Orion: The Man Who Would Be King: Directed by Jeanie Finlay. The guys in the room were mostly the colleges basketball players. 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. Mr. Even before the Orion phenomenon had really taken off he released a self-penned single on the small Boblo label, I'm Not Trying To Be Like Elvis. I do miss playing live. Again, he was who he was period. * Released After Jimmy Ellis's death in 1999. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi. [3], On December 12, 1998, Ellis was murdered during a robbery in his store, Jimmy's Pawn Shop. He also started to run a store in Selma, Alabama, with his girlfriend Elaine Thompson. Then, he introduced me to Jimmy Ellis, the guy by the tape recorder who had said nothing. That's not a career. Our biography book on Jimmy Ellis is now available here on this website! A real EP story. I still record once in a while at home, as the mood strikes. 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. He was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States on February 26, 1945. Orion's mystique and allure was so universally popular among fans that Orion singles and albums were released in Europe and "downunder" in Australia. 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. EIN: What did Jimmy say to you about his career as Orion? 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 wanted better recording material (new songs) and production sound in other studios but Sun (Shelby Singleton) would not agree. This site is very much a "work in progress" and is being updated all the time. Details of songs performed at any of the listed shows would be especially welcome. Sun Records legend Orion (Jimmy Ellis) is known internationally for his gifted singing ability and dynamic personal appearances. 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. Ellis died in his store about 10 minutes after the attack, Huffman said. This is a fan site. 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. EIN: Does it surprise you that Jimmy still has so many fans nearly 20 years after his tragic death? We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! $11.99. He was NOT an impersonator, as he tried desperately to explain. 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. Sundance Selects plans Dec 4 release theatrically and on demand. He has appeared with Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood, Gary Morris, the Oak Ridge Boys and many many others. Scan of the 8 track cassette release TRUCKS, TRAINS & AIRPLANES on Gusto Records. He started the album on the record player to play Echoes of Love. 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. : --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 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. The apposite outcome saw Jimmy dramatically rip off his Orion mask in frustration during a" live" performance in 1983. http://www.orionstc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Jimmy-Ellis-Early-years-PROMO.mp3. : 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. (EIN Comment: Bobby D. should get back to playing "live" - he is naturally gifted with a great voice!). EIN: Did the Orion experience change Jimmy as a person? Who was he? Again, the speculation was that Elvis had sung on the songs, particularly "Save the Last Dance for Me". The book has been a huge task with 12+ years of research. your own Pins on Pinterest SUBSCRIBE FOR ARTIST + LABEL NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS AND MORE. Which brings us to the incredible story of Orion. 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. He makes a mistake and some asshole over here says don't worry about it, it will be alright. 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. 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. 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. To use this website you must enable JavaScript. INTERNET DOWNLOADS. 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. Bobby then immediately offered Jimmy a recording contract. Look for a micro hidden container. 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!!!". They are remembered for their hit single "Disco Inferno" (1976). The sale is temporary to offer fans who missed these CDs the first time around a real deal. Then it happened. Jimmy Hodges Ellis (born Jimmy Hughes Bell, February 26, 1945 - December 12, 1998), who used the stage name Orion at times in his career, was an American singer. It begins with the 1972 single on which Orion, then simply Jimmy Ellis, recorded 'That's All Right/Blue Moon Of Kentucky.' 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. 15 November 1937 Died 8 March 2012 (aged 74) There are at least four artists called Jimmy Ellis: 1) Jimmy Ellis. He had perfect pitch, automatic vibrato, and wide range in his voice. Published by Flaming Star The official Elvis Presley Fan Club of Norway. A Tribute to the "Masked Man": Jimmy Ellis aka "Orion". Scans of the COUNTRY FROM THE HEART CD on the Lanier Records label. [13], "Orion (musician)" redirects here. Jimmy had the voice and charisma that drew you to him. Thunderclap is a tool that lets a message be heard when you and your friends say it together. There is no media rate for international shipping, but we are covering part of the high shipping cost. EIN: Your friendship with Jimmy Ellis. Ellis hailed from Orrville, Alabama and began his recording career in 1964. 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'. 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. In 1972, he worked for Sun Records (Presleys label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. EIN: The Jimmy Ellis story "lives on". EIN: Bobby, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers and Jimmy Ellis/Orion fans? Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. In high school his teachers encouraged him to sing for the school's "Religious Emphasis Week," leading him to enter his first talent contest in 1963. Official site; Kenneth Dokkeberg's Jimmy Ellis / Orion website; Musiclovers - Discography, audio samples and a lot more! Bobby Smith, owner of Boblo Records once told his engineer, Chet Bennett: take him in the studio and record different songs. The world lost a great singer. Bobby D.: Jimmy never commented about the LP coffin cover to me, but he was not hot on the mask gimmick from the start. Many years later, I recorded four songs at Stargem Studios in Nashville, the same studio Jimmy had also recorded at earlier. Ellis recorded an album under his own name, Sometimes Words Just Get In The Way, for a small label in . She was 16 going on 21 and I was 21. [3], Singleton tore off his mask at a performance in 1983, saying he would not wear it again. When you find it, write your name and date in the logbook. Could you clarify who was working with him that day? We only index and link to content provided on other servers. What exactly happened? The book is also available along withtheReborn CD (the first LP on Sun by Orion). The answer is: ONE! 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. I love music too and do some song leading at church. In a town steeped in strange success stories, hidden agendas, and dashed dreams, Orion's tale is one of the most curious ever to originate in Music City USA--which is saying something. You can make comments on the tab provided, or on Facebook at "Orion Jimmy Ellis Fan Club" or "Orion Jimmy Ellis Group". EIN:Jimmy Ellis, the personaway from the stage or recording studio. was blessed with a natural singing voice remarkably similar to Elvis. Directors Statement Who was that masked man? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, A selection of the many colorful Orion masks, each with its own name. Above images sourced from the official "Orion-Jimmy Ellis" website Genesis.. Jimmy Hughes Bell was born on 26 February 1945 to a single mother (named) Gladys. Are they still available in 2014? Apparently, it was just a few seconds after the guy entered that he fatally shot Jimmy in his left side and then swung the gun around shooting Elaine in the face killing her instantly. Thanks for your help! He could laugh about most anythinghe was alot of fun at home and especially on stage!! You may also like> Jimmy Barnes Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Wiki, Family 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. I could not believe what I was hearing. I was in a small band named the Catalinas in Macon, GA my hometown and loved music. 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. 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. Very unfortunately, Jimmy Ellis along with his wife, was killed in December the 12th 1998 by a male robber. Ellis, Jimmy "Orion" Type: Person Gender: Male Born: 1945-02-26 Born in: Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States Died: 1998-12-12 (aged 53)Died in: Selma, Alabama, United States Area: United States ISNI code: 0000 0004 3983 0212 Rating One of the guys asked me if I knew who that was singing on the tape recorder. Huffman said King, who played dead, was treated and released from a hospital for her hand wound. He also recorded several albums for Sun between 1979 and 1981 and built up a substantial live following, still wearing his mask. 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.