In reality, Orion was the club singer Jimmy Ellis, who was born in Orrville, Alabama, in 1945. and goes by the name
If you take something from the container, leave something in exchange. Very unfortunately, Jimmy Ellis along with his wife, was killed in December the 12th 1998 by a male robber. Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. This site is very much a "work in progress" and is being updated all the time. 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. If you want to support the artist or artists that recorded and released this music, please go and purchase their music. 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. It is hold together by a stitch in the upper left corner. Internet Downloads - new Oriondiscs website 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. 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. Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. Scans of sleeves and labels would be of real interest as would track listings of further foreign releases. 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. The leader singer of The Trammps. Instead of listing Ellis' first album on the label, Singleton printed a question mark. The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. Again, the speculation was that Elvis had sung on the songs, particularly "Save the Last Dance for Me". Help us spreadthe word about our cinema releaseby signing up for an ORIONtweetor aFacebookpost here onThunderclap. 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. It was issued on Sun without an artist name, and created a furor because Ellis bore such an uncanny vocal resemblance to Elvis. Her 1978 novel Orion told the story of a rock and roll singer, very much like Elvis, who faked his own death. http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotlight-orion-2014.html, The Tonight Show from NY with Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy Ellis In The Shadow Of a King Book NOW AVAILABLE! It is written by myself (Kenneth Dokkeberg), Steve Kelley (Orions road manager) and Bobby Dillard (personal friends since College). Think of it as an online flash mob. Join the OrionThunderclap, and you and [], "If Elvis is alive,
This is a FOUR CD 5" digi-pak, this set features three concerts, Shreveport Louisiana July 1, 1976, Baton Rouge, July 2, 1976 and Elvis' last home-town concert Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis July 5, 1976. He loved to have a good time, loved to sing and entertain. 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. 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. I finished college with a BBA while my wife worked, and I got the GI Bill. A Brief Biography - new Oriondiscs website 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!!! Charlie Rich sang along with Lewis on two other songs. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Uncategorized and tagged as. 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 suppose I just want to continue to help get Jimmys name and talent out there for people to enjoy what was missed. Sundance Selects has acquired North American rights to Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, the feature documentary written and directed by Jeanie Finlay. Perhaps critically, Jimmy had made a decision that a sporting future wasn't to shape the his story, and in so doing his future would be frustratingly shaped by his vocal chords as Jimmy's singing voice sounded remarkably like Elvis'. 15 November 1937 Died 8 March 2012 (aged 74) There are at least four artists called Jimmy Ellis: 1) Jimmy Ellis. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Inevitably, being born 10 years after Elvis, his struggle could never be won. 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. 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.. 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. Scan of the cassette release BY REQUEST, ELLIS SINGS ELVIS. EIN: Does it surprise you that Jimmy still has so many fans nearly 20 years after his tragic death? My mom had bought me GI Blues and a new record player when I was only 10 years old and I would try to play some of the songs and sing. A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY. 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). EIN: Bobby, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers and Jimmy Ellis/Orion fans? His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky.". Shipping is at the media rate in the U.S. Here's a new link to an excellent Orion page done by Nigel Patterson with the EIN (Elvis Information Network) in Australia. Details of songs performed at any of the listed shows would be especially welcome. Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! 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. 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. Ellis appeared with many artists, including Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood, Gary Morris, and the Oak Ridge Boys. Take a look at the following table for more information. 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. MYSTERY MASKED MAN WITH THE VOICE OF A LEGEND. He and I were alike in that respect. 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. Being in a band, we did some Elvis songs, and I was a big fan and knew Elvis voice well. Youmans formed a small group and had Jimmy sing at a few local schools. At that point Shelby was done with their arrangement and so was Jimmy. The Official Web Site | Jimmy ellis, American singers, Elvis Jimmy was very happy we did this and he liked getting a periodic check for CD sales. Bobby D.: It was a pleasure. That's not recording. Jimmy "Orion" Ellis Wikipedia Republished // WIKI 2 You may also like> Jimmy Barnes Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Wiki, Family This blog does not store any files on its server. Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! 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). But, it was really him. 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. Scans of any Jimmy Ellis/Orion release or alternate versions not included on this website would be greatly appreciated. So who is this person a performer whose sad end is one we normally expect from a fabricated and dramatically intensified Hollywood film? Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Orion Records label. Super rare memorabilia from the start up of the singing career of Jimmy Ellis! was blessed with a natural singing voice remarkably similar to Elvis. Orion | Sun Records EIN: The Jimmy Ellis story "lives on". Who was he? If you sat in a room with him and heard him sing Happy Birthday, the National Anthem, or Its Now or Never, he sounded exactly the same. Orion | Discography | Discogs EIN: Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? In early 1965, I transferred to Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, GA and lost touch with Jimmy for a number of years. As Jim Ellis, he released an album in 1987 and continued to tour North America; interestingly, he resumed wearing his mask. Mr. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. After winning a state fair competition, his first professional performance was in a Demon's Den nightclub in Albany, Georgia. Before we talk about your friendship with Jimmy Ellis, who is Bobby D? Al Benn: Spirit of 'Orion' lives on - The Montgomery Advertiser Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. The film, which had its world premiere at Tribeca and won [], Calling all Orion fans and film supporters. Elvis True Story: Who Was Orion? The Masked Lookalike - ScreenRant 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! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuszmPq3lw, "Orion" by Gail Brewer-Giorgio (Hardcover 1979). 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 D. on YouTube (who does Bobby sound like? Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. 6 1971-1973' Book Review: 'Elvis - The Man & His Music'#100 review: 'Elvis - Aloha Via Satellite: A 40th Anniv Release' Book Review: 'The Elvis Files Vol. 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. The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site Welcome!! Chet came back and said: Bobby, he sounds the same on all of them. The answer.Jimmy Ellis aka the masked man, Orion. The Jimmy Ellis/Orion story is one of great potential, qualified success, ongoing disappointment and ultimately, tragedy! He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. 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. 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. He would give you things and himself freely. 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. Thats the special since the regular price is $12.95. 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. Leave a comment or question. If you can add to the info given please e-mail me. http://www.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Jimmy-Ellis-Early-years-PROMO.mp3. Apparently, it was just a few seconds after the guy entered that he fatally shot Jimmy in his left side and then swung the gun around shooting Elaine in the face killing her instantly. Jimmy really liked my version of My Special Angel that we listened to for the first time while riding around in Nashville. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Discover (and save!) Elvis Presley: Was Jimmy 'Orion' Ellis The King's half-brother? The The album featured some excellent songs including "Ebony Eyes", "Honey", and "Washing Machine". He began by overdubbing him onto recordings by Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich, and then recording solo albums which many fans thought were better than many of Elvis's later LPs. The label credited the recordings simply to "? Death 12 Dec 1998 (aged 53) . The album disc was on the record player. Singleton duly took Orion back to Elvis's roots in rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, country, blues, and gospel. I could not believe what I was hearing. Jimmy had the voice and charisma that drew you to him. Read More #MyOrion "If Elvis is alive, he wears as mask and goes by the name Orion" Besides, I had childhood issues that I was not good enough. 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! Orion Jimmy Ellis Music Elaine was sitting on a stool behind the counter top to the left of the entrance door and Jimmy was standing some feet away also behind the counter. 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. For the soul singer, member of The Trammps, please see Jimmy Ellis (2) Sites: Wikipedia, orionjimmyellis.com, oriondiscs.com Aliases: Genesis.Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. He started the album on the record player to play Echoes of Love. We have just received an intro and preview clip from the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". Well, Jimmy finally had enough and took the mask off at a New Years show in the Atlanta area in 1981. 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. He also had a great personality with a quick wit. EIN:Bobby D. its been great talking with you. It begins with the 1972 single on which Orion, then simply Jimmy Ellis, recorded 'That's All Right/Blue Moon Of Kentucky.' What exactly happened? Another regular lady was also working that day. It's the story of a masked. ): I continued with my Human Resources career for many years and retired in the mountains of NC two years ago. I couldnt quite make out the voice. Bobby D.: As mentioned before, it was Elaine Thompson, Jimmys ex-wife and another lady who normally worked at the store. He appeared as Orion Eckley Darnell, the character created August 16, 1977, by a Marietta [Georgia], housewife Gail Brewer-Giorgo. 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. I do miss playing live. 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. To see the film clip and make a donation, please click on the link below. Could you clarify who was working with him that day? How did that come about and what can fans expect to find on the site? compilation added to various unofficial releases page. Orion Videos | NASA Bobby then immediately offered Jimmy a recording contract. 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. Shawn. The mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice, claiming to be Orion. Other LP/CD's Featuring Jimmy Ellis/Orion, Other LP's/CD's featuring Jimmy Ellis/Orion, Other LP & CD's Featuring Jimmy Ellis/Orion, Stargem/Kardina/Southern Tracks Promo Photos. February 1945 - 13th. And, after I heard Jimmy, I knew I was not.>. $11.99. In his insightful interview, Bobby D. reveals what (the real) Jimmy Ellis was like off-stage and covers a range of subjects including: Bobby D. operates the official Jimmy Ellis/Orion website and is a singer himself. He could laugh about most anythinghe was alot of fun at home and especially on stage!! Welcome also would be details of his concert performances in the U.S.A. and Europe. Home Page of OrionDiscs - new Oriondiscs website 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.