From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Tue Feb 25, 2003  4:38 pm
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Orion

ORION

Born Jimmy Ellis, 26 February 1945, Orrville, Alabama
Died 12 December 1998, Orrville, Alabama

Orion was an Elvis Presley sound-alike and look-alike who gained 
recognition following the death of the rock 'n' roll king. In fact, Orion's
following was largely the result of many Presley fans believing that he
actually was Elvis Presley hiding behind a Lone Ranger-type mask.
Ellis began singing in 1963, influenced by country singers Marty
Robbins, Eddy Arnold, Ray Price and Presley. After graduating from
high school and winning a talent contest, he turned professional,
performing at nightclubs in the south. His first recorded single was
"Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch", for the small Dradco
label in 1964. He then gave up the music business until the mid-70s.
In 1974 he recorded a single for MCA Records and then several for the
Boblo label through 1977. Always compared to Presley, Orion started
capitalizing on the comparisons in 1978 when he recorded an album
for Boblo titled "By Request (Ellis Sings Elvis)". In 1979 he signed to 
the revived Sun Records (Presley's first label) and continued to further
the connection. To drive the point home, Ellis's first single was the same
Elvis had recorded, "That's All Right" c/w "Blue Moon Of Kentucky". 
Sun released the single with no artist's name on the label, and rumours
spread that Presley had not died but returned to his roots instead. The
name Orion was adopted after receiving a phone call from a woman who
had written a book titled Orion, a fictionalized version of the Presley
story. Although he did not perform Presley material in his show, he
interpreted music in Presley's style. After a few years of building his 
reputation, Orion removed his mask and attempted to rid himself of 
the Presley connection. He continued to record and maintained a 
popular following, but press coverage lessened after the hype died 
and he never had a hit record. At one point he even released the single
"I'm Trying Not to Sound Like Elvis." During his time with Sun, Ellis/Orion
cut 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, he was shot and killed in a robbery at a
convenience shop that he operated in his hometown of Orrville near 
Selma, Alabama. Also killed was his ex-wife, Elaine Thompson ;
another woman, Helen King, was seriously injured. Three young 
suspects were later apprehended and charged with murder. 

Bear Family recently released a 4 CD-set, "Who Was That Masked 
Man" (BCD 16330) and, long before that, a single CD, "Some Think He 
Might Be King Elvis" (BCD 15548). There is also a Varese Sarabande
CD, "The Man Who Would Be King : The Best Of Orion", released in
2002.

More info: http://members.truepath.com/Ben_Johnson/Orion_bio.html 
Official website: http://www.orionjimmyellis.com/
More info on his death: http://www.rockabilly.nl/artists/orion.htm
Discography: http://www.mysunrise.ch/users/acmgs/orion_disco.htm