orion jimmy ellis the official website
This blog is for preview purposes only and all music downloaded should be deleted within 24 hours. 17 Comments / 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. EIN: Jimmys death was tragic! Official DVD's - new Oriondiscs website That one along with the first original album now on CD - Orion Reborn are offered for $8.95 each. One of Music's Biggest Conspiracy Theories: Was the Pop Star Orion Help us spreadthe word about our cinema releaseby signing up for an ORIONtweetor aFacebookpost here onThunderclap. [3], On December 12, 1998, Ellis was murdered during a robbery in his store, Jimmy's Pawn Shop. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Ellis recorded an album under his own name, Sometimes Words Just Get In The Way, for a small label in . Scan of the cassette release BY REQUEST, ELLIS SINGS ELVIS. [9][10][11] The film won the Discovery Award at the British Independent Film Awards 2015. The guy shot at Jimmy again but missed. Just before noon, he decided to go by his pawn shop to check on things. 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. While friends of the singer Jimmy Ellis have speculated that Orion could well have been The King's half-brother. I am looking for information concerning Orion's many concert appearances in the USA and several countries in Europe where he performed. $11.99. Scan of the 8 track cassette release ORION 20 ALL TIME FAVORITES. The jury recommended Lee be sentenced to life without parole, but the judge sentenced Lee to death. 26th. Two of the many Orion items still being sold in 2014: ----------------------------------------------------------------------. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________. [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". Backed by the Jordanaires and opening act Sherry Carlisle, Orion sang to a packed house on August 12, 1997 at Nashville's Nightlife Theater. You tell your friends who tell their friends who tell their friends WHAT IS THUNDERCLAP? He left Sun Records, never again appearing to the public as Orion. 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. 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. EIN: The Jimmy Ellis story "lives on". The tape recorder was playing the song Echoes of Love from Elvis Kissin Cousins album. Of the thousands who in some way look(ed), perform(ed) or sound(ed) like Elvis there is one performer who stands well apart from the rest. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. Jimmy "Orion" Ellis Wikipedia Republished // WIKI 2 Source: www.orionjimmyellis.com & www.lasvegaselvisfestival.com, 1 Comments / We were both only children, but Jimmy was not selfish or too self-centered. Popular Ellis/Orion bootleg releases included titles such as Crazy on the Blue Danube and Jimmy In A Viennese Cellar. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! This One's For. Im on the upper deck of our cabin in the picture here (see photo above). Bobby D.: Jimmy's story and music is important- he was very talented - and these releases will celebrate his life and career. 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. We have a limited supply of this1979 hardcover version of the book "Orion" by Gail Brewer-Giorgio. I am always on the lookout for Orion/Jimmy Ellis concerts that I dont have. The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. [7] Jeffrey Lee was convicted of the murder of Ellis and Ellis's ex-wife Elaine Thompson, who was working as an employee at the store, and the attempted murder of employee Helen King. 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. 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. Orion Videos | NASA His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." I had just talked to him on Friday December 11. Ellis made a public confession in 1983 admitting he was Orion. Ellis appeared with many artists, including Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood, Gary Morris, and the Oak Ridge Boys. James Burton Interview - Rick Nelson & Elvis: Elvis Drummer Jerome "Stump" Monroe EIN Interview: Elvis in 1969 - Ann Moses & Ray ConnollyInterviews: Ernst Jorgensen interview about 'On Stage' and Elvis' Legacy in 2010: 'The Nation's Favourite Elvis Song' Spotlight. 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 "Orion" Ellis Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. Given you have a great singing voice why didnt you pursue a recording/performing career? 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. 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. It's like an artist painting a picture. What you see is what you get. Scan of the German cassette release COUNTRY & WESTERN CLASSICS VOL.1 on the Sun/Bellaphon label. In 1979 Jimmy Ellis finally merged with an identity, but it still wasn't himself. 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. Her 1978 novel Orion told the story of a rock and roll singer, very much like Elvis, who faked his own death. Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. On this website you will find the latest Orion/Jimmy Ellis news along with other info you might find useful. For almost 5 years the Orion phenomenon captivated its natural audience, not only in the US where fans had easy access to Orion, but also overseas - somewhat surprisingly given it was a snail mail, pre-tabloid, pre-Internet era. The girls went wild. had 10 Top 100 hits on the Country Music Chart in the US! However, after failing to retain his popularity using his real name, he returned to performing as Orion in 1987. "Mr. Ellis never had time to do nothing or say nothing," Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman Jr. told APB News. Bobby D.: Actually, I know there are bootleg ones out there, but Im not familiar with all of them. Which brings us to the incredible story of Orion. 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. Scan of the 8 track cassette release TRUCKS, TRAINS & AIRPLANES on Gusto Records. In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. This dynamic performer differentiates himself from all others for a number of reasons. 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. The album featured some excellent songs including "Ebony Eyes", "Honey", and "Washing Machine". 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). (Orion) Jimmy Ellis He Has A Great Voice And We Loved All Of His Music. It was (at least initially) a win-win-win situation as all three parties benefitted: Jimmy became an international star, Gail Brewer-Giorgio sold hundreds of thousands of copies of her "Orion" novel and Shelby Singleton sold truckloads of "Orion" records.. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. Tell us about that. Perhaps critically, Jimmy had made a decision that a sporting future wasn't to shape the his story, and in so doing his future would be frustratingly shaped by his vocal chords as Jimmy's singing voice sounded remarkably like Elvis'. [3] 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. Shawn. 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. 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. Today. Memorial ID. EIN: Bobby, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers and Jimmy Ellis/Orion fans? Bobby D.: I loved music but needed to use my education to pay the bills. With Jerry Adams, Sharon Attaway Nettleton, Gail Brewer-Giorgio, Boomer Castleman. In reality, Orion was the club singer Jimmy Ellis, who was born in Orrville, Alabama, in 1945. 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. jimmy orion ellis products for sale | eBay Adios till we meet again! Jimmy Ellis - If I Can't Have You 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. Shipping is at the media rate in the U.S. Bobby D.: A few months before Jimmy passed away, I had suggested we put a web site together to sell his CDs. His first two singles were covers of two of the Kings former hits, Thats All Right and Blue Moon of Kentucky.. 'My voice is both a blessing and a curse' (Jimmy Ellis/Orion during media interview), Controversial Sun Records 1978 Orion 'Reborn' (coffin) album cover. 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. 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. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. He was who he was, no pretense. Bobby D.: Well, we just had a limited number of the out-of-print CD - Orion Country repressed. Chet came back and said: Bobby, he sounds the same on all of them. Scan of the Plantation Records cassette release 16 AWARD WINNING COUNTRY SONGS. You may also like> Jimmy Barnes Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Wiki, Family Anyway, he got that voice from somewhere in his original family.not from Sears, as he once said. If you have further details on any releases not included or would like to trade Orion recordings or material please drop me an email. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. 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 early 1965, I transferred to Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, GA and lost touch with Jimmy for a number of years. The Final Performance CD is a good example of the kind of interaction and humor Orion had with the audience. Wonder how in the world the producer picked an Orion album?? Little is known about Jimmy's life before becoming a recording artist - what is known is that he was raised by traditional but loving parents who ensured he was able to receive a good education. 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. How many Elvis tribute artists have several websites devoted to them. Born February 26, 1945, Jimmy (Bell) Ellis was adopted and raised in Orrville, Alabama. Ellis's Orion character claimed to have been managed by one Colonel Mac Weiman, and have been born in Ribbonsville, Tennessee on December 31, 1931. The leader singer of The Trammps. She is an accomplished documentary film maker with 6+ well known films. 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. Oh well, it is publicity!! 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? The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club. "He just opened fire in seconds and hit Mr. Ellis in the side.". fanoscoatings.com Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRx7ice15YY, Backed by the Jordanaires and opening act Sherry Carlisle, Orion sang to a packed house on August 12, 1997 at Nashville's Nightlife Theater. His natural voice was very similar to the voice of Elvis Presley, read more He used to say: you can sound like other artists and make it but if you sound like Elvis they dont want to play your records. EIN: Bobby, many thanks for taking time to talk to us today. If you sat in a room with him and heard him sing Happy Birthday, the National Anthem, or Its Now or Never, he sounded exactly the same. Scans of the COUNTRY FROM THE HEART CD on the Lanier Records label. This is thebookthat started the Orion legend created by Shelby Singleton at Sun Records. 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. 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). A hit record or some fuckin' tour we did that on many a time. 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. The answer is: ONE! He was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States on February 26, 1945. The association ended in 1982, and this boxed set includes the very best of the recordings that Jimmy Ellis made for Sun. Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. Here's a new link to an excellent Orion page done by Nigel Patterson with the EIN (Elvis Information Network) in Australia. Home Page of OrionDiscs - new Oriondiscs website For one side, they would quite naturally (and self-directed), psychologically rationalise and morph their needs to maintain internal equilibrium and ongoing personal and social engagement.for the other side his outcome would be economically directed and physically terminal, as his 'what if' life diverted to a course which outwardly may have offered some degree of financial and personal satisfaction, but one which (pragmatically) was also underpinned by a volatile socio-economic environment which could potentially (and did) result in a seriously intense incident or incidents: Jimmy Ellis' new (primary) career as a bail bondsman and pawn shop proprietor would very sadly, very unfairly, result in his violent, premature death on 12 December 1998. Sundance Selects plans Dec 4 release theatrically and on demand. Dates, venues, photographs would all be of great help. 3. At that point Shelby was done with their arrangement and so was Jimmy. The album cover itself generated controversy because it depicted a phantom singer rising from a coffin, and was later withdrawn. We have just received an intro and preview clip from the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". * Released After Jimmy Ellis's death in 1999. Jimmy "Orion" Ellis | Detailed Pedia It will be presented at this years Las Vegas Elvis Fest at the LVH formerly the Las Vegas Hilton on July 11th. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. We put the official web site www.orionjimmyellis.com together three months before his tragic death in December 1998. As Jim Ellis, he released an album in 1987 and continued to tour North America; interestingly, he resumed wearing his mask. EIN: There are conflicting reports of who else was with Jimmy at the time, some reports say his fianc, others say his ex-wife. So I said: come on, thats Elvis I have the album. Leave a comment or question, Jimmy Fallon made a mention of Orion and played snippets of Washing Machine on his show Monday, April 7, 2014. The book is also available along withtheReborn CD (the first LP on Sun by Orion). Explore. 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. 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. He makes a mistake and some asshole over here says don't worry about it, it will be alright. He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Masked Man label. Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 a retrospective! [1] He attended Orrville High School, where he excelled in baseball, football and basketball. In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. 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 . EIN often receives requests for information on these releases. This site is very much a "work in progress" and is being updated all the time. He wanted better recording material (new songs) and production sound in other studios but Sun (Shelby Singleton) would not agree. 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. 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. 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. Orion - Success Takes Courage | Jimmy Ellis 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. 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. The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club. Ellis appeared on the album cover wearing a mask over his eyes. Excitement - Orion (Jimmy Ellis) was fun loving, had a great sense of humor, and a great personality. 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. It doesnt cost a penny but has great impact! These Classic LP Albums from Sun Records are new and sealed and will never be made again. Official site; Kenneth Dokkeberg's Jimmy Ellis / Orion website; Musiclovers - Discography, audio samples and a lot more! 2) Jimmy Ellis aka Orion. Cover/label scans wanted of any of the following: Cover scans of discs issued on the unofficial Jack Daniels label. EIN: Did he come to resent the Orion character and if so, how strongly? 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. . Welcome also would be details of his concert performances in the U.S.A. and Europe. Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site | Jimmy ellis, Jimmy, Orion 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. EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? With an outlandish fictional identity torn from the pages of a pulp novel, the backing of the legendary birthplace of rock n roll Sun Records and a voice that seemed to be the very twin of Presleys himself, the scheme concocted in the months after Presleys death exploded into a cult success and the Elvis is alive myth began. Bobby D.: Jimmy never commented about the LP coffin cover to me, but he was not hot on the mask gimmick from the start. Mach-Hommy & Tha God Fahim - Notorious Dump Legends Volume 2 (WEB [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. 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! He fired once into her face, killing her instantly and hitting another worker, Helen King, in the hand. ..replaced with a completely new cover and no coffin! 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. Jimmy Ellis was one of the super talented yes like Elvis, Tom Jones, Engelbert my all-time favorite solo artists.