945. That was December 4, 1998 - The Nightlife Theatre in Nashville, TNwhat a show!!! 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. EIN: You operate the official Jimmy Ellis/Orion website. That one along with the first original album now on CD - Orion Reborn are offered for $8.95 each. JIMMY ELLIS, LTD., LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1975 CONTRACT RARE! EIN often receives requests for information on these releases. All songs in superb quality, unreleased material from Los Angeles in 75, unrelesased home recordings and soundboard. Jimmy "Orion" Ellis | Elvis Wiki | Fandom The association ended in 1982, and this boxed set includes the very best of the recordings that Jimmy Ellis made for Sun. Orion: The Man Who Would Be King: Directed by Jeanie Finlay. 2. Im on the upper deck of our cabin in the picture here (see photo above). So, I have kept the site going since 1998. Jimmy Ellis | Discography | Discogs I finished college with a BBA while my wife worked, and I got the GI Bill. 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. 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. Bobby D.: Actually, I know there are bootleg ones out there, but Im not familiar with all of them. Orion's mystique and allure was so universally popular among fans that Orion singles and albums were released in Europe and "downunder" in Australia. On Monday I carried his CDs to work and played them throughout the day. 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. [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". '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. Ellis appeared with many artists, including Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood, Gary Morris, and the Oak Ridge Boys. A couple of songs can be heard at the URLs below. Charlie Rich sang along with Lewis on two other songs. It begins with the 1972 single on which Orion, then simply Jimmy Ellis, recorded 'That's All Right/Blue Moon Of Kentucky.' Are they still available in 2014? His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." 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. The book is also available along withtheReborn CD (the first LP on Sun by Orion). 3. He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. 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). In reality, Orion was the club singer Jimmy Ellis, who was born in Orrville, Alabama, in 1945. Jimmy Hodges "Orion" Ellis Sr. It will focus on his early years before he became the masked singer Orion. 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? Newspaper adverts and reports of his numerous appearances also very much appreciated. 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!. . Police later found Lee holed up in a motel about 30 miles outside Atlanta. was blessed with a natural singing voice remarkably similar to Elvis. Pictures and track listings are shown below of the titles I have managed to source. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. 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. 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***. I could not believe what I was hearing. I never gave up music and a friend and I played at a local pub for extra money while finishing school. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. 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. Bobby D.: I was born in Macon, GA in 1945. 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. 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. He loved to have a good time, loved to sing and entertain. During that same year, with record in hand, I took Jimmy Ellis to Macon to meet Bobby Smith at his recording studio. Just before noon, he decided to go by his pawn shop to check on things. It's the story of a masked. You can see the trailer for the movie and back the project here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/orion-the-man-who-would-be-king. The album featured some excellent songs including "Ebony Eyes", "Honey", and "Washing Machine". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuszmPq3lw, "Orion" by Gail Brewer-Giorgio (Hardcover 1979). All three men were apprehended. Very unfortunately, Jimmy Ellis along with his wife, was killed in December the 12th 1998 by a male robber. 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. EIN:One of the incredible things about Jimmy and his Orion alter-ego is that there were around 150 bootleg recordings of his studio and live recordings released. We join the Ellis family and friends and fans all . ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. Youmans put the record on the Dradco Recording Company label. I have to say I was floored. Watch the stunning trailer for Orion The Man Who Would Be King. 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. 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! Genesis.Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. Born February 26, 1945, Jimmy (Bell) Ellis was adopted and raised in Orrville, Alabama. [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. Jimmy Hodges Ellis (born Jimmy Hughes Bell, February 26, 1945 - December 12, 1998), who used the stage name Orion at times in his career, was an American singer. Many years later, I recorded four songs at Stargem Studios in Nashville, the same studio Jimmy had also recorded at earlier. Memorial ID. How many Elvis tribute artists have commercially produced memorabilia released about them? Bobby D.: As mentioned before, it was Elaine Thompson, Jimmys ex-wife and another lady who normally worked at the store. That's not a career. ORION (JIMMY ELLIS) A STRANGER IN MY PLACE 6 RADIO STATION SPOTS SUN 1152 MINT-. For the next 10 years Jimmy would balance music and his business interests. He then dragged the cash register off the counter and got about $135.00 out of it. Bobby D.: I suppose I just want to continue to help get Jimmys name and talent out there for people to enjoy what was missed. The girls went wild. 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. Who was he? The records were endorsed as genuine Presley recordings by the song's co-writer Doc Pomus, the music journalist Roy Carr, and the TV show Good Morning America which undertook a voice comparison test of the song against Presley's voice. Again, the speculation was that Elvis had sung on the songs, particularly "Save the Last Dance for Me". On Orion's 1979 debut album, Reborn (Sun 1912). The Official Web Site | Jimmy ellis, American singers, Elvis And, you wonder if helistened to "Ebony Eyes" and the rest of the LP. All trademarks, labels, covers and logos shown on this website are the sole property of the companies concerned and are included here for reference purposes only. The Final Performance CD is a good example of the kind of interaction and humor Orion had with the audience. Oh well, it is publicity!! He said, "Don't worry about it, you don't buy the fuckin records anyway." We are told that the documentaryis moving along but, as with many projects,monetary donations would be appreciated to help get it to completion. 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. 1. 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. 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. EIN: Your friendship with Jimmy Ellis. EIN: Jimmys death was tragic! This boxed set documents Orion's career on the legendary Sun Records label. Bobby D.: It was a pleasure. Jimmy came from a Christian family and held his belief in God the Father throughout his life. The album cover itself generated controversy because it depicted a phantom singer rising from a coffin, and was later withdrawn. "E" Tribute - Elvis tribute artists and sound-alikes - Meikel Jungner Hopefully in time the details given can be guaranteed to be100% correct but a great deal more info is required before reaching that stage. Ellis's Orion character claimed to have been managed by one Colonel Mac Weiman, and have been born in Ribbonsville, Tennessee on December 31, 1931. 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. 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. This is the definitive book on a man with the voice of a King. He also had a great personality with a quick wit. The shooter is in jail with a death sentence. Bobby D.: Not really. The tape recorder was playing the song Echoes of Love from Elvis Kissin Cousins album. [3], Singleton tore off his mask at a performance in 1983, saying he would not wear it again. Bobby then immediately offered Jimmy a recording contract. EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? Running time: 86 minutes in full colour. Jimmy Ellis (born February 26, 1945 - died December 12,1998) was born in Orrville, Alabama on February 26th of 1945. Of the thousands who in some way look(ed), perform(ed) or sound(ed) like Elvis there is one performer who stands well apart from the rest. Only Jimmy Ellis/Orion can lay claim to these remarkable achievements (and he could only be categorised as an Elvis tribute artist in his final years, well after his seminal period as the masked man, Orion). 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. He once said: you cant make it on someone elses coattail. Scan of the cassette release BY REQUEST, ELLIS SINGS ELVIS. [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. Jimmy's contributions to the group, both in his personality and in his amazing tenor, will never be forgotten. Given Jimmy's keen sense of humor he must be looking down and smiling! 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. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. We have just received an intro and preview clip from the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. (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). Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! Jimmy Ellis CD Discography at CD Universe Scan of the German cassette release LET YOUR LOVE FLOW on the Sun/Bellaphon label. Scans of the orange label version of the CD single SUNDAY FATHER on the Lanier Records label. Official DVD's - new Oriondiscs website I had just talked to him on Friday December 11. your own Pins on Pinterest EIN: Jimmy Ellis, the person.away from the stage or recording studio. How many Elvis tribute artists have a fan club with more than 15,000 members? Problem is he doesn't play enough ofthe song for the audience to hear. It is also very possible that several other titles circulating on the internet . Orion | Sun Records 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!!! 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." 26th. Which brings us to the incredible story of Orion. Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. Could you clarify who was working with him that day? And, after I heard Jimmy, I knew I was not.>. Mach-Hommy & Tha God Fahim - Notorious Dump Legends Volume 2 (WEB Jimmy "Orion" Ellis - Wikipedia EIN: Did he come to resent the Orion character and if so, how strongly? How many Elvis tribute artists have several websites devoted to them. 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). Scans of sleeves and labels would be of real interest as would track listings of further foreign releases. If you can add to the info given please e-mail me. 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. 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. Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? Bobby knew a lot of people in the business and was a producer for King Records at one time. 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.
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