He appeared as Orion Eckley Darnell, the character created August 16, 1977, by a Marietta [Georgia], housewife Gail Brewer-Giorgo. [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". 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. 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). This blog is for preview purposes only and all music downloaded should be deleted within 24 hours. How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? 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. 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. 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). On this website you will find the latest Orion/Jimmy Ellis news along with other info you might find useful. How many Elvis tribute artists have several websites devoted to them. This blog does not store any files on its server. Given Jimmy's keen sense of humor he must be looking down and smiling! To see the film clip and make a donation, please click on the link below. Jimmy Fallon goes "Orion" - Fallon does segment on worst albums he says doNOT buy. In early 1965, I transferred to Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, GA and lost touch with Jimmy for a number of years. Scan of the 8 track cassette release TRUCKS, TRAINS & AIRPLANES on Gusto Records. That's not recording. With Jerry Adams, Sharon Attaway Nettleton, Gail Brewer-Giorgio, Boomer Castleman. Orion to recieve Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas! Lets hope this music finds a way out at some other point. He started the album on the record player to play Echoes of Love. Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. Boomer on Shelby. For the next 10 years Jimmy would balance music and his business interests. 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. Popular Ellis/Orion bootleg releases included titles such as Crazy on the Blue Danube and Jimmy In A Viennese Cellar. Shipping is at the media rate in the U.S. Thanks for your help!. New 2016 DVD release of the award winning documentary on the life and career of Jimmy Ellis. 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. When you find it, write your name and date in the logbook. 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. Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Masked Man label. The Final Performance CD is a good example of the kind of interaction and humor Orion had with the audience. Charlie Rich sang along with Lewis on two other songs. The record got a little airplay in Macon, GA in 1964. EIN: Bobby, you currently have a special offer on the site. He also had a great personality with a quick wit. Orion's mystique and allure was so universally popular among fans that Orion singles and albums were released in Europe and "downunder" in Australia. 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. It will be presented at this years Las Vegas Elvis Fest at the LVH formerly the Las Vegas Hilton on July 11th. (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, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Scan of the German cassette release COUNTRY & WESTERN CLASSICS VOL.1 on the Sun/Bellaphon label. The upcoming Orion documentary being done by Jeanie Finley in England should broaden exposure. 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. It is the story of Jimmy Ellis, a singer from Alabama who was cursed with having a voice identical to that of . Who was he? [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. 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***. 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.. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Jimmy Ellis (19214)? Jimmy Ellis - If I Can't Have You 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. 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. Bobby had recorded Otis Redding and Wayne Cochran plus many local bands. Read More #MyOrion "If Elvis is alive, he wears as mask and goes by the name Orion" Bobby D.: Not really. His natural voice was very similar to the voice of Elvis Presley, read more You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. Death 12 Dec 1998 (aged 53) . 1. Pictures and track listings are shown below of the titles I have managed to source. Ellis made a public confession in 1983 admitting he was Orion. He was 53 years old. Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. Are they still available in 2014? Very soon after Jimmy entered the store, a young black guy came in carrying a sawed off shotgun and demanded money. 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. He could laugh about most anythinghe was alot of fun at home and especially on stage!! 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. All songs in superb quality, unreleased material from Los Angeles in 75, unrelesased home recordings and soundboard. As Orion, Ellis reached Billboard's country chart with nine singles. Above images sourced from the official "Orion-Jimmy Ellis" website Genesis.. Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. was blessed with a natural singing voice remarkably similar to Elvis. If you have further details on any releases not included or would like to trade Orion recordings or material please drop me an email. He said, "Don't worry about it, you don't buy the fuckin records anyway." 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. Then he started the tape recorder and put the little microphone down by the record player and sang with the song overlaying Elvis voice with his. EIN:Bobby D. its been great talking with you. This boxed set documents Orion's career on the legendary Sun Records label. JIMMY ELLIS, LTD., LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1975 CONTRACT RARE! "He just opened fire in seconds and hit Mr. Ellis in the side.". 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. Went to Lanier Sr., a great all boys public, military high school. It is written by myself (Kenneth Dokkeberg), Steve Kelley (Orions road manager) and Bobby Dillard (personal friends since College). No breach of copyright is intended or should be inferred. Many thanks again and all the best for the future. 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. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. He also started to run a store in Selma, Alabama, with his girlfriend Elaine Thompson. I miss him a lot! 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. Jimmy "Orion" Ellis, also known as James Hughes Bell was an American Singer. He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. Bobby D.: Jimmy's story and music is important- he was very talented - and these releases will celebrate his life and career. Jimmy Ellis Also known as Orion. Excitement - Orion (Jimmy Ellis) was fun loving, had a great sense of humor, and a great personality. In its way, the story underscores some of the dark, disturbing aspects of image-making, music marketing, and how the music industry builds stars but destroys individuals. Police later found Lee holed up in a motel about 30 miles outside Atlanta. They were sung in the same style in which Elvis would have sung them. EIN: Did he come to resent the Orion character and if so, how strongly? Jimmy Hodges "Orion" Ellis Sr. In an, Georgia Pines CD - Playground Records Promo Card. Details of songs performed at any of the listed shows would be especially welcome. 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 SUBSCRIBE FOR ARTIST + LABEL NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS AND MORE. How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? Jimmy was a really good guitar player and very musically inclined. How many Elvis tribute artists have had any unofficial album releases let alone 150 bootleg albums released? Original Name James Bell Birth 26 Feb 1945. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! A man who for more than 10 years chased a career as a romantic southern crooner with a love of rockabilly and nostalgic love songs. '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 . It begins with the 1972 single on which Orion, then simply Jimmy Ellis, recorded 'That's All Right/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. THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO JIMMY ELLIS "ORION" THE MUSIC & LEGEND OF THE MAN WHO HAD THE VOICE OF A KING. 2. I hope people will remember that some of the masters are owned by us and others over in Norway/Denmark. December 1998. This is a fan site. 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. Memorial ID. Again, the speculation was that Elvis had sung on the songs, particularly "Save the Last Dance for Me". Bobby D: My recollection is that on Saturday, December 12, 1998, Jimmy was getting ready to go on a duck hunting trip on Sunday with his son, a doctor friend and others. 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. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Top, Uncategorized and tagged as, 0 Comments / He left Sun Records, never again appearing to the public as Orion. During that same year, with record in hand, I took Jimmy Ellis to Macon to meet Bobby Smith at his recording studio. Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. Scans of the orange label version of the CD single SUNDAY FATHER on the Lanier Records label. 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. 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. He released the Country, Rockabilly, and Glory albums in 1980, along with Trio Plus, which featured Orions voice overdubbed on old cuts with Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich. Who was he? . The guys in the room were mostly the colleges basketball players. Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. your own Pins on Pinterest Orion recorded a single, Ebony Eyes, for Sun in 1979, which became part of his debut album, Reborn. Orion page at Sun Records; Jimmy at Elvis Wiki 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. The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. 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. We have just received an intro and preview clip of the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club. Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? Singleton duly took Orion back to Elvis's roots in rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, country, blues, and gospel. Ellis entered Middle Georgia College on an athletic scholarship, then transferred to Livingston State University. Production costs turned out to be too high compared to the demand on the box set, making the release too economically challenging to make. Please tell our readers about this and how they can order. Instead of listing Ellis' first album on the label, Singleton printed a question mark. EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? 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. They wrote both of the songs. He would give you things and himself freely. Ellis recorded an album under his own name, Sometimes Words Just Get In The Way, for a small label in . Add your masked portrait to I Am Orion, THE ROLLERCOASTER RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE Jimmy said: Ill kill you, and we had a big laugh. To The Official Orion - Jimmy Ellis Web Site All LP Albums Now on Sale These Classic LP Albums from Sun Records are new and sealed and will never be made again. After his "unmasking" more and more fans accepted Orion was not Elvis, and for those who could not let go of the King a new theory took form - yes the original Orion wasn't Elvis but the real (still alive) Elvis was replacing Jimmy Ellis on stage at various concerts! This One's For. Again, he was who he was period. 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. 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. Scan of the cassette release BY REQUEST, ELLIS SINGS ELVIS. Bobby D.: Yes, that is just my natural voice. Bobby D.: Jimmy Ellis and I met in college at age 18 in 1963. It was part of a comedy sketch with artists not to play. He was very generous and good-hearted. I miss him a lot! 'My voice is both a blessing and a curse' (Jimmy Ellis/Orion during media interview), Controversial Sun Records 1978 Orion 'Reborn' (coffin) album cover. It doesnt cost a penny but has great impact! Jimmy just could not help that he sounded like someone else EP. 26th. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Uncategorized and tagged as. Source: www.orionjimmyellis.com & www.lasvegaselvisfestival.com, 1 Comments / 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." . 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. 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. He and I were alike in that respect. Who is this person??? Bobby D: Jimmy Ellis was actually the same off stage as he was on stage. Love For A Lovely Girl.What A Great Song.BY Lester Brown/ Bob Gibson/ Johdn D Loudermilk. And, after I heard Jimmy, I knew I was not.>. [3], Singleton tore off his mask at a performance in 1983, saying he would not wear it again. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! Well, Jimmy finally had enough and took the mask off at a New Years show in the Atlanta area in 1981. Pinterest. Orion was well-known in the sixties and seventies for having a singing voice. Jimmy grinned sleeplessly and said: Ill show you how this works. Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. Im on the upper deck of our cabin in the picture here (see photo above). Besides, I had childhood issues that I was not good enough. It is also very possible that several other titles circulating on the internet . You may also like> Jimmy Barnes Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Wiki, Family 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. The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. That was December 4, 1998 - The Nightlife Theatre in Nashville, TNwhat a show!!! Bobby D.: Jimmy never commented about the LP coffin cover to me, but he was not hot on the mask gimmick from the start. The mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice, claiming to be Orion. He once said: you cant make it on someone elses coattail. One of them is Orion's Reborn LP and he plays a snippet of "Washing Machine" written by Jimmy Ellis. Born February 26, 1945, Jimmy (Bell) Ellis was adopted and raised in Orrville, Alabama. 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. February 1945 - 13th. ..replaced with a completely new cover and no coffin! HEARTBREAK HOTEL By the time he was a teenager, it was clear that Jimmy Ellis had two talents: singing, and inadvertently sounding almost exactly like Elvis Presley. 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. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. We were both only children, but Jimmy was not selfish or too self-centered. In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. 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. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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 book is also available along withtheReborn CD (the first LP on Sun by Orion). I still record once in a while at home, as the mood strikes. [3] 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. There is a new film about Orion being made by the talented moviemaker from England, Jeanie Finlay. 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. 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.