J.D. Sumner and the Stamps - How Great Thou Art

J. D. sat this one out. He now had a second bass singer in the group, if one can image such a thing, and as he put it, "the boys want to have a 'young sound', so I'm gonna let him come out here. . ." Richard Sterban made his mark. J. D. loved to say, "who ever heard of a bass singer being from Buffalo? You've got to be from at least Kentucky, and on down, to sing bass!" This is "The Stamps Quartet" from the very early 1970's. I believe, at the risk of starting something, (and I'm still a loyal Statesmen fan), but anyway, I believe that this particular group, at this time, may be the best sounding male quartet to ever take to the stage. What a sound!!! I'm not alone in my opinion, (I thought this back in the '70's when they were touring also), because you see, Elvis reached out and got them to back him up and they worked with him until his untimely death. Even though he had a friendship with J. D. that went back to J. D.'s tenure with the Blackwood Brothers, it was the sound and unique blend of this group that attracted Elvis. Rare is the moment when so much young, really talented individuals come together to create something so good that it is worth listening to forty years later! Here, even without J. D. singing, you know you have heard something very special indeed. J. D. Sumner heading up the young group, his nephew Donnie Sumner, Ed Enoch, Bill Baize (top tenor of the time), and Richard Sterban, with musicians Duke Dumas, Kenny Hicks and Tony "Tarzan" Brown, (who has gone on to become one of the top record producers in the world), -- Here for your listening enjoyment are the Stamps Quartet with this great medley: "How Great Thou Art/I'll Have a New Body." Enjoy!