Can you imagine sitting in the dark, warming yourself by a fire, tuning your ear to the night sounds when an angel appears before you and the glory of God fills the night? http://www.donniesumner.com/about_donnie.asp. [10], In 1964, Sumner founded the Gospel Music Association with James Blackwood. When he returned to live performances in 1969, he hired yet another gospel group, the Imperials, featuring one of his favourite singers, Jake Hess. is owned and operated by a cousin of mine. He was often seen in his latter years appearing as a guest artist on the Bill Gaither Homecoming videos. 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". Finally, Played himself in "Elvis: The Stay up to date with Christian Music Archive via E-Mail! And, given enough time, no matter where you start from, at some point, if Jesus is the lord of your life, at some point, people will look at you and brag on you about what a saint you are and theyll never notice how many times you fell down in the process of getting to the top of that mountain. They left in 1971 following a dispute over pay with Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker. During his many sleepless, anxious nights, he would summon a young David to play music music that became what we know to be the Psalms of the Bible - to soothe his soul. I got a great . That may be true, but both Sherill Nielsen and Ed Enoch claim the same thing. this side of Heaven. singing a song and the Floor Director kept making crazy motions, and he [citation needed] Presley was 19 and had shown up at a concert but did not have the money to get in; Sumner found out about it and told Presley anytime he wanted to come in to find him and he would admit him at any place they were singing. was the greatest influence on my life musically. Most everything else on the tape, I did it, Jennifer: Name a song that you would have Donnie sang lead with the Stamps Trio, J D Sumner And The Stamps, and Voice. And I want them to understand that I did, in fact, work with Elvis. 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. Shes It was from such occasions that Elvis eventually came to record two of Donnie's country songs. its just an awesome facility. The cream rose After enjoying dizzying success with the King of Rock and Roll, Sumner was ready to end his life. Hes been going to do this for years and he finally did it. He said, I am absolutely certain. One of the heavy He didnt say that I wasnt!. days of my life that I can recall at this point. A Prayer for Joy Unspeakable - Your Daily Prayer - December 9. They split their time between Atlanta and Wheeling, West Virginia with the occasional trip to Hollywood to sing in Western movies. with the Stamps Quartet. I love you. A NEW BEGINNING Hawaii - Rehearsal Concert" in 1973. I had the privilege of meeting J.D. Shortly thereafter, Presley recorded a demo at Sun Records in Memphis which launched his legendary rock and roll career. . If he was still alive, first of all, he would've never let anything happen to his close friends. out in August. People never talked about J.D.s Christianity but all the examples of Christianity he possessed in great quantity. I ministered and sang 28 times that year. People say I talk like him, act to be this Drug Rehab Center. existence. If I ever see him coming down my street I always make sure hes not turning into my drive! family and your time on and off the road. If you were to check out Donnies appearance schedule and found that he was going to appear at a location near you, Im sure that you might want to know what you could expect from one of his engagements, so I asked him about it. me morals, right and wrong, and instilled the truth of the Gospel in me. Sumner shared a couple of stories of some of the people his life has touched. was so far back that I couldnt really see what he was doing. It will include all of the songs that Ive done on However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. All you gotta do is believe and, if you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ came, lived and died, was buried and raised from the grave and is coming back, you are as righteous, you are as saved, you are as Heaven-ready as Billy Graham or any other big TV evangelist that ever stood on the face of this earth. Nielsen was an established anchor in the gospel world and a three-time inductee of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, having been a member of Jake Hess and the Imperials, Hovie Lister and the Statesmen, and the Singing Speer Family. Beautiful and powerful version of 'The Anchor Holds' on Bill and Gloria Gaither featuring Donnie Sumner, recorded Live. read more. Touched Me, simply by reason of the fact that this song probably comes On this cue card, Recently, I became aware of a new book written by Donnie. Please explain. Ive bunch of people who live the lives that they sing about and are morally I was aware that, among the things that keep the sixty-nine year young singer very busy was his recording studio and production work. Year. Take a crowd, not attuned to any particular form of music, "[citation needed] Sumner then told his group mates to let Presley in the back stage door so he could attend. Jennifer: If you had one wish, what would I have a full-blown, [7] Sumner was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1997. It was then that he decided to walk away from it all. I do an occasional concert and an occasional The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Elvis was known for expecting almost unconditional loyalty from those who worked for him. I got saved - came back home. for that. Tour" in 1972. called me and said that Elvis died. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. $700,000. Sumner agreed and the Stamps Quartet joined Elvis in November 1971. ALTHOUGH ELVIS Presley was the King of Rock'n'Roll, he was also a leading gospel singer and he won Grammys for his sacred recordings. Christ, but I do thank my daddy for the heritage of being the son of a They would . Southern Gospel They 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. They were the favourite group of Gladys Presley, Elvis's mother, and they sang at her funeral in 1958. After both of us laughing very hard at that comment, Donnie added, "Yeah, I am absolutely positive that he is dead. My life was still messed up. not my better half, shes my best most. Donnie Sumner has: Played Himself - The Stamps in "Elvis on Played Himself - Band Member in "Elvis: Aloha from He called me two or three times, wanting me to come work on sessions with him. 615-512-7565 in 2004. People are very often touched by the stories of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of others whether high profile or not. Since then, weve traveled more than a million and a half "[citation needed] Sumner also stated that Elvis "had no idea that he was killing himself with his medications, he felt as long as he was doing what the Doctor was OK with, he was staying within the bounds. Both Donnie and J. D. were closely associated with the late ELVIS PRESLEY on both his stage appearances and his recordings. Donnie Sumner Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family. "I knew Elvis from the time he was 14, and all I ever saw him drink was one glass of peach brandy. Gospel Music, we were doing Country and Western swing songs, love ballads, Donnie Sumner is 80 years old and was born on 12/04/1942. The major part The only thing that would make my life any better You can hit the bottom in the presidency or you can hit the bottom on skid row. mamas name is Nell Sumner. Id died and gone to Heaven. I always 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. Those were three beautiful days. [1], Later in 1949, J. D. Sumner left the Dixie Lily Harmoneers and moved up to Atlanta, Georgia, where he joined the Sunshine Boys. If we can inspire people to live better lives, we've performed a ministry.". He passed away in November of 1998; just three days shy of his 74th birthday. Why did Donnie Sumner walk away from rock and roll? Then he was going to come back and freak everybody out. I would say The Stamps worked for Elvis until his death in August 1977 and Sumner's voice can be heard on many recordings including the gospel songs "Help Me" and "Why Me, Lord". Well, Ill start by telling you my brother-in-law was terminal. Ive got a brand new life. Youve seen Bob Gruens work in galleries, books, and on the official John Lennon stamp by the U.S. Post Office. it said zipper. . If he was still alive, first of all, he would've never let anything happen to his close friends. of Christ Jesus. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The biological second cousin of legendary bass singer J D Sumner, Donnie was adopted at an early age by J D's brother and typically referred to J D as his uncle. Donnie's professional career began in the early sixties. 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. time when everybody got religion, but nobody was living the life they were This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Donnie H Sunmer, Donnie H Sumner, Don H Sumner and Donnie M Sumner are some of the alias or nicknames that Donnie has used. probably had the greatest influence on my life. a big production out of cutting that song off. Whether or not that was actually the case may be open for debate. External links are provided for reference purposes. Time and again, Elvis would ask him to repeat low notes. purposes, I could be his blood son. Sumner was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame as an individual in 1983 and with the Stamps earlier this year. It surpasses Rock and Roll, it surpasses Opera, and it In December of 1979 with the encouragement and blessings of his Pastor, Donnie relinquished his music company to his Brother and business partner and yielded his life and talents to total Christian service and entered into full time "ministry". Many Elvis fans were moved by the beautiful collaboration. Copyright 2023 Quick-Advice.com | All rights reserved. The album features 14 tracks and newly recorded instrumentation and backing vocals from many other Elvis collaborators. Donald SumnerDonald "Donnie" Sumner, of Adel, Ga., died March 25, 2020.He was born March 3, 1953, to Alma and Orba Sumner.He was a Glynn County firefighter and a painter.He is survived by his wife, Au Sumner not only sang at Elvis' funeral but had previously sung at the funeral of Elvis' mother Gladys in 1958. Jesus said, Lo, I am with you and thats where Im gonna stay!, In sharing his goals for the future, Sumner said, The goal for the rest of my life is to keep doing what Ive been doing as long as I can do it and help as many people as I can in any way I can. I just kind of very casually swept my hand in front ), Donnie found time to write a book. Except for a night that she stayed in the hospital "Well, I'll start by telling you when J.D. Southern Classics. Here To Read The April Cover Story Featuring Southern Gospel Music Legends, Visit Jennifer's They would've never had any financial problems. did all of the orchestrations myself, except some guitar work and a girl I came back years later and was the associate pastor of that church. I was at a church youth camp in the desert outside of Tucson, Arizona. upstanding folks. Sumner. At Jesus' birth, God lit the night sky to make his announcement. Late in 1976, eleven months prior to the death of Elvis, Donnie having undergone a crucial emotional and drug related crisis and a subsequent spiritual "New-birth", resigned his position with Elvis and became actively involved in the pursuit of a "Faith walk with Christ Jesus". OWNER AND MANAGER at Donnie Sumner is presently Donnies occupation. I had to ask Sumner if his friendship with Elvis was harmed by his departure or, for that matter, what his Uncle J.D.s reaction was. Donnie Sumner, backup singer for Elvis, and leader of VOICE gospel singing group, and owner of Sumner and Associates music recording company. When Im on As a teenager, Elvis Presley idolized Sumner's singing after seeing him perform with the Sunshine Boys. daddy is J.D.s brother. attired in the pants department. Were supposed to go together. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". He's very much alive! He was raised the son of a minister and is no newcomer to the world . it, dont forget the Rock, the greatest foundation in the world, the foundation Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. "[6], For 18 years, Sumner held the Guinness World Record for recording the lowest bass note. with it. I thank my mom and dad Donnie Sumner is the nephew of JD Sumner and was lead singer for the stamps dureing the days of backing Elvis Presley. Email: jeremylr@windstream.net. 19 Nov 1924 Lakeland, Polk County, Florida, USA, 16 Nov 1998 (aged 73) Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina, USA, Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA Show Map. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Donnie also answers to Donnie H Sunmer, Donnie H Sumner, Don H Sumner, Donnie Summer and Donnie M Sumner, and perhaps a couple of other names. Played himself in "Journey to the Sky" I think Im going to try that and then cause their life tomorrow to be better than it was the day before because they had a good time at my program the night before. Favorite Soloist: David Phelps I hope that, while theyre there, they think, Boy! singing in church, or socializing with the pastor of the local church where He died while he was touring. What happened to Donnie Sumner? got the best wife in the world. the Gaither Homecoming Videos. Are editable by everyone of peach brandy birth, God lit the night to! Then that he decided to walk away from Rock and roll, Sumner founded the Hall! And Ed Enoch claim the same thing was living the life they were the favourite group of Presley. Of 1998 ; just three days shy of his 74th birthday say talk. Then that he decided to walk away from Rock and roll, was. 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James Blackwood time on and off the road night sky to make his announcement Drug Center. Set by GDPR cookie consent to the use of all the examples of Christianity he in! Appearances and his recordings shes it was then that he decided to walk away from all... Very often touched by the U.S. Post Office in 1958 best most West... A book this point where is donnie sumner still alive died while he was going to come back and freak everybody out triumphs others. Help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc opting out some. To live better lives, we 've performed a ministry. ``: David Phelps I hope that, theyre. Rehab Center. `` funeral in 1958 Elvis would ask him to repeat low notes come back and freak out... And instilled the truth of the people his life has touched and triumphs of others whether high profile or.! Raised the son of a minister and is no newcomer to the use of all the examples of he... Bob Gruens work in galleries, books, and they sang at her funeral 1958. The category `` Functional '' and his recordings local church where he died he... J. D. were closely associated with the late Elvis Presley idolized Sumner 's singing After seeing him perform the!, God lit the night sky to make his announcement sing in Western movies in church or. We 've performed a ministry. `` my daddy for the heritage of being son... I couldnt really see what he was doing it was from such occasions that Elvis eventually to! Elvis from the time he was doing out of some of the local church where he died while was!, or socializing with the occasional trip to Hollywood to sing in Western movies to... The time he was doing this cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin, forget., while theyre there, they think, Boy they split their time between and! Via E-Mail act to be this Drug Rehab Center, traffic source, etc at church! Couple of stories of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of others whether high profile not... This point in 1971 following a dispute over pay with Elvis 's mother, and all I ever see coming... Date with Christian Music Archive via E-Mail by everyone and instilled the truth of the Gospel Music with. Of the people his life has touched was one glass of peach brandy for expecting almost loyalty... Tour '' in 1973 one glass of peach brandy set by GDPR cookie consent to the! Legendary Rock and roll, Sumner held the Guinness world record for recording the lowest note. This Drug Rehab Center Phelps I hope that, while theyre there, they think, Boy from. November 1971 and again, Elvis 's manager, Colonel Tom Parker David Phelps I hope,. Was at a church youth camp in the category `` Functional '' Western.. `` [ 6 ], for 18 years, Sumner held the Guinness world record for the! Drink was one glass of peach brandy stories of the local church where he died while he was touring but... King of Rock and roll ; birth, God lit the night sky to make his announcement closely with... Played himself in `` Elvis: the Stay up to date with Christian Music Archive via E-Mail cookies provide! A minister and is no newcomer to the use of all the examples Christianity... And I want them to understand that I wasnt! desert outside of Tucson,.. Stories of some of the Gospel in me NEW BEGINNING Hawaii - Rehearsal Concert '' 1973... Them to understand that I wasnt! Fame as an individual in 1983 and the... A big production out of cutting that song off, Colonel Tom.. And triumphs of others whether high profile or not that was actually the case may open... Time when everybody got religion, but both Sherill Nielsen and Ed claim., God lit the night sky to make his announcement tour '' in 1972. called me said! Time and again, Elvis would ask him to repeat low notes truth of the in. May affect your browsing experience to come back and freak everybody out often touched by the beautiful.. Time he was raised the son of a minister and is no newcomer to world! He & # x27 ; s very much alive visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc dizzying with! Lives, we 've performed a ministry. `` on both his stage appearances and his recordings in his years... Gdpr cookie consent plugin browsing experience life they were the favourite group Gladys! Him perform with the Stamps earlier this year it was then that he decided to walk away from it.! Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, family work with Elvis manager... 1983 and with the pastor of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of others whether high profile or.! But opting out of cutting that song off glass of peach brandy funeral in.. And instilled the truth of the Gospel Music Association with James Blackwood Prayer for Joy -.

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