Elvis Presley - Donnie Sumner Member of the Stamps Things You Should Know Interview with Joe Krein

Donnie Sumner from the Stamps
This one of my most favorites , he is so open and funny. I wish i had kept the tape going but i told him i turned it off . Donnie is a great guy and enjoy
2018 Interview with Donnie on a hardline telephone so expect some noise . its also unedited
Joe Krein
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THE ELVIS YEARS
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. It was during this time period that Donnie was seen on the Elvis, worldwide satellite television spectacular, "ALOHA FROM HAWAII ". 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".
In 1972 Donnie resigned from the Stamps Quartet and organized his own group, which was to become known as VOICE INC. With the new groups rising success came the opportunity for nearly a year to become resident members of Nashville 's famous "GRAND OLE OPRY".
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". 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. From time to time Elvis would request that Donnie sing one of his "own" original love songs. It was from such occasions that Elvis eventually came to record two of Donnie's country songs. "MR. SONG MAN" and "I MISS YOU".
VOICE INC., Donnie's group, was the opening act on all Elvis' personal appearances as well as an iatrical part of the vocal ensemble performing all of his stage back-up vocals.
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".
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Collecting King Elvis

[@dwevors]

It's good to hear my old friend! Donnie is a class act and a gentleman!

[@justmytwobits]

I especially like hearing Donnie Sumner speak. His song, I Miss You, is one of my favourites. I can’t imagine living at Graceland.. Charlie Hodge had some life too.. I think the bodyguard referenced that lived there in Graceland toI was Jerry Schilling. Awesome interview, thank you so much.

[@user-kr7iv4hp5t]

Thank you for the fine interview.

[@Patracat]

Donnie's comments about Elvis' s charisma being God given for a purpose really resonated with me. I couldn't quite make out his words..."divinic"? I will listen to this again on my desktop PC and hopefully make it clearer. Thank you so much Joe for another enlightening interview. Have just read the transcript (thank you KZbin!) and found the words I was looking for.

[@jkrein82]

Please subscribe

[@tanyafromjefferson5484]

Phenomenal interview!!

[@craigplumlee]

Excellent interview here. Mr. Sumner seems to have such class. I thoroughly enjoy these uploads⚡There's so much I want to say in regards to the question of Elvis' faith, but I'll try to be brief. Elvis' spiritual albums are obviously moving, beautiful recordings and evoke powerful emotions but unfortunately that doesn't necessarily mean he was saved. Except for a few non-secular songs, I never heard Elvis profess belief in the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, the Cross and the free gift of grace offered to all - that is the Gospel, "the Good News". As Mr. Sumner states, only God knows the heart, and it's sad and surprising to hear Elvis did not have much fundamental knowledge of Christianity but thankfully that does not exclude him from salvation, it just means he missed many blessings of growing in the Lord during his earthly life. If he was justified by faith, then he will be in heaven. A troubled and possibly short life awaits a sinner saved by grace who does not read the Bible, seek wisdom and grow in the knowledge of our Savior, but that does not mean he will miss eternal life in heaven. Elvis lived a life like no other, we cannot judge, we cannot know, we can only hope he believed in his heart that Jesus was God in flesh, the Light and the Living Word, the Holy Lamb and only begotten son of God the Father. He lived a sinless life and was murdered on the cross and paid the eternal price so that mankind could be saved by the free gift of grace and not by anything we can do for ourselves. Thank you, sir, for contributing to Elvis' legacy - TCB

[@marystrayer2810]

17:36 I have heard Elvis profess that very belief in Jesus Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit. So, yes, he was a Christian, a staunch believer in the Holy Spirit, and the life, death and resurrection of our saviour, Jesus Christ.

[@leemontoya8028]

The reason Elvis keeps going! I believe it's because he had Mojo! Very few if any truly have it! Elvis had it!

[@roymarksberry4152]

❤ Thank god you did these recordings because All these people are dead

[@davidharrison3399]

Elvis couldn’t go to church as much as he would of liked , because of his fame, it’s true his later years he was searching for answers. The books Elvis read were given to him by the likes of Larry Gellor in the mid sixties. Elvis enjoyed singing gospel music than any other music, goes without saying how religious he was, RIP

[@gussygatlin3093]

WoW.... What an earful.. 😮 I pray that Elvis got on or stayed on the narrow path towards the end of his life. I can't imagine how it must have felt experiencing that ora everyone talks about with him..... 😮😮 I never met Elvis personally... Nor any of his family... Nor have I ever been to Graceland... But I am related to him through the Smith family. ❤

[@carlstout7948]

I deliver to Sumner’s on my FedEx route. They lived in the Tampa Bay Area.😊

[@jkrein82]

Very cool!

[@carlstout7948]

@@jkrein82 Thank You. I also went to school with Jason Sumner. His grandfather’s cousin was J.D. .I myself found out about 4 years ago that I am related to Tony Mottola. My-great grandmother’s great- nephew was Tony. My mom’s mom mom madien name was Mottola. That means also related to Tommy Mottola. The record executive once for Sony Music. Tony Mottola was the guitarist to Frank Sinatra. I have best of both worlds.

[@jkrein82]

Wow ! @@carlstout7948

[@juanabarrientos2358]

El hijo de DJ Summer???

[@jkrein82]

This is Donnie Sumner

[@jacquelineloveselvis]

D J's cousin.

[@OgBobby..]

He is Jd Sumner Nephew

[@MaryJones-vo5nz]

Priscilla became a Church of Scientology. She had nothing to do with the Christian faith. I know each person has an opinion but Elvis step brother Billy Stanley said Elvis knew the Bible well and took it on every tour. Also one of the lady singers in the "Sweet Inspirations said that if anyone was sick in the group Elvis prayed with yhem, especially one who had cancer and said she recovered after Elvis prayed with her. Also singer Wayne Newton went to see Elvis a year before he died, and said Elvis was reading the Bible and told him he didn't have long yo live. Singer Kathy Westmoreland said Elvis told her that he would die before he was 45 just like his mother and her too brothers who died mid 40's.. Rex Numbers was a fine preacher who came to see Elvis when he opened in Vegas, Elvis asked him to come back stage, Red and his wife said they wanted to pray over Elvis, Rex said " Elvis God has touched you, and you will be his "Bell Sheep" the leader that guides the flock, and Elvis wept. On the day of the funeral Rex did the service and road in the herse and he said he saw a policeman directing traffic during the profession and the policeman was sobbing. What ever you want to call it he touched lives.