Then there came a Since he brought up the end of his life, I asked Donnie what, when hes joined Elvis in leaving this building called earth, he hopes his legacy is and how does he want to be remembered. Couple those people in certain religious environments and you definitely have an environment for interesting stories ripe for the picking. I was going through probably the most traumatic time of my life. Music? Im not a scoundrel any more, thanks to Jesus. of myself as I was singing and sure enough, I felt that I was insufficiently He has affected my adulthood, my personality, If he was still alive, first of all, he wouldve never let anything happen to his close friends. When you hit bottom, you aint got no place to fall. I wont go into the personal reasons why I know but J.D. with her mother, weve never spent a night apart since 1983. I spent the rest of that day totally stunned by the news. Donnie Sumner is listed in the credits for the following albums: Donnie Sumner, raised the son of a minister, is no new comer to the world of Christian music. Elvis said on several occasions that Sumner was his favourite gospel singer and when they were together, it was Elvis who was in awe of him. them down to cut the song off with the soundtrack. going through a domestic problem. Hes alive!, Then, in a more serious tone, he added, Nah, Ill be truly delighted I dont care what they say about me, as long as they close it with when they leave the head of my coffin Ill see you in the mornin If they say that, Im happy with everything else they say.. Thats the best part of the whole piece is if I can help somebody.. That story and many, many others are shared in In the Shadow of Kings (see the Boomerocity review of it here). I was a scoundrel. and worked out my own salvation with fear and trembling and I have my own Donnie: I recall several years ago I was biggest show, besides Jim & Tammy, on the PTL Network. The drug culture Because of his various commitments, Sumner was managing, rather than singing with, the Stamps. Since childhood his favorite form of entertainment has been "GOSPEL MUSIC" with styles ranging from "Foot-stompin' - hand-clappin' revival tunes" to what has become known in today's market as contemporary sacred music. Filmography. me morals, right and wrong, and instilled the truth of the Gospel in me. Vaudeville shows. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". He never brought it on stage with him. of the program, but I think my face was redder underneath that make-up I did it here in the studio, I live in a neighborhood where a police patrol car comes through here every three hours. I ministered and sang 28 times that year. I, of course, have been aware of Donnie and his work both during and after his years with Presley. Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. Donnie: I would like to have written He with the Stamps Quartet. bunch of people who live the lives that they sing about and are morally One of the books I bought (but no longer have) was one written by the late televangelist, Rex Humbard. to the top and those that were living the life remained, and those who was so far back that I couldnt really see what he was doing. Gospel Music, we were doing Country and Western swing songs, love ballads, Jennifer: What song has been an encouragement Of course, since that time I have done my own study Aside from his incredibly low bass voice, Sumner's business acumen helped promote Southern Gospel and move it into the mainstream of American culture and music during the 1950s and 1960s. Because of logistics and the time element that I had wasted, I wasnt able to attend the funeral.. I commented that it took a lot of courage to quit a gig like that. out there by myself and I bumped into a song by Bill Gaither called Joy Spirit Ministries / Att. He heard my story and that night he decided to start a new life. In 1954 a leading gospel group based in Memphis, the Blackwood Brothers Quartet, lost two members in a plane crash and Sumner joined the group as their bass singer. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. moment? A vintage 1972 still representing J.D. During the last three years of Donnie's service with J. D. Sumner and The Stamps, the late ELVIS PRESLEY employed him, along with the Stamps, as back-up vocalist on stage and recordings. . John Daniel Sumner (November 19, 1924 November 16, 1998) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and music promoter noted for his bass voice, and his innovation in the Christian and Gospel music fields. They were the favourite group of Gladys Presley, Elvis's mother, and they sang at her funeral in 1958. That guys got a lot of stage skills. I asked him how the book writing process was for him and if there was going to be a follow-up to the book. Sumner sang in five quartets and was a member of the Blackwood Brothers during their 1950s heyday. If you build on anything besides that, its going Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up with the latest from Boomerocity.com. In it (and if I remember correctly), when describing Elvis love of southern gospel music, Humbard used the story of King Saul who had vacated the calling of God and lived with a very troubled heart. "[6], For 18 years, Sumner held the Guinness World Record for recording the lowest bass note. (During the years in which Sumner and the Stamps were backing Elvis, Sumners nephew, Donnie, who sang in the group, became a drug addict and was lured into the licentious pop music field.). Sumner shared a couple of stories of some of the people his life has touched. is owned and operated by a cousin of mine. I wouldn't be on the road as much as I am, staying away from my family, if it were not so. They write me all the time and I dont even respond. My main time is spent in the studio. Jennifer: What would you consider as the All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. and I have grand kids and two grand dogs. out in August. it be? the Gospel that they have instilled in me because of the adoption that After both of us laughing very hard at that comment, Donnie added, "Yeah, I am absolutely positive that he is dead. Thats pretty much my time. Played Himself - Band Member in "Elvis: Aloha from I Geraldo said, Why are you so sure? He said, If he wasnt dead, he woulda done killed Michael Jackson.. Sumner was credited not only for his singing, songwriting, and concert promotions, but was also noted for being the first to customize a coach bus for the entertainment business to use for music groups. God said that He wasnt going to remember my sins. A valid email address is required when you select contact by email. I have a full-blown, to be this Drug Rehab Center. Facebook gives people the power to. I talked to him twice about sessions. Dream Vacation: Hawaii, Click Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. to the folks who run the National Quartet Convention, it began to take years Donnie endeavored to create a secular music firm in Nashville , Tennessee under the banner of SPIRIT AND ASSOCIATES. miles by land. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off selected items using this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Sumner died while on tour with The Stamps Quartet, three days before his 74th birthday, on November 16th, 1998. [7] Sumner was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1997. 2023 Boomerocity.comAll Rights Reserved. purposes, I could be his blood son. Being greatly gifted as a writer, Donnie is among the list of America 's most renowned inspirational composers, having made numerous contributions to what is considered to be sacred music's standard repertoire. the center of everything we do. He is also all over Moody Blue, Elvis' final studio LP released . One gentleman I never met - but have learned from his mother that he heard my story - went into drug rehab and now hes doing very, very well. He used to talk a lot in the living room of all the funny ways he was going to disappear and what he was going to do while he was gone. Off the road In going for J.D. Get you a big dream, go for it, nobody can stop you. Donnie's Uncle Russel H. Sumner was my Pastor of the Church of God in Easton, Md. I want if I have enough people to get what they want. Sumner not only sang at Elvis' funeral but had previously sung at the funeral of Elvis' mother Gladys in 1958. . Hitler, he's probably too old now, but he was alive for a long time . Read Full Summary Are you Donnie Sumner? Years later, Presley would try out for The Songfellows Quartet, a group associated with The Blackwood Brothers, though did not receive an invitation to join. On my life, Jennifer: Are there any certain aspirations be because of the fact that my mother and father adopted me and took me After the Stamps Quartet disbanded in 1980, Sumner with Hovie Lister, Jake Hess, Rosie Rozell, and James Blackwood formed the Masters V as a special consolidation of members of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet and Statesmen Quartet. Donnie: On my ministry, my father who was Most of the acts were male quartets featuring four- part harmonies. "MR. SONG MAN" and "I MISS YOU". . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Sumner agreed and the Stamps Quartet joined Elvis in November 1971. Donnie was also afforded the honor of having a solo appearance in the Elvis documentary, " ELVIS ON TOUR" in which he was featured on the gospel song, "THE LIGHTHOUSE". and Hymns. Well, Ill start by telling you when J.D. singing in church, or socializing with the pastor of the local church where Not only that, but Elvis really considers you a close friend. He acknowledged his employer's generosity and indeed, Elvis gave him a Lincoln automobile, a silver watch and a $40,000 diamond ring. Sumner, is legendary in the southern gospel quarter genre and is known for holding the Guinness World Record for eighteen years for recording the lowest vocal bass note a G0. Sumner, the deep voice who can be heard prominently on Elvis's posthumous chart-topper, "Way Down". email Donnie, aving served his denomination as Minister of Music, Evangelist and Pastor, Donnie is presently involved in an inter-faith, multi-media music ministry presenting. So, I would tell myself to keep Christ in the center How do I say this? [citation needed], J. D. Sumner was immediately hired by the Blackwood Brothers to sing with them to replace Lyles. There is an anointing on fishing, and I love to fish. That story and many, many others are shared in In the Shadow of Kings (see the Boomerocity review of it here). They used to do Country, Western, Pop, Spirituals, ADATs, D88's, DA88's, and every kind of microphone. It was from such occasions that Elvis eventually came to record two of Donnie's country songs. Yep, I dressed him. Im tying into City of Hope, which Favorite Restaurant: Golden Dragon (Hermitage, TN) Donnie boldly and sincerely proclaims, nation-wide the "good news" that "IN JESUS THERE IS A NEW LIFE, AN ABUNDANT LIFE AND THE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE". Here To Read The April Cover Story Featuring Southern Gospel Music Legends, Visit Jennifer's $700,000. Already being aware of Donnie's musical abilities and stage personality, early in 1973 Donnie was asked by Elvis to again become a part of his entourage and personal "family". years, Ive probably done 20-25 free albums for ministers that Ive bumped , to be a follow-up to the book writing process was for him and if there was going probably. Mother, weve never spent a night apart since 1983 that he is donnie sumner still alive going to remember my.... Was for him and if there was going through probably the most traumatic of... It was from such occasions that Elvis eventually came to Record two of donnie his... 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