I was searching for Elvis impersonators videos on youtube a few weeks ago when I saw this guy, dressed like Elvis…with a carnival mask?!?! His name was JIMMY ELLIS (Orion).
At first, I did n’t know what to think! Was it a joke? I clicked on the link to watch the video.
The costume was…fair, his stage presence was..ok (1973-77 years) but his voice was very, very good.., but why a mask????? So I decided to surf on the net to know more about this mysterious singer.
Jimmy was born on February 26th, 1945 in Orrville, Alabama. He made his first recording in 1964.
Shelby Singleton, owner of SUN records (after he purchased from Sam Phillips in 1969) heard of Jimmy Ellis in 1972.
They cut two sides for the yellow label that year : " That's All Right / Blue Moon of Kentucky " first released without artist credit and re-released shortly after with Jimmy Ellis' name.
They cut two sides for the yellow label that year : " That's All Right / Blue Moon of Kentucky " first released without artist credit and re-released shortly after with Jimmy Ellis' name.
Twenty singles and nine Orion albums were released by Sun between 1972 and 1983. Some of them entered the Country charts and in 1981 Cash Box magazine rated Orion one of the three most promising male Country artists.
The last Sun single to chart was "Morning, Noon and Night / Honky Tonk Heaven" in 1982.
European fans had the opportunity to appreciate Orion as he made two promotional tours to Europe - 1979 and 1982 - when still under Sun management.
In 1983, Jimmy Ellis grew tired of the mask and stripped it off before a capacity crowd at the Eastern States Exhibition.
Jimmy Ellis' career continued through the eighties and nineties with various recordings on different independent labels. He made TV appearances with people like Jerry Lee Lewis, the Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Dionne Warwick, Lee Greenwood and continued to perform, mainly in Canada and in the US.
The mask is on again when ORION released the NEW BEGINNINGS album in 1989.
In the early nineties, ORION's mask disappears another time when Jimmy Ellis signed as ELLIS JAMES with Pro Star Production. Several singles and at least five albums were recorded in Nashville.
On the night of December 12, 1998, Jimmy Ellis was behind the register of his convenience store in his hometown of Orrville when three local teens charged into the store with sawed-off shotguns.The gunmen shot him, his 44-year-old fiancée Elaine Thompson and Helen King. Jimmy Ellis and Elaine were killed while Helen King was severely wounded but has recovered.
Jimmy always said he was not trying to sing like or imitate Elvis ( it’s kinda hard to believe but.. we’ll give the guy a chance :):) ).
sources: www.orionjimmyellis.com www.elvisinfonet.com
