J.D. Sumner, Legendary Gospel Bass and Elvis Presley Collaborator, Dies at 73

J.D. Sumner, the legendary bass singer known for his record-breaking deep voice and decades-long impact on Southern gospel music, died of a heart attack on November 16, 1998. He was 73.

Sumner rose to prominence as a key member of two of gospel’s most celebrated groups: The Blackwood Brothers and the Stamps Quartet. With the Stamps, he earned a Grammy Award and helped bring gospel music to a broader audience. His deep bass became a signature sound in the genre and earned him recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s lowest bass singer—a title he held for years.

In the 1970s, Sumner and the Stamps gained even more visibility when they joined Elvis Presley as his backup vocal group. Sumner, a longtime friend of Presley’s, continued performing with the group until his final days.

He was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, and remained devoted to gospel music throughout his life. Sumner was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1983, a testament to his influence and contributions to the genre.

Sumner was married to Mary Agnes Varnadore, whom he wed on June 14, 1941. Their marriage, which endured more than 50 years until her death in 1992, was blessed with at least two daughters: Shirley Ann Sumner (later Enoch) and Frances Sumner (later Dunn).

At the time of his death, he was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, preparing to perform with the Stamps. His passing marked the end of a remarkable career that spanned more than five decades.