Orion (singer)
Encyclopedia
Orion was the stage name of rockabilly
singer Jimmy Ellis. Following the death of Elvis Presley
in August 1977, Ellis dressed and sang in the manner of Presley and wore a mask during public appearances, fueling speculation that Presley had faked his death and returned to singing. Ellis had recorded rock and country singles under his real name for a number of independent labels since the early 1960s before adopting the Orion persona for Sun Records
— Presley's first recording label — in 1980.
Sun owner Shelby S. Singleton
conceived of the idea of overdubbing Ellis' Presley-styled vocals onto a previously-unreleased 1961 Jerry Lee Lewis
recording of "Save The Last Dance For Me
". Ellis was billed only as "Friend." The single made #26 on the Billboard Country charts. Another overdubbed pairing with Lewis, a cover of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart
" was also released as a single, peaking at #84.
, where Ellis also owned several small stores. On 12 December 1998, Ellis was behind the register at the convenience store he owned, when three local teens, brandishing sawed-off shotguns, attempted a robbery. The gunmen shot the 53-year-old Ellis, his 44-year-old fiancee Elaine Thompson, both of whom died, and a friend, Helen King, who was severely wounded. Ellis was survived by his son Jimmy Ellis Jr,.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
singer Jimmy Ellis. Following the death of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
in August 1977, Ellis dressed and sang in the manner of Presley and wore a mask during public appearances, fueling speculation that Presley had faked his death and returned to singing. Ellis had recorded rock and country singles under his real name for a number of independent labels since the early 1960s before adopting the Orion persona for Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
— Presley's first recording label — in 1980.
Sun owner Shelby S. Singleton
Shelby Singleton
Shelby Singleton was an American record producer and record label owner.-Early Life:...
conceived of the idea of overdubbing Ellis' Presley-styled vocals onto a previously-unreleased 1961 Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
recording of "Save The Last Dance For Me
Save The Last Dance For Me
"Save the Last Dance for Me" is the title of a popular song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, first recorded in 1960 by Ben E. King with The Drifters....
". Ellis was billed only as "Friend." The single made #26 on the Billboard Country charts. Another overdubbed pairing with Lewis, a cover of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart
Cold, Cold Heart
"Cold, Cold Heart" is a country music and popular music song, written by Hank Williams. This blues ballad is both a classic of honky tonk and an entry in the Great American Songbook....
" was also released as a single, peaking at #84.
Death
By the '90s, Ellis had distanced himself from the Orion persona and was performing fewer than 50 shows a year, living on a farm near Selma, AlabamaSelma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
, where Ellis also owned several small stores. On 12 December 1998, Ellis was behind the register at the convenience store he owned, when three local teens, brandishing sawed-off shotguns, attempted a robbery. The gunmen shot the 53-year-old Ellis, his 44-year-old fiancee Elaine Thompson, both of whom died, and a friend, Helen King, who was severely wounded. Ellis was survived by his son Jimmy Ellis Jr,.
Chart singles
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|||||
| 1979 | "Ebony Eyes" | 89 | |||
| "Honey Honey (Bobby Goldsboro song) "Honey," also known as "Honey ," is a song written by Bobby Russell. He first produced it with former Kingston Trio member Bob Shane... " |
flip | ||||
| 1980 | "A Stranger in My Place" | 69 | |||
| "Texas Tea" | 68 | ||||
| "Am I That Easy to Forget" | 65 | ||||
| 1981 | "Rockabilly Rebel" | 63 | |||
| "Crazy Little Thing Called Love Crazy Little Thing Called Love "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is a song by the rock band Queen. Written by Freddie Mercury in 1979, the track featured on their 1980 album The Game, and also appears on the band's compilation album, Greatest Hits... " |
79 | ||||
| "Born" | 76 | ||||
| "Some You Win, Some You Lose" | 83 | ||||
| 1982 | "Morning, Noon and Night" | 69 | |||
| "Honky Tonk Heaven" | 70 | ||||
External links
- OrionJimmyEllis.com - His official website
- [ Orion at allmusic.com]
- InMusicWeTrust article about Ellis