J.D. Sumner's words to describe Elvis:
"Very timid, very backward, always trying to please, never being rude, kindest, most generous person that I ever knew until he found out that he couldn't please you, then he was the most ungentle person that I ever knew. But he made everything he could to make everybody around him happy."
Source: Reelin' In The Years Productions - Available on YouTube by the title 'J.D.Sumner · Interview (Elvis Presley/Stamps Quartet) · 1989 [Reelin' In The Years Archives]'.
Pictures: (1) Sometime in the 50s, Elvis posing for a picture with the Blackwood Brothers members (J.D. Sumner to his right). (2) Charlie Hodge, Elvis, Joe Esposito and J.D. Sumner during an Elvis concert in 1972.
According to J.D. Sumner, he met Elvis when Presley was only fourteen years old (1949, J.D. was either 24 or 25 y.o.). Elvis enjoyed listening to the Blackwood Brothers - as well as other artists - performing at the monthly gospel sings at Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, TN. Elvis enjoyed visiting backstage to talk about music with them. J.D. said Elvis asked a lot of questions, but for a long time he was just 'that boy' to the band members, nothing special about him. Then, when J.D. knew, Elvis was making it in the business. The first year, according to J.D., Elvis told him he made four million dollars, and it only got better and better as the years went by. In 1962, J. D. Sumner became the manager of the Stamps Quartet, and three years later, he left the Blackwood Brothers to sing with them (1965). Sumner was most noted as the leader of the Stamps Quartet, which became known as J. D. Sumner & the Stamps. Elvis hired the group for backing vocals to his performances from 1971 until he passed away in 1977, which makes J.D. Sumner one of the Elvis' longest-time friends. Sadly, J.D. passed away on November 16, 1998 (aged 73).
(3) Elvis and J.D. Sumner. 1976.
