With one of the weirdest careers ever in country music, Mississippi native Jimmy Ellis (1945-1998) bore a strong vocal similarity to Elvis Presley and, after Presley's death, he was recruited by Sun Records' owner Shelby Singleton to record a string of albums that capitalized on the conspiracy theory rumors that Elvis was, in fact, still alive. Ellis took up the stage name Orion, greased up his hair Elvis-style, and wore a spangled golden mask to conceal his "real" identity. Orion wasn't just an Elvis impersonator -- he also recorded plenty of new material -- but a mystique was created around him that maybe he was a continuation of "the legend" of Elvis Presley, Elvis recording under a phony name, after having faked his own death. The semi-hoax went on for years until Ellis finally unmasked and walked away from the act... although he returned to the Orion character a decade later, in order to revive his career. Here's a quick look at his, uh, their, unusual career...
Orion "The Man Who Would Be King: The Best Of Orion" (Varese Sarbande, 2002)
Orion "Some Think He Might Be King Elvis" (1994)
Orion "Who Was That Masked Man?" (Bear Family Records, 1999)
A 4-CD box set(!)
Orion "Reborn" (Charity Records, 1978) (LP)
The debut album by "Orion," which was re-released a year later, after Sun Records signed him... (Again!)
Jimmy Ellis "By Request, Ellis Sings Elvis" (Boblo Records, 1978) (LP)
Orion "Reborn" (Sun Records, 1979) (LP)
Orion "Sunrise" (Sun Records, 1979) (LP)
Orion "Country" (Sun, 1980) (LP)
Orion "Rockabilly" (Sun Records, 1980) (LP)
Orion "Glory" (Sun Records, 1980) (LP)
Orion "Fresh" (Sun, 1981) (LP)
Orion "Feelings" (Sun Records, 1981) (LP)
Jimmy Ellis "20 All Time Favorites" (Suffolk Records, 1981) (LP)
Jimmy Ellis "New Beginnings" (Aron Records, 1986)
Jimmy Ellis "Holiday Tribute To The King" (Kardina Records, 1997)
Jimmy Ellis "A Christmas Filled With Love" (Kardina Records, 1997)
