Besides, I had childhood issues that I was not good enough. Jimmy came from a Christian family and held his belief in God the Father throughout his life. As Jim Ellis, he released an album in 1987 and continued to tour North America; interestingly, he resumed wearing his mask. 15 November 1937 Died 8 March 2012 (aged 74) There are at least four artists called Jimmy Ellis: 1) Jimmy Ellis. Jimmy Ellis music, videos, stats, and photos | Last.fm 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. 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. They were sung in the same style in which Elvis would have sung them. 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. Bobby knew a lot of people in the business and was a producer for King Records at one time. 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. 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. Orion Videos | NASA Orion Jimmy Ellis - The Official Web Site | Jimmy ellis, Jimmy, Orion 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. Jimmy Ellis, the soulful lead singer of the Trammps, whose 1970s hit "Disco Inferno" was immortalized in the film "Saturday Night Fever," died on Thursday in Rock Hill, S.C.He was 74. 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. An attempt to compile a complete list of official DVD recordings by Glimmer Films featuring the U.S.A. recording artist Jimmy Ellis also known as Orion. I miss him a lot! Backed by the Jordanaires and opening act Sherry Carlisle, Orion sang to a packed house on August 12, 1997 at Nashville's Nightlife Theater. 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. This is the definitive book on a man with the voice of a King. It will focus on his early years before he became the masked singer Orion. You tell your friends who tell their friends who tell their friends WHAT IS THUNDERCLAP? Bobby D.: Jimmy Ellis and I met in college at age 18 in 1963. is the only Elvis stylist to have merchandise and memorabilia released (still sold online in 2014! He began by overdubbing him onto recordings by Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich, and then recording solo albums which many fans thought were better than many of Elvis's later LPs. Posted by dokkeberg@hotmail.com in Uncategorized and tagged as. The Final Performance CD is a good example of the kind of interaction and humor Orion had with the audience. Jimmy Ellis - If I Can't Have You Solve the mystery and then use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the solution coordinates. The Dan Lentino Management Group in Las Vegas is honoring Orion / Jimmy Ellis posthumously with a lifetime achievement award. : Aloha From Hawaii - The Concert 2013- EIN Exclusive, Elvis at Madison Square Garden 40 Years Ago. ): I continued with my Human Resources career for many years and retired in the mountains of NC two years ago. Jimmy Ellis was one of the super talented yes like Elvis, Tom Jones, Engelbert my all-time favorite solo artists. The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club. Jim Highley. 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. A Tribute to the "Masked Man": Jimmy Ellis aka "Orion". I never gave up music and a friend and I played at a local pub for extra money while finishing school. The guy shot at Jimmy again but missed. I am always on the lookout for Orion/Jimmy Ellis concerts that I dont have. [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. 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. Sundance Selects has acquired North American rights to Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, the feature documentary written and directed by Jeanie Finlay. New 2016 DVD release of the award winning documentary on the life and career of Jimmy Ellis. Orion: The Man Who Would Be King - poignant story of Elvis soundalike In their illuminating examination of the infamous 'Elvis Underground' and activities around the belief Elvis did not die in 1977, Professors R. Serge Denisoff and George Plasketes addressed the Orion phenomenon. Shipping is at the media rate in the U.S. Leave a comment or question. It's the story of a masked. 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. A WARM WELCOME TO ORIONDISCS This website is a tribute to the U.S. recording artist Jimmy Ellis, and focuses on his many record releases. He quickly says "he sounds just like Elvis" and then puts on a copy of the mask worn by Orion for the album picture. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on the Orion Facebook Fan Club. 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. Bobby D.: Well, we just had a limited number of the out-of-print CD - Orion Country repressed. HEARTBREAK HOTEL By the time he was a teenager, it was clear that Jimmy Ellis had two talents: singing, and inadvertently sounding almost exactly like Elvis Presley. 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. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. This site is very much a "work in progress" and is being updated all the time. Original Name James Bell Birth 26 Feb 1945. Super rare memorabilia from the start up of the singing career of Jimmy Ellis! 'My voice is both a blessing and a curse' (Jimmy Ellis/Orion during media interview), Controversial Sun Records 1978 Orion 'Reborn' (coffin) album cover. 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. Hopefully in time the details given can be guaranteed to be100% correct but a great deal more info is required before reaching that stage. 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. Genesis.Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. I am looking for information concerning Orion's many concert appearances in the USA and several countries in Europe where he performed. [6] His album Reborn, showing the singer emerging from a coffin, was released on gold-colored vinyl on the Sun label in 1978. Jimmy Ellis Dies at 74; Lead Singer in Dance Band Trammps As they say all PR is good PR! These songs has appeared on other compilations or a collection of songs. Here's a new link to an excellent Orion page done by Nigel Patterson with the EIN (Elvis Information Network) in Australia. This is a fan site. 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. 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. These books arevintage - new and are a collector's item. February 1945 - 13th. (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, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------. How many other Elvis tribute artists have book, film and radio documentary adaptations of their story? Orion in Sweden It was part of a comedy sketch with artists not to play. Orion - Success Takes Courage | Jimmy Ellis Artist of the Year Theme by Foxhound Band Themes. 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. The jury recommended Lee be sentenced to life without parole, but the judge sentenced Lee to death. I miss him a lot! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Wonder how in the world the producer picked an Orion album?? Add your masked portrait to I Am Orion, THE ROLLERCOASTER RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO JIMMY ELLIS "ORION" THE MUSIC & LEGEND OF THE MAN WHO HAD THE VOICE OF A KING. 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.