orion jimmy ellis the official websitebeverly baker paulding
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. In 1962, Ellis entered the Orrville (Alabama) High School talent show. The book is also available along withtheReborn CD (the first LP on Sun by Orion). Singleton duly took Orion back to Elvis's roots in rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, country, blues, and gospel. Thank you very much!! It will focus on his early years before he became the masked singer Orion. Ellis was born in either Pascagoula, Mississippi,[2] Orrville, Alabama,[3] or Washington, D.C.,[1] United States, into a single parent home. It is the story of Jimmy Ellis, a singer from Alabama who was cursed with having a voice identical to that of . 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. JIMMY ELLIS, LTD., LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1975 CONTRACT RARE! In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. 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. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. I often wonder what that would have done for Jimmys career since Phil Walden was nationally known. Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi, USA. February 1945 - 13th. Orion". 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). http://www.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Jimmy-Ellis-Early-years-PROMO.mp3. Bobby D.: Not very much except recording at home when the mood strikes. 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. This is thebookthat started the Orion legend created by Shelby Singleton at Sun Records. I was in a small band named the Catalinas in Macon, GA my hometown and loved music. 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. 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. "He just opened fire in seconds and hit Mr. Ellis in the side.". Given Jimmy's keen sense of humor he must be looking down and smiling! Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! How many Elvis tribute artists made a living without singing Elvis songs for most of their career? Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. 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. (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, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Cover/label scans wanted of any of the following: Cover scans of discs issued on the unofficial Jack Daniels label. You know , it was like, here I am creating this and doing the work. 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. 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. You may also like> Jimmy Barnes Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Wiki, Family Are they still available in 2014? 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. 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. On Monday I carried his CDs to work and played them throughout the day. SUBSCRIBE FOR ARTIST + LABEL NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS AND MORE. Here is the bizarre story of Jimmy Ellis, or, as he was also known, Orion. Directors Statement Who was that masked man? Again, the speculation was that Elvis had sung on the songs, particularly "Save the Last Dance for Me". -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 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. 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. Bobby D.: Yes, that is just my natural voice. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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? We put the official web site www.orionjimmyellis.com together three months before his tragic death in December 1998. He then dragged the cash register off the counter and got about $135.00 out of it. 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. 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. The album cover itself generated controversy because it depicted a phantom singer rising from a coffin, and was later withdrawn. And, after I heard Jimmy, I knew I was not.>. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." For the next 10 years Jimmy would balance music and his business interests. Artefact from Shelby Singleton's personal collection.conspiracy theorists, note the date! 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. 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. It's like an artist painting a picture. We have just received an intro and preview clip of the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". The mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice, claiming to be Orion. We only index and link to content provided on other servers. Jimmy grinned sleeplessly and said: Ill show you how this works. Jimmy's contributions to the group, both in his personality and in his amazing tenor, will never be forgotten. All songs in superb quality, unreleased material from Los Angeles in 75, unrelesased home recordings and soundboard. To see the film clip and make a donation, please click on the link below. THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO JIMMY ELLIS "ORION" THE MUSIC & LEGEND OF THE MAN WHO HAD THE VOICE OF A KING. Copyright the Elvis Information Network. The terrain is 2.5 and difficulty is 2 (out of 5). The answer is: ONE! 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. At that point Shelby was done with their arrangement and so was Jimmy. 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. Lets hope this music finds a way out at some other point. Jimmy "Orion" Ellis, also known as James Hughes Bell was an American Singer. 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. 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. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! The association ended in 1982, and this boxed set includes the very best of the recordings that Jimmy Ellis made for Sun. Oh well, it is publicity!! 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. What exactly happened? I never gave up music and a friend and I played at a local pub for extra money while finishing school. In 1999, the famed German company, Bear Family Records, released a 4CD box set of 108 Orion recordings: From the pr for the box set: It was Orion Eckley Darnell, keeping the flame of rootsy Southern music alive in the Seventies, and doing it by sounding remarkably like Elvis Aaron Presley. It will be presented at this years Las Vegas Elvis Fest at the LVH formerly the Las Vegas Hilton on July 11th. The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. 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. Scan of the cassette release BY REQUEST, ELLIS SINGS ELVIS. [3], On December 12, 1998, Ellis was murdered during a robbery in his store, Jimmy's Pawn Shop. 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. Born February 26, 1945, Jimmy (Bell) Ellis was adopted and raised in Orrville, Alabama. Bobby D.: The gimmick of Orion lasted about 3 years. Details of songs performed at any of the listed shows would be especially welcome. [3] Thunderclap is a tool that lets a message be heard when you and your friends say it together. The Kissin Cousins movie was on at the local theater, and I had seen it recently. Who was he? It is written by myself (Kenneth Dokkeberg), Steve Kelley (Orions road manager) and Bobby Dillard (personal friends since College). While in Germany, met my future wife, the daughter of a Major, fighter pilot stationed at the same base. Scans of the orange label version of the CD single SUNDAY FATHER on the Lanier Records label. A hit record or some fuckin' tour we did that on many a time. Later, we met a guy named Jimmy Youmans also a student. He could laugh about most anythinghe was alot of fun at home and especially on stage!! 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!. So if you filmed him, recorded him or are in possession of anything I might be interested in then do not hesitate to take contact with me thru my e-mail: jimmyellisfan@yahoo.no, All Rights Reserved. Jimmy was a really good guitar player and very musically inclined. Support Good Music. And, you wonder if helistened to "Ebony Eyes" and the rest of the LP. Links to Orion / Jimmy Ellis sites. 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. was blessed with a natural singing voice remarkably similar to Elvis. He was who he was, no pretense. [9][10][11] The film won the Discovery Award at the British Independent Film Awards 2015. Bobby D.: Jimmy Ellis and I met in college at age 18 in 1963. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Uncategorized and tagged as. Instead of listing Ellis' first album on the label, Singleton printed a question mark. http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotlight-orion-2014.html, The Tonight Show from NY with Jimmy Fallon. Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! Jimmy had the voice and charisma that drew you to him. Jimmy said: Ill kill you, and we had a big laugh. Well, he then said: no, its that guy, pointing to the guy sitting on the bed. He was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States on February 26, 1945. '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 very much a "work in progress" and is being updated all the time. He said, "Don't worry about it, you don't buy the fuckin records anyway." 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. 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. Interview conducted by Nigel Patterson, EIN (July 2014), Read: EIN's 2014 "Jimmy Ellis/Orion" article. One of them is Orion's Reborn LP and he plays a snippet of "Washing Machine" written by Jimmy Ellis. All three men were apprehended. 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. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. The name Orion was borrowed from a book about a very famous but unhappy singer who faked his death in a desperate bid to escape from . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYuszmPq3lw, "Orion" by Gail Brewer-Giorgio (Hardcover 1979). That's not recording. Jimmy Ellis Also known as Orion. Anyway, he got that voice from somewhere in his original family.not from Sears, as he once said. 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. Jimmy Ellis (born February 26, 1945 - died December 12,1998) was born in Orrville, Alabama on February 26th of 1945. Unfortunately, despite the fact that most of the songs he recorded were not covers of Elvis songs, he could not escape the uncanny similarities between their natural voices. 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. And that's the way it was. The record got a little airplay in Macon, GA in 1964. (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). 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. Bobby D.: Jimmy's story and music is important- he was very talented - and these releases will celebrate his life and career. The tape recorder was playing the song Echoes of Love from Elvis Kissin Cousins album. EIN: Bobby, you currently have a special offer on the site. Another regular lady was also working that day. December 1998. I thought that was an odd question but I said: sure, its Elvis Presley. While friends of the singer Jimmy Ellis have speculated that Orion could well have been The King's half-brother. Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. After attended Middle Georgia College and Georgia Southern College before joining the USAF. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. 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. A lot of the people traveled many miles to see himsome were on a tour of Nashville from England andGermany andhad made the trip to see Orion. These songs has appeared on other compilations or a collection of songs. The story of Orion, the singer whose voice bears an incredible likeness to that of Elvis Presley, is an interesting and unusual one to say the least. Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Orion Records label. To see the film clip andmake a donation, pleaseclick on the link below. 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. The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. 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 Final Performance CD is a good example of the kind of interaction and humor Orion had with the audience. Artist of the Year Theme by Foxhound Band Themes. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky.". 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. 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. [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. Think of it as an online flash mob. Join the OrionThunderclap, and you and [], "If Elvis is alive, 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. A fine talent in his own right, Ellis recorded the song "I'm Not Trying" (Boblo 536) and the album By Request - Ellis Sings Elvis (Boblo 78-829). Jimmy Ellis In The Shadow Of a King Book NOW AVAILABLE! To use this website you must enable JavaScript. Youmans put the record on the Dradco Recording Company label. 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. 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. For the soul singer, member of The Trammps, please see Jimmy Ellis (2) Sites: Wikipedia, orionjimmyellis.com, oriondiscs.com Aliases: 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. I finished college with a BBA while my wife worked, and I got the GI Bill. 26th. Orion to recieve Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas! All three are being held without bail and are facing the possibility of the death penalty on two counts of capital murder, authorities said. It has hundreds of unseen photos, interviews with musicians and other people close to Jimmy. [1] He attended Orrville High School, where he excelled in baseball, football and basketball. 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. We are told that the documentary is moving along but, as with many projects, monetary donations would be appreciated to help get to completion. Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Masked Man label. The guy shot at Jimmy again but missed. Many years later, I recorded four songs at Stargem Studios in Nashville, the same studio Jimmy had also recorded at earlier. He appeared as Orion Eckley Darnell, the character created August 16, 1977, by a Marietta [Georgia], housewife Gail Brewer-Giorgo. If you have further details on any releases not included or would like to trade Orion recordings or material please drop me an email. A few weeks later, some guys asked me to come down to their room where they were playing music so I decided to go. We were married when I returned to the states. . 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. Tell us about that. 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***. Ellis appeared with many . 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. It is also very possible that several other titles circulating on the internet . EIN: Bobby, many thanks for taking time to talk to us today. 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. 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!!!". 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. EIN: What did Jimmy say to you about his career as Orion? EIN: There are conflicting reports of who else was with Jimmy at the time, some reports say his fianc, others say his ex-wife. He travelled to Nashville and tried to break into the music business - but found. Memorial ID. 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. This is a fan site. Bobby knew a lot of people in the business and was a producer for King Records at one time. Add your masked portrait to I Am Orion, THE ROLLERCOASTER RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE 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). How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? That one along with the first original album now on CD - Orion Reborn are offered for $8.95 each. If you want to support the artist or artists that recorded and released this music, please go and purchase their music. The guys in the room were mostly the colleges basketball players. 5 1969-70' Book Review: 'From Hawaii to Las Vegas' FTD CD Review: 'Young Man with the Big Beat' In-Depth Review: 'Fashion For A King' FTD in-depth Review: The Music of Elvis Presley - Australian Radio Show, Elvis Presley In Concert "downunder" 2006, Graceland - The National Historic Landmark. In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. 1. Her 1978 novel Orion told the story of a rock and roll singer, very much like Elvis, who faked his own death. It doesnt cost a penny but has great impact! How many Elvis tribute artists have commercially produced memorabilia released about them? I miss him a lot! 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. Production costs turned out to be too high compared to the demand on the box set, making the release too economically challenging to make. The label credited the recordings simply to "? Jimmy was, and still is, my favorite Elvis sound-alike singer. Discover (and save!) 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. Many thanks again and all the best for the future. A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY. There is no media rate for international shipping, but we are covering part of the high shipping cost. Watch the stunning trailer for Orion The Man Who Would Be King. Bobby D.: I loved music but needed to use my education to pay the bills. 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 had just talked to him on Friday December 11. 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. ORION FEAT.JIMMY ELLIS.CH About me THE STORY OF ORION BEGAN AS FICTION 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