Portrait of J.D. Sumner

J.D. Sumner

Acting

Biography

John Daniel "J. D." Sumner was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and music promoter noted for his bass voice. Sumner sings the final note on the Elvis Presley song "Way Down", a C1. His vocal range extended below the lowest playable note on the piano, reaching the note G0 in a 26-second vocal slide at a concert while singing backing vocals for Presley. There are some claiming he reached an Eb0 in a recorded live concert while singing with the Blackwood Brothers, however this cannot be verified. He was famous for his group J. D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet and his associations with the Blackwood Brothers and Elvis Presley.

Born: November 19, 1924

Place of Birth: Lakeland, Florida

Filmography

1998
1997
1994
1992
Elvis: The Lost Performances

as Self (archive footage)

1977
Elvis in Concert

as Self - backing vocals (uncredited)

1973
1972
Elvis on Tour

as Self - Vocals, The Stamps

1949
Challenge of the Range

as Guitar Player (uncredited)

1948
Quick on the Trigger

as Band Member