Former Elvis backup singer coming to Danville

A local church will welcome a former Elvis backup singer and close friend of “the King” this weekend.

Emmanuel Pentecostal Holiness Church in Dry Fork will host singer, songwriter and motivational speaker Donnie Sumner on Sunday night.

“My first three years with Elvis was as a backup vocalist as part of J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet,” Sumner, who was a backup singer and opening act for Elvis, said Thursday. “After leaving the Stamps, Elvis hired the entire group that I had formed, and we became a part of what I refer to as the ‘house family’ and as such lived in his home for an additional three years.

“It was a tremendous privilege to be a part of the Elvis phenomena as well as a cherished memory.”

Sumner said Elvis was a “great entertainer, a loving dad, a protective and loyal friend, as well as an exemplary Southern gentleman,” and he’ll take issue with anyone who says otherwise.

“No one is perfect, and this includes Elvis, but in my relationships with numerous people of renown, I would have to place Elvis at the top of the list in regard to their social virtues,” Sumner said. “Living and working for Elvis was being a part of a boys club and living in a treetop club house. He was the kindest boss I have ever worked for.”

As part of his job description with Elvis, Sumner often had to “sing on command,” which he and his group, Voice, did every night, singing gospel music for three or four hours at a setting. He also did the arranging for the 12-voice backup ensemble and opened all of Elvis’ shows.

“It was also our joy to be the Elvis backup voices on both stage and records along with The Sweet Inspirations, J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet, Kathy Westmoreland and Charlie Hodge,” Sumner said.

‘Pleasing people pleases me’

But so much for the past. Since his time with Elvis 35 years ago, Sumner has been busy and said he has the best of both worlds, enjoying his family and his music.

“Add to this all the friends that I have made . . . and I have a triple package that is unbelievable,” Sumner said.

“Pleasing people pleases me, (and) making people happy makes me happy,” he said. “I try to find a hurt and heal it, find a need and fill it. My goal is to make the lives of all who cross the path of my living a little better than before.”

Traveling by car between 80,000-100,000 miles a year to about 180 concerts a year has given Sumner gray hair, although he said he’s not old — just 26, if life begins at 40.

Sumner said he is both an entertainer and a minister in his professional career and a songwriter as a hobby, having had 300 of his songs recorded by various artists.

“I honestly do not know how my songs have been so successfully received, (since) I do not promote my music nor solicit recordings from other artists,” Sumner said. “I guess the reason they have been received so widely by the artists is due to the friendships I have made over the years.

“I don’t write continually. I only write when I have something I want to say. As long as I have thoughts worth promulgating, I suppose I will continue trying to get someone to hear them.”

An ‘inspirational motivator’

In his concerts, Sumner shares his “storehouse of stories.”

“I have also fallen to some of the lowest depths humanly possible and have been victoriously refurbished from the rubble of total brokenness,” he said. “At this point in my life, I endeavor to share the greatest news one can experience: In Jesus, there is a new life and abundant life and the hope of everlasting life.”

In Sumner’s Sunday night Concert of Praise, which begins at 6 p.m., he will perform, as well as share his experiences with Elvis and others.

“The entire evening is presented with the hope that all who participate are encouraged with refreshed hope for tomorrow,” he said. “Some have labeled me a ‘preacher,’ but I choose to refer to myself as an ‘inspirational motivator.’

“For all that I am, for all that I have and for all that is yet to come, to God be the glory.”

For more on Sumner, his music and experiences with Elvis, go to http://www.donniesumner.com.

Emmanuel Pentecostal Holiness Church is at 3576 Dry Fork Road in Dry Fork.