She is an accomplished documentary film maker with 6+ well known films. Artefact from Shelby Singleton's personal collection.conspiracy theorists, note the date! It was part of a comedy sketch with artists not to play. All three men were apprehended. Production costs turned out to be too high compared to the demand on the box set, making the release too economically challenging to make. Bobby D.: Jimmy never commented about the LP coffin cover to me, but he was not hot on the mask gimmick from the start. Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. Ellis appeared with many artists, including Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood, Gary Morris, and the Oak Ridge Boys. Well, he then said: no, its that guy, pointing to the guy sitting on the bed. iTunes, Amazon) and not physical discs. I have to say I was floored. [6] His album Reborn, showing the singer emerging from a coffin, was released on gold-colored vinyl on the Sun label in 1978. I never gave up music and a friend and I played at a local pub for extra money while finishing school. Jimmy had the voice and charisma that drew you to him. 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). Along the way, and particularly towards the end, Jimmy was not happy with the whole thing. 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.: Actually, I know there are bootleg ones out there, but Im not familiar with all of them. The film, which had its world premiere at Tribeca and won [], Calling all Orion fans and film supporters. 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. I hope people will remember that some of the masters are owned by us and others over in Norway/Denmark. His first two singles were covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." 1. 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. Similarly, there was an incontrovertible and diametrically opposed outcome for each side. Mr. It has hundreds of unseen photos, interviews with musicians and other people close to Jimmy. 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. EIN: Does it surprise you that Jimmy still has so many fans nearly 20 years after his tragic death? Super rare memorabilia from the start up of the singing career of Jimmy Ellis! How many Elvis tribute artists have had any unofficial album releases let alone 150 bootleg albums released? Original Name James Bell Birth 26 Feb 1945. Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. Sundance Selects acquires Orion: The Man Who Would Be King for US Theatrical release. Given Jimmy's keen sense of humor he must be looking down and smiling! Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! 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. [3] Police later found Lee holed up in a motel about 30 miles outside Atlanta. We are told that the documentary is moving along but, as with many projects, monetary donations would be appreciated to help get to completion. The leader singer of The Trammps. 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. 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. Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. Read More #MyOrion "If Elvis is alive, he wears as mask and goes by the name Orion" (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). Cover scans of any CD's on the unofficial Orion Records label. It is also very possible that several other titles circulating on the internet . He once said: you cant make it on someone elses coattail. http://www.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Jimmy-Ellis-Early-years-PROMO.mp3. At that point Shelby was done with their arrangement and so was Jimmy. Jimmy was, and still is, my favorite Elvis sound-alike singer. EIN: Bobby, you currently have a special offer on the site. Thanks, Nigel!! Jimmy Hodges "Orion" Ellis Sr. 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. [8], In 2015, film-maker Jeanie Finlay released a documentary film, after pitching it at Sheffield Doc/Fest's 2013 MeetMarket, about Ellis' life and career, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King. 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! I finished college with a BBA while my wife worked, and I got the GI Bill. He travelled to Nashville and tried to break into the music business - but found. I am always on the lookout for Orion/Jimmy Ellis concerts that I dont have. So I said: come on, thats Elvis I have the album. Ellis made a public confession in 1983 admitting he was Orion. [3], Singleton tore off his mask at a performance in 1983, saying he would not wear it again. Well, Jimmy finally had enough and took the mask off at a New Years show in the Atlanta area in 1981. The book that started it all (in classic conspiracy fashion, its 'first edition' featured two 'author' names!!). I am looking for information concerning Orion's many concert appearances in the USA and several countries in Europe where he performed. [3], After Presley died in 1977, Singleton revived the hoax by releasing singles that overdubbed Ellis' voice onto known Sun recordings by Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and others, including a version of "Save the Last Dance For Me," [6] on which there was simply a credit to "Friend". Explore. That eventually led to Sun Records in Nashville. To use this website you must enable JavaScript. This One's For. You know , it was like, here I am creating this and doing the work. ): I continued with my Human Resources career for many years and retired in the mountains of NC two years ago. Singleton duly took Orion back to Elvis's roots in rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, country, blues, and gospel. Besides, I had childhood issues that I was not good enough. Bobby then immediately offered Jimmy a recording contract. Later, we met a guy named Jimmy Youmans also a student. 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. In 1962, Ellis entered the Orrville (Alabama) High School talent show. It doesnt cost a penny but has great impact! Huffman said King, who played dead, was treated and released from a hospital for her hand wound. He makes a mistake and some asshole over here says don't worry about it, it will be alright. 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. 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. . Evaluating the Jimmy Ellis/Orion legacy..While many continue to dismiss Jimmy Ellis as simply an Elvis imitator, to do so ignores critically important organic elements which place his story on a very different level to that of normal Elvis tribute artists! Bobby Dillard was a close friend of the late Jimmy Ellis.the man who, wearing a mask, became a key part of the 'Elvis is alive' movement, as the mysterious singer, Orion! Please visit my own Jimmy Ellis page for information and links. This is thebookthat started the Orion legend created by Shelby Singleton at Sun Records. 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. The film is being produced by Jeanie Finlay, a British artist and filmaker. Charlie Rich sang along with Lewis on two other songs. You may also like> Jimmy Barnes Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Wiki, Family 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. 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 He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. 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. The record got a little airplay in Macon, GA in 1964. 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. Look for a micro hidden container. NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. So, thats how Jimmy Ellis and I met and became lifelong friends. He was the one who produced Jimmy Ellis first 45 rpm record Love Is But A Love and Dont Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch recorded at a radio station in Kibbee, GA. The story of Orion, the singer whose voice bears an incredible likeness to that of Elvis Presley, is an interesting and unusual one to say the least. INTERNET DOWNLOADS. We only index and link to content provided on other servers. 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. Im on the upper deck of our cabin in the picture here (see photo above). 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. Pictures and track listings are shown below of the titles I have managed to source. This is the definitive book on a man with the voice of a King. In later years after the breakup with Sun, Jimmy and I got back together for visits in Memphis. He also had a great personality with a quick wit. He then dragged the cash register off the counter and got about $135.00 out of it. When Jimmy would come for a visit to my house in the early days, it was like Elvis was comingthere was electricity in the air. Bobby D: Jimmy Ellis was actually the same off stage as he was on stage. 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". 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. Cover/label scans wanted of any of the following: Cover scans of discs issued on the unofficial Jack Daniels label. EIN: Bobby, many thanks for taking time to talk to us today. Taken straight from the mastertapes. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. I miss him a lot! As they say all PR is good PR! he wears as mask The coffin cover caused a lot of controversy and was replaced. Jimmy Ellis Also known as Orion. How many Elvis tribute artists are still remembered nearly 20 years after their death? EIN: Bobby, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers and Jimmy Ellis/Orion fans? ..replaced with a completely new cover and no coffin! : Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive, Elvis at Madison Square Garden 40 Years Ago. compilation added to various unofficial releases page. Ellis hair and long sideburns were dyed black, and he dressed in a loud, bejeweled polyester jumpsuit, with a mask to protect him from crazed fans. As the Orion story unfolded, it was clear these forces played straight to the hearts and deep-seated psychological needs of many Elvis fans! As Jim Ellis, he released an album in 1987 and continued to tour North America; interestingly, he resumed wearing his mask. How many Elvis tribute artists have several websites devoted to them. It will be presented at this years Las Vegas Elvis Fest at the LVH formerly the Las Vegas Hilton on July 11th. The world lost a great singer. Add your masked portrait to I Am Orion, THE ROLLERCOASTER RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE The gunman, who police believe is Plantersville resident Jeffery James Lee, then fired twice more in an attempt to blast Ellis a second time as he struggled to find a haven behind a computer desk, Huffman said. JIMMY ELLIS, LTD., LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1975 CONTRACT RARE! The . He would give you things and himself freely. 15 November 1937 Died 8 March 2012 (aged 74) There are at least four artists called Jimmy Ellis: 1) Jimmy Ellis. The girls went wild. 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. 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. Watch the stunning trailer for Orion The Man Who Would Be King. One of the guys asked me if I knew who that was singing on the tape recorder. Jimmy came from a Christian family and held his belief in God the Father throughout his life. These Classic LP Albums from Sun Records are new and sealed and will never be made again. Dradco will release a 6 CD set in 2018 to commemorate the 20th anniversary since Jimmys passing. Bobby had recorded Otis Redding and Wayne Cochran plus many local bands. $11.99. A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY. 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. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. These titles and their eye catching specially made front covers would appear to be exclusively for internet downloads (eg. (EIN Comment: Bobby D. should get back to playing "live" - he is naturally gifted with a great voice!). 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. 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. 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. 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. Jimmy was very happy we did this and he liked getting a periodic check for CD sales. 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. 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. Scan of the 8 track cassette release TRUCKS, TRAINS & AIRPLANES on Gusto Records. Here's a new link to an excellent Orion page done by Nigel Patterson with the EIN (Elvis Information Network) in Australia. [4] Aged two, he moved with his mother to Birmingham, Alabama, where he was put up for adoption and, aged four, was adopted by R. F. and Mary Faye (nee Hodges) Ellis. Copyright the Elvis Information Network. EIN: What is Bobby D. doing, musically, these days? If he sounds different on them, I will know he is faking. Links to Orion / Jimmy Ellis sites. 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. Orion in Sweden Scans of the unofficial CD titled JIMMY ELLIS THE SINGLES. 'There are many that believe that Elvis is still alive - if he is alive he wears a mask and goes by the name Orion' (Nashville News 1979) ORION's the story of Jimmy Ellis, an unknown singer plucked from obscurity, and thrust into the spotlight as part . 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." How did that come about and what can fans expect to find on the site? Other LP/CD's Featuring Jimmy Ellis/Orion, Other LP's/CD's featuring Jimmy Ellis/Orion, Other LP & CD's Featuring Jimmy Ellis/Orion, Stargem/Kardina/Southern Tracks Promo Photos. New 2016 DVD release of the award winning documentary on the life and career of Jimmy Ellis. : 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. Learn more about merges. 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. http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotlight-orion-2014.html, The Tonight Show from NY with Jimmy Fallon. The Dan Lentino Management Group in Las Vegas is honoring Orion / Jimmy Ellis posthumously with a lifetime achievement award. Genesis.Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. 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. Many years later, I recorded four songs at Stargem Studios in Nashville, the same studio Jimmy had also recorded at earlier. * Released After Jimmy Ellis's death in 1999. If you have further details on any releases not included or would like to trade Orion recordings or material please drop me an email. Bobby D.: I was born in Macon, GA in 1945. He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. Feb 6, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Patricia Milligan. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! You can make comments on the tab provided, or on Facebook at "Orion Jimmy Ellis Fan Club" or "Orion Jimmy Ellis Group". Dates, venues, photographs would all be of great help. 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. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presley's label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. To see the film clip andmake a donation, pleaseclick on the link below. He could laugh about most anythinghe was alot of fun at home and especially on stage!! He wanted better recording material (new songs) and production sound in other studios but Sun (Shelby Singleton) would not agree. Orion". [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. The controversial 'Reborn' album with its "coffin" cover. Went to Lanier Sr., a great all boys public, military high school. However, after failing to retain his popularity using his real name, he returned to performing as Orion in 1987. This boxed set documents Orion's career on the legendary Sun Records label. And that's the way it was. 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. Watch a fascinating interview in 1979 with both Orion and Gail Brewer-Giorgio promoting his career and Ms Brewer-Giorgio's "Orion" novel, (BTW, the back story to the "Orion" novel, full of dirty dealings, "he says-she says" and legal machinations, is deserving of an article all to itself!). As Orion, Ellis reached Billboard's country chart with nine singles. 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. The CDs are offered on the official web site: www.orionjimmyellis.com. The jury recommended Lee be sentenced to life without parole, but the judge sentenced Lee to death. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presleys label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. 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 book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. Very unfortunately, Jimmy Ellis along with his wife, was killed in December the 12th 1998 by a male robber. SUBSCRIBE FOR ARTIST + LABEL NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS AND MORE. 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. Ellis was gunned Down in His Alabama Pawn Shop December 12, 1998. Oct 7, 2013 - Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site. Hopefully in time the details given can be guaranteed to be100% correct but a great deal more info is required before reaching that stage. The film is being produced by Jeanie Finlay, a British artist and filmaker. [13], "Orion (musician)" redirects here. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: jean-puy.com Jean Puy un peintre fauve AVAILABLE HERE LOWER PRICE! Bobby D.: Well, we just had a limited number of the out-of-print CD - Orion Country repressed. He said, "Don't worry about it, you don't buy the fuckin records anyway." (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, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 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". We have a limited supply of this1979 hardcover version of the book "Orion" by Gail Brewer-Giorgio. Bobby D.: The gimmick of Orion lasted about 3 years. 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'. One of them is Orion's Reborn LP and he plays a snippet of "Washing Machine" written by Jimmy Ellis. Ellis appeared with many . 3. Spotlight article by Nigel Patterson, June 2014, (for the purposes of this article I will use the term Elvis stylist in reference to the person in question). Then it happened. The answer is: ONE! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________. Jim Highley. Artist of the Year Theme by Foxhound Band Themes. EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? While performing at the Eastern States Exposition, Ellis took off the mask and swore to never wear it again. 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. 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. Born February 26, 1945, Jimmy (Bell) Ellis was adopted and raised in Orrville, Alabama.