programs a week. 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. In the last six or seven years Donnie endeavored to create a secular music firm in Nashville , Tennessee under the banner of SPIRIT AND ASSOCIATES. The third was to tell folks that there is a good life and that you only attain it by faith in Christ and I try to interweave all that stuff tell it like a grandpa, make it funny and tell them the truth at the end of each chapter.. mamas name is Nell Sumner. During his tenure of service as a "Stamp", Donnie was also awarded the SESAC AWARD as "Best Country Songwriter" in 1969 and was nominated in 1970 for a GRAMMY AWARD by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science (NARAS) in the category of "Country Song of the Year for his work entitled "THE THINGS THAT MATTER". Jesus Christ, without a doubt, will Only the big ones. Need addtional information, permission to use an article/picture, and/or advertise on boomerocity.com. Because of logistics and the time element that I had wasted, I wasnt able to attend the funeral.. Read Full Summary Are you Donnie Sumner? So, I guess 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. Because of the still-incredible appeal of Elvis Presley 35 years after his death, I asked Sumner if felt that people got the real message of his ministry as he intends it or are they emotionally responding to the memory of Elvis. Is gospel singer Donnie Sumner still alive? They would . It was during this time period that Donnie was seen on the Elvis, worldwide satellite television spectacular, "ALOHA FROM HAWAII ". They were the favourite group of Gladys Presley, Elvis's mother, and they sang at her funeral in 1958. Just me and my piano and a You Can Make It inspirational Sumner, the deep voice who can be heard prominently on Elvis's posthumous chart-topper, "Way Down". . Sumner at the 78 Dove Awards. Donnie Sumner with Stamps Quartet, J.D. So, what I did was when I came down [10], In 1964, Sumner founded the Gospel Music Association with James Blackwood. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Donnie shares the story in his book about why, while singing with one of the most beloved, historic and recognizable people in the world even in the history of the world he decided to quit and with nothing else to fall back on. And I want them to understand that I did, in fact, work with Elvis. 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, who sang at Presleys funeral in 1977, was a member of the Stamps Quartet, a gospel music group that originated in 1924. Donnie Sumner - Official Video for 'For Those Tears I Died [Live]', available now!Buy the full length DVD/CD 'Oh, My, Glory!' Here: http://smarturl.it/Oh.My.. There is an anointing on fishing, and I love to fish. I reserve Tuesday-Friday for my home life and I try to always leave on biggest show, besides Jim & Tammy, on the PTL Network. Donnie Sumner. It was from such occasions that Elvis eventually came to record two of Donnie's country songs. 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 After more than four decades, Donnie's vocal interpretations and dynamic style still continues to touch and capture the hearts of listeners nationwide. Geraldo asked him if he was certain that Elvis was dead. They wouldve never had any financial problems. He identifies himself as "a musician by profession, God's child by forgiveness, Bearer of Good News by calling.". I pulled that little gentleman right up. The bottoms the same. (Sumner, Donnies legendary uncle and bass singer for Elvis) was on the Geraldo show. Spirit Ministries / Att. The white gospel music of the day was akin to country music crossed with barbershop quartets. Donnie Sumner is a Southern Gospel singer and songwriter. Sumner died while on tour with The Stamps Quartet, three days before his 74th birthday, on November 16th, 1998. Tenor singer Sherrill [Shaun] Nielsen passed away after a courageous battle with lung cancer on December 10, 2010, at the age of 68. Thats the best part of the whole piece is if I can help somebody.. Sumner not only sang at Elvis' funeral but had previously sung at the funeral of Elvis' mother Gladys in 1958. He wiped me out.". You dont have to squall and bawl, have a fit and fall back in it. People are very often touched by the stories of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of others whether high profile or not. . Shortly thereafter, Presley recorded a demo at Sun Records in Memphis which launched his legendary rock and roll career. by reading A Conversation With Donnie Sumner., Donnies about what he thought when I left but he was certainly proud of me. 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. I had no idea. J.D. not my better half, shes my best most. The only personal responses have been how much they appreciate portraying the human, funny side of Elvis rather than all the negative stuff and they appreciate how I handle the subject of drugs and Christianity in the book. Then, after I bit on that hook of that serious answer, Donnie glided in with the rest of his answer . an upswing. Feel free to contribute! together, including your relationship with Christ. probably had the greatest influence on my life. . THE ELVIS YEARS read more. If youve ever been around more than just one or two Presley fans at a time like, say, at Graceland you will know right away that among the mostly sane and normal people, there are a few who are, ah, heck! But, without a doubt, J.D. 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. If I ever see him coming down my street I always make sure hes not turning into my drive! Its without a doubt the most exciting and stimulating form of music in In the last 10 15 minutes of my programs, I can concentrate an entire Sunday. Imagine this: Youve got what would appear to be one of the sweetest gigs in the world: singing back-up for Elvis Presley! A simple quote is in my book: If you eat a bowl of cherries, the only thing youve got left is the pits and too much candy will make you sick. I had lost my voice, my family and I had absolutely come to the end and I had to make a change. Because I really do believe that the most important And, then, I was in a little town called Lenoir City, Tennessee, where I did a concert. I was curious who, from his perspective, Donnie saw as the typical purchaser of In the Shadow of Kings. Where did Donnie Sumner live before Hendersonville TN? When my wife He always stressed the positive side of Presley's personality and never admitted that Elvis took anything other than prescription drugs. As I did, I just ), Donnie found time to write a book. Shes From time to time Elvis would request that Donnie sing one of his "own" original love songs. I hope and pray that you have been blessed the Gospel that they have instilled in me because of the adoption that 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". I have more books on the subject of Elvis than I do any other singular subject and thats after having lost one or two of them. Favorite Animal: Parakeet In 1956 the Blackwood Brothers Quartet found national acclaim when they won Arthur Godfrey's television talent show. THE EARLY YEARS I said, Uncle Jake, are you sure that Elvis is dead? He went through all these things. I wouldn't be on the road as much as I am, staying away from my family, if it were not so. Sumner, his beloved Uncle. He is 69 years old. Elvis Presley had used a former gospel group, the Jordanaires, on many of his hit recordings. Donnie Sumner is the nephew of JD Sumner and was lead singer for the stamps dureing the days of backing Elvis Presley. $700,000. They often worked in Memphis where Sumner befriended the young Elvis Presley, sneaking him into the concerts when Elvis could not afford the 50 cents admission. Previous to Donnies current city of Hendersonville, TN, Donnie Sumner lived in Lebanon TN. Well, Ill start by telling you when J.D. "He (Elvis) helped saved my marriage, my health, my career, and ultimately, my life. That story and many, many others are shared in In the Shadow of Kings (see the Boomerocity review of it here). mini-revival, but for the most part I just work Sundays. the bottom line is that Southern Gospel Music is the only form of music But all the drugs begin to eat away at your heart and your health and you literally are about to jump off of a tall building. Christian Rehab Centers this side of the Mississippi River. Donnie Sumner is a Southern Gospel singer and songwriter. It aint gonna be perfect tomorrow but, with Jesus living in ya, it can get better and better and better. I got it made. Favorite Group: Martins For the next three years Donnie was a constant houseguest, companion and arranger and associate musician to his friend Elvis. . Donnie was responsible for all the Elvis vocal arrangements during this time and on a regular nightly basis would perform "gospel tunes" to Elvis in private "living room" sessions at Elvis' request. THE MINISTRY Its one of the finest He died while he was touring. (n.d.). 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. Special? The group's only UK appearance came when they opened for Jerry Lee Lewis in 1980. Im tying into City of Hope, which Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I was aware that, among the things that keep the sixty-nine year young singer very busy was his recording studio and production work. the road, Im either driving or writing music while my wife drives. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. It took several years for me to get most of the kinks out of it so that I could walk straight. Jennifer: What song has been an encouragement to the ending on that particular song, I raised my arms real high and brought It moves me every Celebrating the Life of Donnie Sumner - YouTube 0:00 / 12:14 Celebrating the Life of Donnie Sumner Ryan Sumner 60 subscribers Subscribe 107 Share 11K views 2 years ago This video. Donnie: I would tell him dont forget where Ive got a brand-new projectcoming Sumner sang in five quartets and was a member of the Blackwood Brothers during their 1950s heyday. I thank my mom and dad You dont have to put on a football helmet and run at the gates of Heaven. Sumner is a great storyteller as you'll soon see, and he is currently finishing up his autobiography, entitled In The Shadow of Kings. For the next three years Donnie was a constant houseguest, companion and arranger and associate musician to his friend Elvis. out of a less than pleasant situation and put me in a Godly home that taught That truth has sustained me through many times when the powers of darkness He also established the National Quartet Convention along with James Blackwood to showcase the various quartets in the industry and the convention became an annual festival and mainstay in the industry that continues to this day. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. the Gaither Homecoming Videos. "A Musician by Profession - God's Child by Forgiveness - Bearer of Good News by Calling ", Donnie Sumner, raised the son of a minister, is no new comer to the world of. That was the last time I ever talked to him face-to-face. So, I would have to say that J.D. still up and running. Both Donnie and J. D. were closely associated with the late ELVIS PRESLEY on both his stage appearances and his recordings. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Donnie's Uncle Russel H. Sumner was my Pastor of the Church of God in Easton, Md. "[citation needed] Sumner then told his group mates to let Presley in the back stage door so he could attend. called me and said that Elvis died. most wonderful day of your life? I asked him how the book writing process was for him and if there was going to be a follow-up to the book. Thats what killed him to start with was that he thought he was losing it. Sumner agreed and the Stamps Quartet joined Elvis in November 1971. constantly day and night during my most formative adult years when I was He was in hospice and he got all inspiration one day and hes talking about all the things he wanted people to say about him at his funeral when they pass by and look at him in the coffin. We should learn to put Christ in Donnie: I recall several years ago I was quickly found the tab on my zipper and with great finesse, very quickly, "Well, I'll start by telling you when J.D. Other family members and associates include Elexus Sumner, Martha Sumner, Nona Sumner, Myra May and Robert Sumner. most is to touch as many lives with the Good News of the Gospel as I possibly And if I cant do that no more, Ill be in Heaven.. [citation needed], After the Masters V disbanded in 1988, Sumner reformed the Stamps Quartet and performed with the group until his death in 1998. Now, Im doing somethin else. family and your time on and off the road. always be your best friend. with deadpan seriousness that contained the urge to burst out laughing. Ive got a brand new life. He was friendly with many gospel musicians and he worked for several years with J.D. my wife. and Hymns. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Before moving to Donnie's current city of Hendersonville, TN, Donnie lived in Lebanon TN. Jennifer: Are there any certain aspirations Then he was going to come back and freak everybody out. Sumner has I, of course, have been aware of Donnie and his work both during and after his years with Presley. of the program, but I think my face was redder underneath that make-up This should be In going for I commented that it took a lot of courage to quit a gig like that. The group toured and recorded with Presley from November 1971 until Presley's death in 1977. 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