Earlier this week, someone from a West Coast newspaper called me and inquired about JD Sumner's contributions to Gospel Music. I pulled together some information for them and sent it on the way. But in the process, I ran across some of JD's classic comments that made his "I Can't Wait" feature one of Singing News' most-read articles.
A lot of people think JD was a gruff old man that spoke his mind and really didn't care what anyone else thought. But what they might not know is that JD was a master publicist - he knew that if he generated a little noise by picking on someone, that same someone would greatly benefit from the exposure. Many of the articles in which he took jabs at others were actually well-intended ways of calling attention to those groups. JD knew he would take heat from little old ladies or people who thought he was out of his mind, but still, in the end, he achieved exactly what he intended.
I've put together a collection of some of JD's comments - and believe me, we could do this for about six more months. Sit back, enjoy and remember....
I would like to challenge The Cathedrals to a Battle Of Songs - just the two of us. That way, we would each have time to "do our thing." The Stamps will face anybody! And we really want ole George and Glen! We would also like to have Mother Hen Hamill and his little biddies, and even that young Gold City. But remember, just the two of us on a program.
I've had a change in The Stamps. Steve Warren is gone. Steve got upset because I appointed Ed Hill his own chair on the bus, but what Steve didn't know is that you have to be with The Stamps at least a year to get a chair. But there's one thing about Steve's leaving - I have now caught up with Les Beasley (Florida Boys) in tenors. He was one ahead; now we are even.
Les Beasley,
"Trials are dark on every hand
and you and I can't understand,
All the tenors God has sent us
"til we reach the promised land.
But we've tried to do our best,
and I doubt we've stood the test,
But we'll understand Gospel tenors by and by!"
One more for Les
"Little Les, don't worry or cry
We'll find us a tenor by and by
Maybe an Archie, a Danny or Coy
or with luck, a Rosie, Mama's little boy
I got me a new one
He's one that you had
He sounds good with me
but with you he sounded bad
But lift up your head, Les
and look to the sky
We'll get us one
bof' us in the sweet by and by
WE GOT HIM, HE's OURS
JERRY TRAMMELL, OUR NEWEST STAR!
What happened to the Masters V?
To start with, it was James, Jake, Rosie, Hovie and me. When Rosie left, our record sales were cut in half. What we should have done was sold the bus. Rosie was the icing on the cake. Then James left. James was the fiber of the cake. Not only was he the fiber, he was our stability. Our record sales dropped again. When James left, we should have burned the bus. Then ole Jakie Boy left. Boy, how dumb can one be. They started bringing our records back! Jake was the heat it took to bake the cake. Then, Hovie left and took the used stove. That left me with a wad of dough. Try it- it tastes bad. It's hard to swallow. So The Masters V was history.
People come up to me every night and give me a tape or a piece of music and say, "God gave me this song," or, "He woke me up at 4:00 AM and gave it to me, and I think you should record it."
Now, you are in a mess if God gave you a song, and you're not dedicated enough to record it. In all the songs that God supposedly had written, I've never seen one copyrighted in His name. If God gives you a song, at least give Him credit as co-writer and give Him at least half of the royalties.
Now it's time for me to really speak out. I've been joking until now, but I've had it. The Singing News Fan Awards. I wasn't there, but I heard about Gold City and Tim Riley. Can you believe that? Have the fans lost their minds? Tim Riley - the best bass singer? Little ole short, pudgy, wobbly Tim can't sing as good as me and George. Oh, I'll admit that George is ugly too, but we're talkin' about singing bass now. This is not a beauty contest. If it had've been, I'd have won. And Gold City, the best quartet? Who are they anyway? And where did they come from? Gold City - what kind of name is that? They pulled that big ole new bus beside of us and blew their horn. We saw them! They were laughing! Then, they pulled off and left us like we were standing still. Bunch of young punks! I'm JD Sumner, a legend. I don't have to put up with that!
When you walk into the building, look for the speakers. Big eared people, get away from them things.
The one thing I do know beyond the shadow of a doubt: there is not a bass singer who can out sing me! This decision is final!! There are some great bass singers, some who even come close, but not close enough to hurt anything. I believe in the old saying, 'he that tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted." You can bet your britches, I'm gonna toot mine.
