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J.D. Sumner

J.D. Sumner

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.

Known for

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
2026 • Self (archive footage)
Elvis: A Life in Music
Elvis: A Life in Music
2026 • Self (archive footage)
Elvis Presley:  Meet Me In Memphis
Elvis Presley: Meet Me In Memphis
2022 • vocals
Elvis In Concert Remastered
Elvis In Concert Remastered
2009 • Self - backing vocals (uncredited)
Sunday Meetin' Time
Sunday Meetin' Time
2006
A Tribute To George Younce
A Tribute To George Younce
2005
Kennedy Center Homecoming
Kennedy Center Homecoming
2002
All Day Singing at The Dome
All Day Singing at The Dome
1998 • Self

Full filmography

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
2026 • Self (archive footage)
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Elvis: A Life in Music
Elvis: A Life in Music
2026 • Self (archive footage)
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Elvis In Concert Remastered
Elvis In Concert Remastered
2009 • Self - backing vocals (uncredited)
View movie
Elvis: The Lost Performances
Elvis: The Lost Performances
1992 • Self (archive footage)
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Elvis in Concert
Elvis in Concert
1977 • Self - backing vocals (uncredited)
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Elvis on Tour
Elvis on Tour
1972 • Self - Vocals, The Stamps
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Challenge of the Range
Challenge of the Range
1949 • Guitar Player (uncredited)
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Quick on the Trigger
Quick on the Trigger
1948 • Band Member
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J.D. Sumner – Biography, Known For & Filmography