orion jimmy ellis the official website orion jimmy ellis the official website

How & where do I sell my Elvis collection? Jimmy then met with Phil Walden, owner of Capricorn Records (the Almond Brothers Band and others) in Macon and was offered a contract, but since Jimmy was under age at the time his parents wouldnt let him sign.another huge mistake. 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. How many other Elvis tribute artists have book, film and radio documentary adaptations of their story? Just before noon, he decided to go by his pawn shop to check on things. Elaine was sitting on a stool behind the counter top to the left of the entrance door and Jimmy was standing some feet away also behind the counter. was courted for a baseball career and a tryout with the Milwaukie Braves but turned it down. In reality, Orion was the club singer Jimmy Ellis, who was born in Orrville, Alabama, in 1945. Did Jimmy ever comment to you about the cover? the story behind Bobby D's friendship with Jimmy Ellis, how Jimmy felt about his "Orion" character. He also started to run a store in Selma, Alabama, with his girlfriend Elaine Thompson. 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. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! 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. AVAILABLE HERE LOWER PRICE! He said: man you may make it before I do. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Thunderclap is a tool that lets a message be heard when you and your friends say it together. She is an accomplished documentary film maker with 6+ well known films. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. I'm Leavin'.Despite an initially (somewhat) artistically and (somewhat) financially beneficial arrangement for Jimmy Ellis, eventually the combination of an increasingly unfulfilling and unwanted masked career as an Elvis sound-a-like confronted his primal burning desire to be recognised and appreciated as "himself". Orion was well-known in the sixties and seventies for having a singing voice. 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. I had just talked to him on Friday December 11. The book that started it all (in classic conspiracy fashion, its 'first edition' featured two 'author' names!!). Tell us about that. It is the story of Jimmy Ellis, a singer from Alabama who was cursed with having a voice identical to that of . Genesis.Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. On Orion's 1979 debut album, Reborn (Sun 1912). 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. Source: www.orionjimmyellis.com & www.lasvegaselvisfestival.com, 1 Comments / 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. We have just received an intro and preview clip of the up coming documentary "Orion The Movie". In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. Which brings us to the incredible story of Orion. These books arevintage - new and are a collector's item. One of them is Orion's Reborn LP and he plays a snippet of "Washing Machine" written by Jimmy Ellis. 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. Death 12 Dec 1998 (aged 53) . 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. Youmans put the record on the Dradco Recording Company label. Very sadly, it is possible, even probable, Jimmy Ellis never fully realised the enormity and significance of his impact as a recording and performing artist! Before we talk about your friendship with Jimmy Ellis, who is Bobby D? He fired once into her face, killing her instantly and hitting another worker, Helen King, in the hand. Production costs turned out to be too high compared to the demand on the box set, making the release too economically challenging to make. Welcome also would be details of his concert performances in the U.S.A. and Europe. The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. Details of songs performed at any of the listed shows would be especially welcome. I finished college with a BBA while my wife worked, and I got the GI Bill. Scans of the unofficial CD titled JIMMY ELLIS THE SINGLES. 17 Comments / Popular Ellis/Orion bootleg releases included titles such as Crazy on the Blue Danube and Jimmy In A Viennese Cellar. Another regular lady was also working that day. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Orion recorded a single, Ebony Eyes, for Sun in 1979, which became part of his debut album, Reborn. EIN: Jimmys death was tragic! As they say all PR is good PR! This blog is for preview purposes only and all music downloaded should be deleted within 24 hours. EIN: Jimmys first Orion album, Reborn. 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. 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. I often wonder what that would have done for Jimmys career since Phil Walden was nationally known. The Dan Lentino Management Group in Las Vegas is honoring Orion / Jimmy Ellis posthumously with a lifetime achievement award. (Orion) Jimmy Ellis He Has A Great Voice And We Loved All Of His Music. The film is being produced by Jeanie Finlay, a British artist and filmaker. : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. was blessed with a natural singing voice remarkably similar to Elvis. Being in a band, we did some Elvis songs, and I was a big fan and knew Elvis voice well. Watch the stunning trailer for Orion The Man Who Would Be King. After his "unmasking" more and more fans accepted Orion was not Elvis, and for those who could not let go of the King a new theory took form - yes the original Orion wasn't Elvis but the real (still alive) Elvis was replacing Jimmy Ellis on stage at various concerts! This dynamic performer differentiates himself from all others for a number of reasons. [13], "Orion (musician)" redirects here. But, it was really him. Super rare memorabilia from the start up of the singing career of Jimmy Ellis! The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. The mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice, claiming to be Orion. Learn more about merges. The book is also available along withtheReborn CD (the first LP on Sun by Orion). Scan of the 8 track cassette release ORION 20 ALL TIME FAVORITES. EIN: Bobby, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers and Jimmy Ellis/Orion fans? Memorial ID. 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. Discover (and save!) We put the official web site www.orionjimmyellis.com together three months before his tragic death in December 1998. When you find it, write your name and date in the logbook. INTERNET DOWNLOADS. Bobby D. on YouTube (who does Bobby sound like? 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. [3], In 1978, writer Gail Brewer-Giorgio published a novel, Orion, about a leading popular singer based on Presley who faked his death. Giorgios book had just come out, so Singleton decided to cash in on its popularity and transform Jimmy Ellis into the mysterious Orion who had phoned the author earlier that year. 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. 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." Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. 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. THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO JIMMY ELLIS "ORION" THE MUSIC & LEGEND OF THE MAN WHO HAD THE VOICE OF A KING. Scan of New Zealand release of the JERRY LEE LEWIS - DUETS album (Sun L27036). Read about his childhood, reaching for the music scene, chasing his dream and finally his tragic end. A hit record or some fuckin' tour we did that on many a time. Pictures and track listings are shown below of the titles I have managed to source. On this website you will find the latest Orion/Jimmy Ellis news along with other info you might find useful. How did that come about and what can fans expect to find on the site? It begins with the 1972 single on which Orion, then simply Jimmy Ellis, recorded 'That's All Right/Blue Moon Of Kentucky.' Jimmy just could not help that he sounded like someone else EP. Bobby D.: No, not really. 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. Then it happened. Besides, I had childhood issues that I was not good enough. One of the guys asked me if I knew who that was singing on the tape recorder. He loved to have a good time, loved to sing and entertain. 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). Oh well, it is publicity!! He then left the store and caught up with his two young friends waiting down the road in a car. Could you clarify who was working with him that day? Hopefully in time the details given can be guaranteed to be100% correct but a great deal more info is required before reaching that stage. Well, he then said: no, its that guy, pointing to the guy sitting on the bed. Bobby D.: Jimmy's story and music is important- he was very talented - and these releases will celebrate his life and career. 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. 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. Think of it as an online flash mob. Join the OrionThunderclap, and you and [], "If Elvis is alive, Actually, I think it made him more determined to try to be accepted by radio and the music industry as Jimmy Ellis, even though he sounded like EP. Scheduled for release next year is Jeanne Finlay's intriguing film, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, and also due for release in 2015 is a radio documentary about southern USA music which includes a segment about the Jimmy "Orion" Ellis story. A real EP story. Artist of the Year Theme by Foxhound Band Themes. 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. 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. I miss him a lot! This boxed set documents Orion's career on the legendary Sun Records label. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on Facebook at "Orion Jimmy Ellis Fan Club" or "Orion Jimmy Ellis Group". Bobby D.: Not really. Jimmy continued, commmenting on the frustration he felt when he would have to stop the recording session because Shelby Singleton had arranged for a tour group to come through the studio: Now, what's the priority. Bobby Smith, owner of Boblo Records once told his engineer, Chet Bennett: take him in the studio and record different songs. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. Well, Jimmy finally had enough and took the mask off at a New Years show in the Atlanta area in 1981. EIN: You operate the official Jimmy Ellis/Orion website. 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. Jimmy Ellis (born February 26, 1945 - died December 12,1998) was born in Orrville, Alabama on February 26th of 1945. 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 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. Ellis recorded an album under his own name, Sometimes Words Just Get In The Way, for a small label in . 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. * Released After Jimmy Ellis's death in 1999. We only index and link to content provided on other servers. I really like the way he sang songs that Elvis never recorded in versions that still sounded a lot like Elvis. The leader singer of The Trammps. Similarly, there was an incontrovertible and diametrically opposed outcome for each side. 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!!!". Huffman said King, who played dead, was treated and released from a hospital for her hand wound. Thank you very much!! (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). [3], On December 12, 1998, Ellis was murdered during a robbery in his store, Jimmy's Pawn Shop. Newspaper adverts and reports of his numerous appearances also very much appreciated. Wonder how in the world the producer picked an Orion album?? 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 The CDs are offered on the official web site: www.orionjimmyellis.com. Very unfortunately, Jimmy Ellis along with his wife, was killed in December the 12th 1998 by a male robber. Scan of the Plantation Records cassette release 16 AWARD WINNING COUNTRY SONGS. Links to Orion / Jimmy Ellis sites. Sun Records legend Orion (Jimmy Ellis) is known internationally for his gifted singing ability and dynamic personal appearances. Official site; Kenneth Dokkeberg's Jimmy Ellis / Orion website; Musiclovers - Discography, audio samples and a lot more! 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. He makes a mistake and some asshole over here says don't worry about it, it will be alright. Chet came back and said: Bobby, he sounds the same on all of them. I thought that was an odd question but I said: sure, its Elvis Presley. Ellis appeared on the album cover wearing a mask over his eyes. A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY. Fittingly, his legend lives on, and quite ironically, both as Jimmy Ellis and Orion! 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! In early 1965, I transferred to Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, GA and lost touch with Jimmy for a number of years. SUBSCRIBE FOR ARTIST + LABEL NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS AND MORE. 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. Jimmy Fallon goes "Orion" - Fallon does segment on worst albums he says doNOT buy. Help us spreadthe word about our cinema releaseby signing up for an ORIONtweetor aFacebookpost here onThunderclap. Dates, venues, photographs would all be of great help. 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. JIMMY ELLIS, LTD., LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1975 CONTRACT RARE! And, you wonder if helistened to "Ebony Eyes" and the rest of the LP. On December 12, 1998, Jimmy Ellis and his ex-wife were both shot and killed by a man who was robbing his pawnshop in Alabama. Many years later, I recorded four songs at Stargem Studios in Nashville, the same studio Jimmy had also recorded at earlier. EIN:Jimmy Ellis, the personaway from the stage or recording studio. 2. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Top, Uncategorized and tagged as, 0 Comments / "He just opened fire in seconds and hit Mr. Ellis in the side.". Later, we met a guy named Jimmy Youmans also a student. For unofficial publicity purposes Orion continued to strike a favorite pose for the cover of: (one of nearly 150 'unofficial' Jimmy Ellis/Orion/Ellis James albums - with a striking but obvious graphically altered 'rip-off' cover design/image of the "reborn" Sun Records "Reborn" LP - as with its origination - Orion's facial expression on the cover nicely reflects the album title), The Comeback.While Jimmy probably never wanted to resurrect the Orion character, there was an inevitable comeback. Look for a micro hidden container. 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 performing at the Eastern States Exposition, Ellis took off the mask and swore to never wear it again. Orion mention on The tonight show with jimmy fallon, http://beta.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/17-Out-Of-My-Life-live.mp3. Ellis was born in either Pascagoula, Mississippi,[2] Orrville, Alabama,[3] or Washington, D.C.,[1] United States, into a single parent home. The crew had also made a pretty decent copy of the blue mask Orion wore on the Reborn album. With few bookings for Jimmy Ellis 'live on stage' there was still a substantial (albeit diminishing) demand of fans to satisfy their deep-seated psychological need and hope that their King had not left them. Consequently, this meant Jimmy could only get well paying work if he donned the Orion mask and (to him) even worse, an Elvis jumpsuit. I could not believe what I was hearing. 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. 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. They were sung in the same style in which Elvis would have sung them. The answer is: ONE! Bobby D.: Jimmy Ellis and I met in college at age 18 in 1963. 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. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presleys label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. February 1945 - 13th. Many fans will not be aware of this circumstances. Bobby D.: Yes, that is just my natural voice. 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). Pinterest. If you have further details on any releases not included or would like to trade Orion recordings or material please drop me an email. After attended Middle Georgia College and Georgia Southern College before joining the USAF.