The Strange Tale of The Man Who Would Be “Orion”
Elvis Move Over – Just a Bit…
Who Was That Masked Man?
James Hughes Bell was born on February 26th in 1945 in Pacagoula, Mississippi. The first time he ever performed a song live was when he was a student at Orville High school in Alabama.
He didn’t hook up with the music industry until 1974 when he signed Challenger Records and from there onto the Boblo label where he would record a handful of singles with his first release in 1976.
Orion’s ‘mysterious’ appearance spawned “Elvis is Alive” rumors from many quarters and many fans wanted desperately to believe – it just might be true. Ellis came to Sun Records first in 1972 when the singer sent a demo to new Sun owner Shelby Singleton with two Elvis Tracks “That’s Alright Mama” backed with “Blue Moon of Kentucky”.
Reportedly the single was first released on Sun with the label not identifying the artist due to the eerie similarity to Elvis – That was all it took – The rumors started to fly. Not only was Elvis in the building – he had apparently never left! (I guess he might have left RCA Victor – but he had obviously come back home! RCA actually bit on the record thinking Singleton had released an Elvis track but later dropped the suit when an analysis confirmed it was not Presley. You can visit YouTube to listen to the mystery man.
Ellis went his way – (to Boblo Records) where due to so many comparisons he would release his “I’m Not Trying To Be Like Elvis” in 1978. But then
he did try a little to be like Elvis by returning to Sun Records formally signing with the label in 1978. Singleton decided to dive in with two feet this time – presenting his new artist with a mask (sort of like the Lone Ranger’s) and a new moniker “Orion”. This name originated within a novel titled “Orion” (what else?) by Gail Brewer-Giorgo with the book character “Orion Eckley Darnell”.
The book version of “Orion” faked a death. And so we were definitely off to the races. The character in the book was managed by – who else – a “Colonel” (Colonel Mac Weiman) and was born in Ribbonville, Tennessee. By 1983 Ellis decided to unmask himself – revealing that he was Jimmy Ellis hiding behind the mask as “Orion”.
His voice was too good to completely fail and he would find his way onto the Country Charts scoring 11 so-so hits.
Orion remained with Sun for a few years but wanted very much to move away from his Elvis persona (he was never actually an “Elvis Impersonator” but a very close “sound-a-like”.
Post Sun years weren’t all good. Ellis was accosted in Mobile, Alabama – robbed and shot while attempting to flee. He survived that and continued on and would – although he vowed not to, appeared once again in the 1990’s as “Orion”.
His end came on December 12th, 1998 when he was working in his pawnshop in Alabama – murdered during a robbery by a Jeffrey Lee who would be sentenced to death. There is a film documentary of Jimmy Ellis’s life titled “Orion: The Man Who Would Be King” a production which also made to the stage.
The film is available on Netflix: (A few stills from the documentary)
Jimmy Ellis with Father and Ranch Hands
Jimmy – Tall in Back Row as a Teen
Elvis Sightings
Spurned on in part by the “Orion” landing – Elvis was always just around the corner:
Orion Discography
As Jimmy Ellis:
Dradco 45 905 – “Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch/Love Is But A Love – 1964
(According to Ellis in the fine documentary “Orion The Man Who Would Be King” only 500 copies were pressed on the tiny Dradco label out of Kibbee, Georgia.
Capricorn records offered to pick it up but Jimmy’s parents would not consent)
Sun 45 1129 – That’s All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky
(Canadian Release shown – This is the 45 released by Shelby Singleton prior to bringing in Jimmy Ellis several years later – and prior to the creation of the “Orion” name) thus the question mark.)
MCA 45 40060 – There Ya Go/Here Comes That Feeling Again – 1973
Boblo 45 518 – The Closer He Gets/It’s You Again – 1976
Boblo 45 526 – Tupelo Woman/Just Out of Reach – 1977
Boblo 45 531 – Here Comes That Wonderful Feeling/There You Go – 1977
Boblo 45 532 – My Baby’s Out of Sight/Movin’ On – 1977
Boblo 45 536 – I’m Not Trying To Be Like Elvis/Games You’ve Been Playing – 1978
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Boblo LP 78-829 – Jimmy Ellis Sings Elvis – 1978
Orion Discography on Sun International and Beyond
Sun 45 1142 – Honey/Ebony Eyes – Charted Country – #89 (both sides) – 1979
Sun 45 1147 – Before the Next Teardrop Falls/Washing Machine – 1979
Sun 45 1148 – Silent Night/Remember Bethlehem – 1979
Sun 45 1151 – Be Bop A Lula (with Jerry Lee Lewis)/Breakup (with Charlie Rich) – 1980
Sun 45 1152 – A Stranger In My Place/It Ain’t No Mystery – Charted Country #69 – 1980
Sun 45 1153 – Texas Tea/Faded Love – Charted Country #68 – 1980
Sun 45 1156 – Am I That Easy to Forget/Crazy Arms – Charted Country #65 – 1980
Sun 45 1159 – Rockabilly Rebel/Memphis Sun – Charted Country #63 – 1981
Sun 45 1162 – Crazy Little Thing Called Love/Matchbox – Charted Country #79 – 1981
Sun 45 1165 – Born/If I Can’t Have You – Charted Country #76 – 1981
Sun 45 1170 – Some You Win, Some You Lose/Ain’t No Good – Charted Country #83 – 1981
Sun 45 1175 – Morning, Noon and Night/Honky Tonk Heaven – Charted Country #69 & 70 – 1982
Sun 45 1177 – Listen to Daddy/Remember Bethlehem
Sun LP 144 – “Feelings”
Sun LP 148 – “Stars Alabama”
Sun LP 1012 – “Reborn”
Sun LP 1017 – “Sunrise”
Sun 1021 – “Rockabilly”
Sun LP 1025 – “Glory”
Sun LP 1028 – “Fresh”
Suffolk LP 1-27K – Orion – “20 All Time Favorites” – 1981
Gusto LP 0081 – (With other artists) – “Trucks, Trains & Airplanes” – 1982
Kristal 45 2292/2308 – I’m Saving Up My Pennies/I’m Starting Over – 1985
Kristal 2338/2339 – 100 Pounds of Clay/Because He Lives – 1985
Southern Tracks 45 1069 – Thank God For America/I Make the Living (You Make the Loving Worth While) – 1986
Southern Tracks 45 1080 – Sunday’s Fathers/Thank God For America – 1987
Radio Active Records 45 18772 – Unchained Melody/Unchained Melody – 1987
Vulcan 45 1060 – Down In Mississippi/Down In Mississippi – 1987
Orchid of Memphis 45 520 – Lay Around And Love On You/I Need You In My Life – 1989
45 Stargem 2465 – Only A Woman Like You/Only A Woman Like You – 1990
Stargem 45 2469/2470 – I Want You, I Need You, I Love You/Plastic Saddle – 1990
Stargem 45 2502/2503 – Love It Back Together/If That Isn’t Love – 1990
Glimmer Films EP 1000 – “Orion The Man Who Would be King” – 2016
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