J.D. Sumner

J.D. Sumner

1924-11-19 – 1998-11-16 (age 73) Lakeland, Florida
View on IMDb ↗

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.

Photos

Known For

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

2026

as Self (archive footage)

Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii
Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii

1973

as Self - Band

Elvis on Tour
Elvis on Tour

1972

as Self - Vocals, The Stamps

Quick on the Trigger
Quick on the Trigger

1948

as Band Member

Elvis: A Life in Music
Elvis: A Life in Music

2026

as Self (archive footage)

Challenge of the Range
Challenge of the Range

1949

as Guitar Player (uncredited)

Elvis: The Lost Performances
Elvis: The Lost Performances

1992

as Self (archive footage)

Elvis in Concert
Elvis in Concert

1977

as Self - backing vocals (uncredited)

🎦
Elvis Presley:  Meet Me In Memphis
All Day Singing at The Dome
The Elvis I Knew
The Elvis I Knew

1994

as Self

Feelin' At Home
Elvis In Concert Remastered
Elvis In Concert Remastered

2009

as Self - backing vocals (uncredited)

This Is My Story
This Is My Story

1997

as Himself

Atlanta Homecoming
Atlanta Homecoming

1998

as Himself