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Chanteur Country US né Jimmy Ellis en 1945 à Orrville (Alabama). Orion est
décédé le 12 décembre 1998. Il a aussi utilisé le nom de Steven Silver.
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. 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.
Raised in Orrville, Alabama, Ellis began his recording career in 1964. In 1972,
he worked for Sun Records (Presley's
label) with producer Shelby Singleton in Nashville. His first two singles were
covers of two of the King's former hits, "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of
Kentucky."
The strange part of the tale began in January 1979, when author Gail Brewer-Giorgio
received a bizarre early-morning phone call. 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. The
mysterious phone call came from a stranger with a Presley-like voice,
claiming to be Orion. 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 Friend's identity. An album featuring the duo
came out and the controversy really heated up when Good Morning America
had the Friend's voice "scientifically scanned and analyzed" and concluded that
it could be no one but Presley. Giorgio's book had just come out, so Singleton decided
to cash in on its popularity and transform Jimmy Ellis
into the mysterious "Orion"
who had phoned the author earlier that year. 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.
"Orion" recorded a
single, "Ebony Eyes," for Sun in 1979, which became part of his debut album, Reborn. The album
cover itself generated controversy because it depicted a phantom singer rising
from a coffin, and was later withdrawn. He released the Country, Rockabilly, and Glory albums in 1980,
along with Trio Plus, which featured Orion's voice
overdubbed on old cuts with Lewis,
Carl
Perkins, and Charlie Rich. 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. Ellis continued
recording and performing through 1983 as Orion, and scored only
one more minor hit before trying to break his Sun contract to become a
recognized performer in his own right.
While performing at the Eastern States Exposition, Ellis took off the
mask and swore to never wear it again. Unfortunately, despite the fact that most
of the songs he recorded were not covers of Elvis songs, he could
not escape the uncanny similarities between their natural voices. At one point
he even released the single "I'm Trying Not to Sound Like Elvis." During his
time with Sun, Ellis/Orion
cut over 11 albums and toured with the Oak Ridge
Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other stars like Dionne Warwick.
As Jim Ellis, he
released an album in 1987 and continued to tour North America; interestingly, he
resumed wearing his mask.
On December 12, 1998, Jimmy Ellis and
his ex-wife were both shot and killed by a man who was robbing his pawnshop in
Alabama.
Talents : Singer
Style musical : Traditional Country, Rock 'n' Roll, Rockabilly, Country-Pop
MEMPHIS
SUN
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|
Années en activité :
| 1910 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 2000 |
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles
| 1972 | SP DRADCO 905SO (US) |
Jimmy ELLIS - Don't Count Your Chickens / Love Is But A Love |
| 1972 | SP SUN 1129 (US) | (No artist credit) - Blue Moon Of Kentucky / That's All Right |
| 1972 | SP SUN 1129 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - Blue Moon Of Kentucky / That's All Right |
| 1973 | SP SUN SI-1131 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - Changing / I Use Her To Remind Me Of You |
| 1973 | SP MCA MCA-40060 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - There Ya Go / Here Comes That Feeling Again |
| 1976 | SP BOBLO BO-518 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - It's You Again / The Closer He Gets |
| 1977 | SP BOBLO BO-526 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - Tupelo Woman / Just Out Of Reach |
| 1977 | SP BOBLO BO-531 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - There You Go / Here Comes That Wonderful Feeling Again |
| 1977 | SP BOBLO BO-532 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - Movin' On / My Baby's Out Of Sight |
| 1978 | SP BOBLO BO-536 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - I'm Not Trying To Be Like Elvis / Games You Been Playing |
| 1978 | SP SUN SI-1139 (US) | Jerry Lee LEWIS & FRIENDS - Save The Last Dance For Me / Am I To Be The One |
| 1979 | SP SUN SI-1141 (US) | Jerry Lee LEWIS & FRIENDS - Cold Cold Heart / Hello Josephine |
| 1979 | SP SUN SI-1142 (US) | ORION - Ebony Eyes / Honey |
| 1979 | SP SUN SI-1147 (US) | ORION - Washing Machine / Before The Next Teardrop Falls |
| 1979 | SP SUN SI-1148 (US) | ORION - Remember Bethlehem / Silent Night |
| 1980 | SP SUN SI-1151 (US) | ORION - Be Bop A Lula / Break Up |
| 1980 | SP SUN SI-1152 (US) | ORION - A Stranger In My Place Side / It Ain't No Mystery |
| 1980 | SP SUN SI-1153 (US) | ORION - Texas Tea / Faded Love |
| 1980 | SP SUN SI-1156 (US) | ORION - Am I That Easy To Forget / Crazy Arms |
| 1980 | SP SUN SI-1159 (US) | ORION - Rockabilly Rebel
/ Memphis Sun
|
| 1981 | SP SUN SI-1162 (US) | ORION - Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Matchbox |
| 1981 | SP SUN SI-1165 (US) | ORION - Born / If I Can't Have You |
| 1981 | SP SUN SI-1170 (US) | ORION - Some You Win, Some You Lose / Ain't No Good |
| 1982 | SP SUN SI-1172 (US) | ORION - Feelings / Baby Please Say Yes |
| 1982 | SP SUN SI-1175 (US) | ORION - Morning, Noon And Night / Honky Tonk Heaven |
| 1982 | SP SUN SI-1177 (US) | ORION - Listen To Daddy / Remember Bethlehem |
| 1982 | SP SUN SI-1179 (US) | ORION - That Old Time Feeling / Morning, Noon And Night |
| 1984 | SP KRISTAL KS 2292/2308 (US) | ORION - I'm Saving Up My Pennies / I'm Starting Over |
| 1985 | SP KRISTAL KS 2338/2339 (US) | ORION - 100 Pounds Of Clay / Because He Lives |
| 1986 | SP SOUTHERN TRACKS ST-1069 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - Thank God For America / I Make The Livin (You Make The Livin Worth While) |
| 1987 | SP SOUTHERN TRACKS ST-1080 (US) | Jimmy ELLIS - Sunday Father / Thank God For America |
| 1987 | SP VULCAN V-1060-NSD (US) | Steven SILVER - Down In Mississippi / Down In Mississippi |
| 1990 | SP RADIO ACTIVE NR 18772-1 (US) | ORION - Unchained Melody / Unchained Melody |
| 1990 | SP STARGEM SG-2469/2470 (US) | ORION - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You / Plastic Saddle |
| 1990 | SP STARGEM SG-2502/2503 (US) | ORION - Love It Back Together / If That Isn't Love |
Albums
| 1978 | LP 12" BOBLO NL-78829 (US) |
 |
BY REQUEST - Moody Blue / Return To Sender / Hurt / Kentucky Rain / It's Now Or Never / Burning Love / You Don't Have To Say You Love Me / My Way / Love Me Tender / Can't Help Falling In Love / Mean Woman Blues / Teddy Bear | ||||
| 1978 | LP 12" SUN 1011 (UK) |
 |
duoS - JERRY LEE LEWIS & FRIENDS - Save The Last Dance For Me / Sweet Little Sixteen / I Love You Because / C.C. Rider / Am I To Be The One / Sail Away / Cold Cold Heart / Hello Josephine / It Won't Happen With Me / What 'd I Say / Good Golly Miss Molly | ||||
| 1978 | LP 12" DREYFUS FDM 70501 (F) |
 |
duoS - JERRY LEE LEWIS & FRIENDS - (Jerry Lee LEWIS & ORION) - Save The Last Dance For Me / Sweet Little Sixteen / I Love You Because / C.C. Rider / Am I To Be The One / Sail Away / Cold Cold Heart / Hello Josephine / It Won't Happen With Me / What 'd I Say / Good Golly Miss Molly | ||||
| 1978 | LP 12" SUN 1012 (UK) |
 |
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||||
| 1978 | LP 12" SUN 1017 (UK) |
 |
SUNRISE - (ORION, Jerry Lee LEWIS, Carl PERKINS & Charlie RICH) - Secret Love / You Can't Judge A Book / San Francisco Is A Lonely Town / Then I'll Be Over You / I Heard You Talking With Your Eyes / Stranger In My Place / I Hear You Knocking / Turn Around Look At Me / Baby You Got It / It Ain't No Mystery | ||||
| 1980 | LP 12" SUN 1019 (UK) |
 |
COUNTRY - Texas Tea / Faded Love / What Did I Promise Her Last Night / Green Green Grass Of Home / Crazy Arms / Send Me The Pillow You Dream On / Help Me Make It Through The Night / Release Me / Please Help Me I'm Falling / Long Black Veil / Am I That Easy To Forget | ||||
| 1980 | LP 12" SUN 1021 (UK) |
 |
ROCKABILLY - Rockabilly Rebel / See You Later Alligator / Susie Q / I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday / Rockin' Little Angel / Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Long Tall Sally / Memphis Sun / Peggy Sue / Matchbox | ||||
| 1981 | LP 12" SUN 1025 (UK) |
 |
GLORY - Where He Leads Me / Sweet Hour Of Prayer / I Surrender All / Peace In The Valley / It Is No Secret / I Believe / He Touched Me / Softly And Tenderly / Where No One Stands Alone / Just A Closer Walk With Thee | ||||
| 1981 | LP 12" SUN 1028 (UK) |
 |
FRESH - There's No Easy Way / Baby Please Say Yes / Born / If I Can't Have You / Ain't No Good / Some You Win Some You Lose / Look Me Up (And Lay It On Me) / Old Mexico / Rainbow Maker / Anybody Out There | ||||
| 1981 | LP 12" SUN 144 (US) |
 |
FEELINGS - Feelings / No One Will Ever Know / I Love You Because / What Now My Love / Somewhere My Love / I Can't Stop Loving You / He'll Have To Go / Snowbird | ||||
| 1997 | CD KARDINA 108 (NL) |
 |
A CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH LOVE - Christmas Memory / Christmas Filled With Love / Funny Little Man All Dressed In Red / Old Fashioned Christmas / Christmas Spirit / Christmas Eve / Fireplace / You're All I Want For Christmas | ||||
| 1992 | CD BEAR FAMILY BCD-15548 (D) |
 |
SOME THINK HE MIGHT BE KING ELVIS - That's All Right / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Rockabilly Rebel / See You Later Alligator / Susie Q / I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday / Rockin' Little Angel / Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Long Tall Sally / Memphis Sun / Peggy Sue / Matchbox / There's No Easy Way / Baby Please Say Yes / Born / If I Can't Have You / Ain't No Good / Some You Win Some You Lose / Look Me Up (And Lay It On Me) / Old Mexico / Rainbow Maker / Anybody Out There / Midnight Rendezvous / Maybe Tomorrow / She Hates To Be Wrong / What Now My Love / Me And Bobby McGee | ||||
| 1999 | 4 CD BEAR FAMILY BCD-16330 (D) |
 |
WHO WAS THE MASKED MAN :
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| 07/2000 | CD KARDINA ? (NL) |
 |
JIMMY ELLIS SINGS ELVIS - Stuck On You / Don't Be Cruel / Crying In The Chapel / All Shook Up / Are You Lonesome Tonight / Teddy Bear / If I Can Dream / I Want You, I Need You, I Love You / That's Alright Mama / Follow That Dream | ||||
| 2002 | CD FUEL 61194 (US) |
 |
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING - Be-Bop-A-Lula / Am I That Easy To Forget / Gentle As A Lamb / Money / Matchbox / Save The Last Dance For Me / I Love You Because / Good Golly Miss Molly / Honey / Get Rhythm / Who Will The Next Fool Be / Glad All Over / Crazy Little Thing Called Love / That's All Right / Cold Cold Heart / Rockabilly Rebel / Ebony Eyes / Texas Tea / Memphis Sun / Peace In The Valley |
© Rocky Productions 26/10/2011
