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. Youmans put the record on the Dradco Recording Company label. How did that come about and what can fans expect to find on the site? EIN: Did he come to resent the Orion character and if so, how strongly? To The Official Orion - Jimmy Ellis Web Site, http://tribecafilm.com/stories/tribeca-film-festival-2015-viewpoints, http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/orion-the-man-who-would-be-king. 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). 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. The album disc was on the record player. was courted for a baseball career and a tryout with the Milwaukie Braves but turned it down. He quickly says "he sounds just like Elvis" and then puts on a copy of the mask worn by Orion for the album picture. 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. Who is this person??? 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. Ellis was gunned Down in His Alabama Pawn Shop December 12, 1998. 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. Bobby D.: No, not really. Hopefully in time the details given can be guaranteed to be100% correct but a great deal more info is required before reaching that stage. Cover/label scans wanted of any of the following: Cover scans of discs issued on the unofficial Jack Daniels label. 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. is the only Elvis stylist to have merchandise and memorabilia released (still sold online in 2014! 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. 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. : Since Elvis' explosion onto the world stage in the mid 1950s there have been countless Elvis tribute artists, imitators, impersonators, stylists and sound-a-likes offering and emulating a watershed musical icon. If you want to support the artist or artists that recorded and released this music, please go and purchase their music. ***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***. Around the same time, Ellis released another single under his name, "I'm Not Trying To Be Like Elvis", and an album, By Request Ellis Sings Elvis. Offered here is a two sheet info about the partnership which was presented to the stockholder. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. Add your masked portrait to I Am Orion, THE ROLLERCOASTER RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE Many thanks again and all the best for the future. This site is very much a "work in progress" and is being updated all the time. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Uncategorized and tagged as. The film, which had its world premiere at Tribeca and won [], Calling all Orion fans and film supporters. 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. Jimmy Fallon goes "Orion" - Fallon does segment on worst albums he says doNOT buy. http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotlight-orion-2014.html, The Tonight Show from NY with Jimmy Fallon. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: fanoscoatings.com, +62218463662, +62218463274, +622189841479, +62231320713, +623185584958 Home - FANOS ASIA He loved to have a good time, loved to sing and entertain. They wrote both of the songs. 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! 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. : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. The other lady was standing just behind Elaine. 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. [3], On December 12, 1998, Ellis was murdered during a robbery in his store, Jimmy's Pawn Shop. Just before noon, he decided to go by his pawn shop to check on things. How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? As Jim Ellis, he released an album in 1987 and continued to tour North America; interestingly, he resumed wearing his mask. 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. To see the film clip and make a donation, please click on the link below. Bobby D.: I was born in Macon, GA in 1945. We have a limited supply of this1979 hardcover version of the book "Orion" by Gail Brewer-Giorgio. When you find it, write your name and date in the logbook. I am always on the lookout for Orion/Jimmy Ellis concerts that I dont have. If you can add to the info given please e-mail me. Jimmy Hodges "Orion" Ellis Sr. He was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States on February 26, 1945. : Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive, Elvis at Madison Square Garden 40 Years Ago. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 26th. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. He appeared as Orion Eckley Darnell, the character created August 16, 1977, by a Marietta [Georgia], housewife Gail Brewer-Giorgo. iTunes, Amazon) and not physical discs. I really like the way he sang songs that Elvis never recorded in versions that still sounded a lot like Elvis. He left Sun Records, never again appearing to the public as Orion. He was who he was, no pretense. Official site; Kenneth Dokkeberg's Jimmy Ellis / Orion website; Musiclovers - Discography, audio samples and a lot more! As they say all PR is good PR! 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. 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 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! If you can provide any additional info, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, to the list of details in the concert section of this site please get in touch. A Tribute to the "Masked Man": Jimmy Ellis aka "Orion". The label credited the recordings simply to "? Police later found Lee holed up in a motel about 30 miles outside Atlanta. 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. Sundance Selects has acquired North American rights to Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, the feature documentary written and directed by Jeanie Finlay. 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. Ellis died in his store about 10 minutes after the attack, Huffman said. They were sung in the same style in which Elvis would have sung them. In 1962, Ellis entered the Orrville (Alabama) High School talent show. No breach of copyright is intended or should be inferred. 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. His birth certificate states the mother was a secretary named Gladys Bell, and the father was Vernon (no surname). Again, the speculation was that Elvis had sung on the songs, particularly "Save the Last Dance for Me". And that's the way it was. The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. Today. Directors Statement Who was that masked man? Jimmy just could not help that he sounded like someone else EP. As the Orion story unfolded, it was clear these forces played straight to the hearts and deep-seated psychological needs of many Elvis fans! [3] Jimmy Ellis Also known as Orion. Bobby D.: Actually, I know there are bootleg ones out there, but Im not familiar with all of them. All three are being held without bail and are facing the possibility of the death penalty on two counts of capital murder, authorities said. EIN often receives requests for information on these releases. ..replaced with a completely new cover and no coffin! 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. How many Elvis tribute artists are still remembered nearly 20 years after their death? Jimmy Ellis - If I Can't Have You He had perfect pitch, automatic vibrato, and wide range in his voice. 15 November 1937 Died 8 March 2012 (aged 74) There are at least four artists called Jimmy Ellis: 1) Jimmy Ellis. The answer is: ONE! How many Elvis tribute artists made a living without singing Elvis songs for most of their career? The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club. A hit record or some fuckin' tour we did that on many a time. 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. Scan of the German cassette release COUNTRY & WESTERN CLASSICS VOL.1 on the Sun/Bellaphon label. He once said: you cant make it on someone elses coattail. 3. The guys in the room were mostly the colleges basketball players. Scan of New Zealand release of the JERRY LEE LEWIS - DUETS album (Sun L27036). In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. Think of it as an online flash mob. Join the OrionThunderclap, and you and [], "If Elvis is alive, Jimmy Ellis (born February 26, 1945 - died December 12,1998) was born in Orrville, Alabama on February 26th of 1945. Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. Who was he? Thanks, Nigel!! 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. [12] It was released theatrically in the US by Sundance Selects on December 4, 2015. Youmans formed a small group and had Jimmy sing at a few local schools. 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. His natural voice was very similar to the voice of Elvis Presley, read more In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. He didnt know anything about computers and web sites so I had a company in Raleigh, NC develop the original site for us. Jimmy Ellis (with mask) as Orion (note his hair color), Orion (sans mask) as Jimmy Ellis (note his natural hair color), Above images sourced from the official "Orion-Jimmy Ellis" website. 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. During that same year, with record in hand, I took Jimmy Ellis to Macon to meet Bobby Smith at his recording studio. EIN:Bobby D. its been great talking with you. $4.00 shipping. Bobby D.: Not very much except recording at home when the mood strikes. Shawn. To use this website you must enable JavaScript. 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. 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. He was very generous and good-hearted. Again, he was who he was period. 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. With Jerry Adams, Sharon Attaway Nettleton, Gail Brewer-Giorgio, Boomer Castleman. Published by Flaming Star The official Elvis Presley Fan Club of Norway. Orion was well-known in the sixties and seventies for having a singing voice. 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. Ellis made a public confession in 1983 admitting he was Orion. 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. [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. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. The girls went wild. Bobby D.: Jimmy's story and music is important- he was very talented - and these releases will celebrate his life and career. Interview conducted by Nigel Patterson, EIN (July 2014), Read: EIN's 2014 "Jimmy Ellis/Orion" article. Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. Born in 1945 in Orville, Alabama. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, A selection of the many colorful Orion masks, each with its own name. It was part of a comedy sketch with artists not to play. For the next 10 years Jimmy would balance music and his business interests. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. 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. As Orion, Ellis reached Billboard's country chart with nine singles. Leave a comment or question. Who was he? 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). Production costs turned out to be too high compared to the demand on the box set, making the release too economically challenging to make. [13], "Orion (musician)" redirects here. Read about his childhood, reaching for the music scene, chasing his dream and finally his tragic end. All three men were apprehended. 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. Singleton duly took Orion back to Elvis's roots in rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, country, blues, and gospel. 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. Jimmy Ellis was one of the super talented yes like Elvis, Tom Jones, Engelbert my all-time favorite solo artists. Death 12 Dec 1998 (aged 53) . A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY. The jury recommended Lee be sentenced to life without parole, but the judge sentenced Lee to death. 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. I love music too and do some song leading at church. A few weeks later, some guys asked me to come down to their room where they were playing music so I decided to go. 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. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presleys label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. Orion page at Sun Records; Jimmy at Elvis Wiki Jimmy Ellis (Orion) - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (live 1989) 21,230 views Nov 5, 2014 218 Dislike Kenneth Dokkeberg 677 subscribers Jimmy "Orion" Ellis live at Hillbilly Heaven on. Given Jimmy's keen sense of humor he must be looking down and smiling! your own Pins on Pinterest Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. 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. For the soul singer, member of The Trammps, please see Jimmy Ellis (2) Sites: Wikipedia, orionjimmyellis.com, oriondiscs.com Aliases: Adios till we meet again! These Classic LP Albums from Sun Records are new and sealed and will never be made again. 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. 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. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? It is pertinent to say that while Jimmy was fanatically worshipped by fans, it was Gail Brewer-Giorgio and Shelby Singleton (remember the infamous "Duets" album with Jerry Lee Lewis) who were banking the lion's share of money as the cash registers kept on "ching chinging" as Jimmy Ellis/Orion connected with an avid, loyal and increasingly fanatical audience. These titles and their eye catching specially made front covers would appear to be exclusively for internet downloads (eg. Could you clarify who was working with him that day? (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, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Popular Ellis/Orion bootleg releases included titles such as Crazy on the Blue Danube and Jimmy In A Viennese Cellar. So who is this person a performer whose sad end is one we normally expect from a fabricated and dramatically intensified Hollywood film? However, after failing to retain his popularity using his real name, he returned to performing as Orion in 1987. 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. It is the story of Jimmy Ellis, a singer from Alabama who was cursed with having a voice identical to that of . [1] He attended Orrville High School, where he excelled in baseball, football and basketball. 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. There is a new film about Orion being made by the talented moviemaker from England, Jeanie Finlay. Jimmy Ellis (born February 26, 1945 - died December 12,1998) was born in Orrville, Alabama on February 26th of 1945. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky.".