Available now! 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***. 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. The King is gone.Long live the King!.Jimmy's mortal life ended tragically when, on 12 December 1998, he was fatally shot in his Alabama pawn and package shop during a robbery gone bad. 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. Bobby D.: I was born in Macon, GA in 1945. He said, "Don't worry about it, you don't buy the fuckin records anyway." The mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice, claiming to be Orion. This site is very much a "work in progress" and is being updated all the time. Read about his childhood, reaching for the music scene, chasing his dream and finally his tragic end. 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. Genesis.Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. 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? SUBSCRIBE FOR ARTIST + LABEL NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS AND MORE. 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. 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. http://www.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Jimmy-Ellis-Early-years-PROMO.mp3. Orion in Sweden 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. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. He also started to run a store in Selma, Alabama, with his girlfriend Elaine Thompson. He loved to have a good time, loved to sing and entertain. [3], In 1978, writer Gail Brewer-Giorgio published a novel, Orion, about a leading popular singer based on Presley who faked his death. 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. The controversial 'Reborn' album with its "coffin" cover. 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. 'Elvis: From Louisiana and Memphis 1976' FTD In-depth Review: FTD continues their extensive look at Elvis' performances in 1976 with three July 1976 concerts. I could not believe what I was hearing. The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. Bobby D.: I loved music but needed to use my education to pay the bills. If you can add to the info given please e-mail me. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. December 1998. 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. Jimmy Ellis (born February 26, 1945 - died December 12,1998) was born in Orrville, Alabama on February 26th of 1945. 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. 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. The shot missed, and then Lee allegedly turned his attention to the cash register, which he knocked off the counter after he could not open it, Huffman said. However, after failing to retain his popularity using his real name, he returned to performing as Orion in 1987. Mr. Welcome also would be details of his concert performances in the U.S.A. and Europe. Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. 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. This is the definitive book on a man with the voice of a King. He is a phenomenon in his own right albeit because of his Elvis connection - a connection which figuratively haunted him throughout his tragically, shortened career. The strange part of the tale began in January 1979, when author Gail Brewer-Giorgio received a bizarre early-morning phone call. Adios till we meet again! The book that started it all (in classic conspiracy fashion, its 'first edition' featured two 'author' names!!). Jimmy Ellis In The Shadow Of a King Book NOW AVAILABLE! There is no media rate for international shipping, but we are covering part of the high shipping cost. 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.. I really like the way he sang songs that Elvis never recorded in versions that still sounded a lot like Elvis. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Top, Uncategorized and tagged as, 0 Comments / Copyright the Elvis Information Network. There is a new film about Orion being made by the talented moviemaker from England, Jeanie Finlay. 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. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: jean-puy.com Jean Puy un peintre fauve Similarly, there was an incontrovertible and diametrically opposed outcome for each side. The guys in the room were mostly the colleges basketball players. Artist of the Year Theme by Foxhound Band Themes. 2. Thank you very much!! The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. Real Name: James Hughes Bell Profile: James Hughes Bell (February 26, 1945 - December 12, 1998), stage name Orion (based on the character from the same-titled book by Gail Brewer-Giorgio ), was an American singer. Pinterest. (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, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 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. I responded: gosh Jimmy what if I did. 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. He quickly says "he sounds just like Elvis" and then puts on a copy of the mask worn by Orion for the album picture. Along the way, and particularly towards the end, Jimmy was not happy with the whole thing. Ellis appeared with many . In early 1965, I transferred to Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, GA and lost touch with Jimmy for a number of years. 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. I am looking for information concerning Orion's many concert appearances in the USA and several countries in Europe where he performed. EIN: Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? Jimmy just could not help that he sounded like someone else EP. Ellis made a public confession in 1983 admitting he was Orion. Think of it as an online flash mob. Join the OrionThunderclap, and you and [], "If Elvis is alive,
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. [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". 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. Leave a comment or question. Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site Welcome!! 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! They wrote both of the songs. Directors Statement Who was that masked man? 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. Lets hope this music finds a way out at some other point. Very soon after Jimmy entered the store, a young black guy came in carrying a sawed off shotgun and demanded money. 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. 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. 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." On Orion's 1979 debut album, Reborn (Sun 1912). "Mr. Ellis never had time to do nothing or say nothing," Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman Jr. told APB News. It has 408 pages, harcover and a CD included with some of Jimmys finest performances and also unreleased gems from the archives of Sun Records. 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!!!". Just before noon, he decided to go by his pawn shop to check on things. This One's For. In 1979 Jimmy Ellis finally merged with an identity, but it still wasn't himself. The sale is temporary to offer fans who missed these CDs the first time around a real deal. He appeared as Orion Eckley Darnell, the character created August 16, 1977, by a Marietta [Georgia], housewife Gail Brewer-Giorgo. Today. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. * Released After Jimmy Ellis's death in 1999. Jimmy was a really good guitar player and very musically inclined. 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. Jimmy Hodges "Orion" Ellis Sr. 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. 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. How many Elvis tribute artists have several websites devoted to them. Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. 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). 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. (EIN Comment: Bobby D. should get back to playing "live" - he is naturally gifted with a great voice!). Jimmy grinned sleeplessly and said: Ill show you how this works. 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. Click on the LP and 45 rpm records page. Hopefully in time the details given can be guaranteed to be100% correct but a great deal more info is required before reaching that stage. 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. How many Elvis tribute artists made a living without singing Elvis songs for most of their career? Bobby knew a lot of people in the business and was a producer for King Records at one time. Help us spreadthe word about our cinema releaseby signing up for an ORIONtweetor aFacebookpost here onThunderclap. 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. Discover (and save!) These books arevintage - new and are a collector's item. The other lady was standing just behind Elaine. 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. Bobby Smith, owner of Boblo Records once told his engineer, Chet Bennett: take him in the studio and record different songs. I am always on the lookout for Orion/Jimmy Ellis concerts that I dont have. It is written by myself (Kenneth Dokkeberg), Steve Kelley (Orions road manager) and Bobby Dillard (personal friends since College). We are told that the documentary is moving along but, as with many projects, monetary donations would be appreciated to help get to completion. February 1945 - 13th. Ellis entered Middle Georgia College on an athletic scholarship, then transferred to Livingston State University. 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. Artefact from Shelby Singleton's personal collection.conspiracy theorists, note the date! Jimmy was very happy we did this and he liked getting a periodic check for CD sales. . The film, which had its world premiere at Tribeca and won [], Calling all Orion fans and film supporters. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Uncategorized and tagged as. Explore. 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. Jimmy was an accomplished songwriter who could write uptempo, slow and country songs as recordings such as the rockin' Washing Machine, poignant ballad It Ain't No Mystery and catchy, toe tapping Some You Win, Some You Lose, attest to. Who is this person??? In a town steeped in strange success stories, hidden agendas, and dashed dreams, Orion's tale is one of the most curious ever to originate in Music City USA--which is saying something. 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. Thanks for your help! Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. Youmans put the record on the Dradco Recording Company label. Many thanks again and all the best for the future. 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. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. Went to Lanier Sr., a great all boys public, military high school. 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. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! Boomer on Shelby. How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? Interview conducted by Nigel Patterson, EIN (July 2014), Read: EIN's 2014 "Jimmy Ellis/Orion" article. But, it was really him. 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. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky.". EIN: Bobby, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers and Jimmy Ellis/Orion fans? A few weeks later, some guys asked me to come down to their room where they were playing music so I decided to go. 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. The CDs are offered on the official web site: www.orionjimmyellis.com. Scans of the orange label version of the CD single SUNDAY FATHER on the Lanier Records label. The book is also available along withtheReborn CD (the first LP on Sun by Orion). 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 Feb 6, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Patricia Milligan. I miss him a lot! A real EP story. He then left the store and caught up with his two young friends waiting down the road in a car. All songs in superb quality, unreleased material from Los Angeles in 75, unrelesased home recordings and soundboard. 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). 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. They were sung in the same style in which Elvis would have sung them. 3. Bobby D.: Jimmy Ellis and I met in college at age 18 in 1963. For the soul singer, member of The Trammps, please see Jimmy Ellis (2) Sites: Wikipedia, orionjimmyellis.com, oriondiscs.com Aliases: So, thats how Jimmy Ellis and I met and became lifelong friends. These titles and their eye catching specially made front covers would appear to be exclusively for internet downloads (eg. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." 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. was courted for a baseball career and a tryout with the Milwaukie Braves but turned it down. 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. That day, Elaine Thompson, his x-wife was filling in for Shirley Connell who had gone home to Memphis for the weekend. : Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive, Elvis at Madison Square Garden 40 Years Ago. 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. EIN: Jimmys first Orion album, Reborn. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Scans of sleeves and labels would be of real interest as would track listings of further foreign releases. Pictures and track listings are shown below of the titles I have managed to source. The tape recorder was playing the song Echoes of Love from Elvis Kissin Cousins album. I hope people will remember that some of the masters are owned by us and others over in Norway/Denmark. is the only Elvis stylist to have merchandise and memorabilia released (still sold online in 2014!