The crew had also made a pretty decent copy of the blue mask Orion wore on the Reborn album. 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. No breach of copyright is intended or should be inferred. Bobby D.: Jimmy Ellis and I met in college at age 18 in 1963. I couldnt quite make out the voice. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presleys label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. EIN: Bobby, you currently have a special offer on the site. 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. This boxed set documents Orion's career on the legendary Sun Records label. 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! I am looking for information concerning Orion's many concert appearances in the USA and several countries in Europe where he performed. 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. He quickly says "he sounds just like Elvis" and then puts on a copy of the mask worn by Orion for the album picture. How many Elvis tribute artists have had 10 Top 100 hits on the Country Music Chart? EIN: There are conflicting reports of who else was with Jimmy at the time, some reports say his fianc, others say his ex-wife. While friends of the singer Jimmy Ellis have speculated that Orion could well have been The King's half-brother. For the soul singer, member of The Trammps, please see Jimmy Ellis (2) Sites: Wikipedia, orionjimmyellis.com, oriondiscs.com Aliases: Bobby D: Jimmy Ellis was actually the same off stage as he was on stage. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 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. EIN: Does it surprise you that Jimmy still has so many fans nearly 20 years after his tragic 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! Which brings us to the incredible story of Orion. It is the story of Jimmy Ellis, a singer from Alabama who was cursed with having a voice identical to that of . Could you clarify who was working with him that day? Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! The book that started it all (in classic conspiracy fashion, its 'first edition' featured two 'author' names!!). Before we talk about your friendship with Jimmy Ellis, who is Bobby D? EIN: Your friendship with Jimmy Ellis. There is no media rate for international shipping, but we are covering part of the high shipping cost. Bobby D.: I loved music but needed to use my education to pay the bills. We only index and link to content provided on other servers. A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY. EIN: What did Jimmy say to you about his career as Orion? Learn more about merges. Just before noon, he decided to go by his pawn shop to check on things. It was part of a comedy sketch with artists not to play. There is a new film about Orion being made by the talented moviemaker from England, Jeanie Finlay. I was in a small band named the Catalinas in Macon, GA my hometown and loved music. 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. ORION (JIMMY ELLIS) A STRANGER IN MY PLACE 6 RADIO STATION SPOTS SUN 1152 MINT-. The leader singer of The Trammps. Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. 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. On Orion's 1979 debut album, Reborn (Sun 1912). He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. 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." Fittingly, his legend lives on, and quite ironically, both as Jimmy Ellis and Orion! He travelled to Nashville and tried to break into the music business - but found. This is a fan site. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. 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. 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. 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." Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. So, I have kept the site going since 1998. The sale is temporary to offer fans who missed these CDs the first time around a real deal. As they say all PR is good PR! He was very generous and good-hearted. Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. He then left the store and caught up with his two young friends waiting down the road in a car. To see the film clip and make a donation, please click on the link below. The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club. After winning a state fair competition, his first professional performance was in a Demon's Den nightclub in Albany, Georgia. Ellis appeared on the album cover wearing a mask over his eyes. Newspaper adverts and reports of his numerous appearances also very much appreciated. Also like Elvis (surviving twin), he experienced an early life major event when, at the age of 4, he was adopted by Robert and Faye Ellis. 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! Bobby D.: Well, we just had a limited number of the out-of-print CD - Orion Country repressed. 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. [6] His album Reborn, showing the singer emerging from a coffin, was released on gold-colored vinyl on the Sun label in 1978. EIN: Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? Bobby Smith, owner of Boblo Records once told his engineer, Chet Bennett: take him in the studio and record different songs. His hectic touring schedule as Orion also restricted Jimmy's time to write songs and this must have also added to the frustration with his career. Scan of the German cassette release COUNTRY & WESTERN CLASSICS VOL.1 on the Sun/Bellaphon label. This blog does not store any files on its server. 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. [3], Singleton tore off his mask at a performance in 1983, saying he would not wear it again. Bobby D.: Not very much except recording at home when the mood strikes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuszmPq3lw, "Orion" by Gail Brewer-Giorgio (Hardcover 1979). Sun Records legend Orion (Jimmy Ellis) is known internationally for his gifted singing ability and dynamic personal appearances. JIMMY ELLIS, LTD., LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1975 CONTRACT RARE! Copyright the Elvis Information Network. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? How many Elvis tribute artists have several websites devoted to them. Youmans formed a small group and had Jimmy sing at a few local schools. The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club. http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotlight-orion-2014.html, The Tonight Show from NY with Jimmy Fallon. Boomer on Shelby. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. EIN: Jimmy Ellis, the person.away from the stage or recording studio. So who is this person a performer whose sad end is one we normally expect from a fabricated and dramatically intensified Hollywood film? 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 to recieve Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas! Then, he introduced me to Jimmy Ellis, the guy by the tape recorder who had said nothing. $11.99. His birth certificate states the mother was a secretary named Gladys Bell, and the father was Vernon (no surname). your own Pins on Pinterest Another regular lady was also working that day. The mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice, claiming to be Orion. Bobby D.: Yes, that is just my natural voice. In early 1965, I transferred to Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, GA and lost touch with Jimmy for a number of years. The record got a little airplay in Macon, GA in 1964. 3. Ellis was born in either Pascagoula, Mississippi,[2] Orrville, Alabama,[3] or Washington, D.C.,[1] United States, into a single parent home. Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. The jury recommended Lee be sentenced to life without parole, but the judge sentenced Lee to death. The Final Performance CD is a good example of the kind of interaction and humor Orion had with the audience. Well, Jimmy finally had enough and took the mask off at a New Years show in the Atlanta area in 1981. Adios till we meet again! Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Masked Man label. 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. Backed by the Jordanaires and opening act Sherry Carlisle, Orion sang to a packed house on August 12, 1997 at Nashville's Nightlife Theater. Scan of the German cassette release LET YOUR LOVE FLOW on the Sun/Bellaphon label. Explore. 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. The other lady was standing just behind Elaine. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on Facebook at "Orion Jimmy Ellis Fan Club" or "Orion Jimmy Ellis Group". 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. All songs in superb quality, unreleased material from Los Angeles in 75, unrelesased home recordings and soundboard. 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. [3], In 1978, writer Gail Brewer-Giorgio published a novel, Orion, about a leading popular singer based on Presley who faked his death. Sundance Selects plans Dec 4 release theatrically and on demand. Wonder how in the world the producer picked an Orion album?? With few bookings for Jimmy Ellis 'live on stage' there was still a substantial (albeit diminishing) demand of fans to satisfy their deep-seated psychological need and hope that their King had not left them. Consequently, this meant Jimmy could only get well paying work if he donned the Orion mask and (to him) even worse, an Elvis jumpsuit. That's not a career. 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. Did Jimmy ever comment to you about the cover? [3] As Jim Ellis, he released an album in 1987 and continued to tour North America; interestingly, he resumed wearing his mask. 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. Jimmy Ellis 1937-2012 It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of our friend and original lead singer, Jimmy Ellis, on Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Taken straight from the mastertapes. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Discover (and save!) Bobby D.: Basically he was very happy to get all the publicity from all the albums and live shows Sun Records provided, but he did not like wearing the mask. 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. 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. February 1945 - 13th. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. 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***. Thank you very much!! He makes a mistake and some asshole over here says don't worry about it, it will be alright. How did that come about and what can fans expect to find on the site? They were sung in the same style in which Elvis would have sung them. Sales have not been great since the fan base has long since scattered but I enjoy doing it to keep his talent known, as much as possible. They vociferously took advantage of, and preyed upon, those Elvis fans, the "true disbelievers", who had a deep seated need to disbelieve a more prosaic, greed fuelled reality and motivation for the carefully constructed "Orion" character. Jimmy Ellis was one of the super talented yes like Elvis, Tom Jones, Engelbert my all-time favorite solo artists. Thanks for your help!. Bobby D.: No, not really. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. When Jimmy Ellis decided to give up the horse business and decided to go after a singing career, he sold his horse equipment and formed a company called Jimmy Ellis Productions, INC. Here he sold stock in himself as he needed money before going to L.A. and pursue singing. 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. 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). Orion mention on The tonight show with jimmy fallon, http://beta.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/17-Out-Of-My-Life-live.mp3. He then dragged the cash register off the counter and got about $135.00 out of it. He would give you things and himself freely. This dynamic performer differentiates himself from all others for a number of reasons. He and I were alike in that respect. "Mr. Ellis never had time to do nothing or say nothing," Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman Jr. told APB News. : Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive, Elvis at Madison Square Garden 40 Years Ago. He also had a great personality with a quick wit. Huffman said King, who played dead, was treated and released from a hospital for her hand wound. Running time: 86 minutes in full colour. Who was he? (EIN Comment: Bobby D. should get back to playing "live" - he is naturally gifted with a great voice!). 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. Jimmy said: Ill kill you, and we had a big laugh. 26th. Copyright the Elvis Information Network. It will be presented at this years Las Vegas Elvis Fest at the LVH formerly the Las Vegas Hilton on July 11th. These Classic LP Albums from Sun Records are new and sealed and will never be made again. Thanks, Nigel!! Shipping is at the media rate in the U.S. If you take something from the container, leave something in exchange. compilation added to various unofficial releases page. 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. 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. . For the next 10 years Jimmy would balance music and his business interests. How many Elvis tribute artists are still remembered nearly 20 years after their death? The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. You may also like> Jimmy Barnes Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Wiki, Family Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? 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. In high school his teachers encouraged him to sing for the school's "Religious Emphasis Week," leading him to enter his first talent contest in 1963. Available now! 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). We let Bobby hear the record and he liked it but he said that it was too much like Presley, and he didnt think he could do anything with Jimmy.a huge mistake. In 1962, Ellis entered the Orrville (Alabama) High School talent show. Kenneth Dokkeberg. The other lady fell to the floor with blood on her and played dead while Jimmy tried to crawl behind a computer desk. I finished college with a BBA while my wife worked, and I got the GI Bill. 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.
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