Orion

The music industry is filled up with many unusual tales of artists whose lives took unforeseen turns on the winding road to success, however the saga of singer Jimmy Ellis could very well be among the weirdest of these all. He was appropriately referred to as Orion, and his double-edged state to popularity was that his organic speaking and performing tone of voice sounded almost the same as that of Elvis Presley. Elevated in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis started his recording profession in 1964. In 1972, he proved helpful for Sunlight Information (Presley’s label) with maker Shelby Singleton in Nashville. His 1st two singles had been addresses of two from the King’s previous hits, “That’s FINE” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” The unusual area of the story started in January 1979, when writer Gail Brewer-Giorgio received a bizarre early-morning telephone call. 2 yrs before she experienced begun a book in regards to a musical superstar, Orion, who faked his personal death to discover much-needed serenity and privacy, predicated on the situations surrounding Elvis’ loss of life. The incomprehensible phone call originated from a stranger using a Presley-like tone of voice, claiming to become Orion. A season prior, Jimmy Ellis’ tone of voice have been overdubbed with Jerry Lee Lewis on a vintage single from sunlight archives, “Save the final Dance for me personally”; onto it, Ellis was billed just as “Friend.” The one made the very best 20 and triggered quite a mix as listeners attempted to figure the incomprehensible Friend’s identification. An record offering the duet arrived as well as the controversy actually warmed up when HELLO America got the Friend’s tone of voice “clinically scanned and analyzed” and figured maybe it’s no-one but Presley. Giorgio’s reserve got just turn out, therefore Singleton made a decision to profit from its reputation and transform Jimmy Ellis in to the incomprehensible “Orion” who got phoned the writer earlier that season. Ellis’ locks and lengthy sideburns had been dyed dark, and he dressed up in a noisy, bejeweled polyester jumpsuit, using a mask to safeguard him from crazed enthusiasts. “Orion” recorded an individual, “Ebony Eye,” for Sunlight in 1979, which became a part of his debut recording, Reborn. The recording cover itself generated controversy since it depicted a phantom vocalist increasing from a coffin, and was later on withdrawn. He released the united states, Rockabilly, and Glory albums in 1980, along with Trio Plus, which presented Orion’s tone of voice overdubbed on aged slashes with Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Wealthy. The albums had been very popular, and Orion experienced three Best 70 strikes, including “Am I THAT SIMPLE to Neglect.” He previously four minor strikes the following 12 months, including the modern rockabilly track “Crazy Small Thing Called Like,” originally documented by the rock and roll group Queen. Ellis continuing recording and carrying out through 1983 as Orion, and obtained only one even more minor hit prior to trying to break his Sunlight contract to become acknowledged performer in his personal right. While carrying out in the Eastern Says Exposition, Ellis became popular the face mask and swore never to wear it once again. Unfortunately, even though a lot of the tunes he recorded weren’t addresses of Elvis tunes, he cannot get away the uncanny commonalities between their organic voices. At one stage he also released the one “I’m Trying Never to APPEAR TO BE Elvis.” During his period with Sunlight, Ellis/Orion trim over 11 albums and toured using the Oak Ridge Guys, Jerry Lee Lewis, and various other superstars like Dionne Warwick. As Jim Ellis, he released an record in 1987 and continuing to tour THE UNITED STATES; oddly enough, he resumed putting on his cover up. On Dec 12, 1998, Jimmy Ellis and his ex-wife had been both shot and wiped out by a guy who was simply robbing his pawnshop in Alabama.