This record album was my favorite Blackwood Brothers album. It was released in 1964 and my favorite
songs on the album were I’ve Got To Walk That Lonesome Road, The Old Country Church, God Made
A Way, In Times Like These and Precious Memories. I played this album so much I wore out grooves on
the record and had to order a new copy.
The Blackwood Brothers Quartet bus which can be found at the Southern Gospel Music Museum at Dollywood.
The original Blackwood Brothers quartet was formed 80 years ago in 1934. The group was founded in Choctaw County, Mississippi and some of the descendants of that group are stil singing, under the Blackwood Brothers Quartet name in 2014.
Roy Blackwood, James Blackwood, Doyle Blackwood and R.W. Blackwood was the original configuration for the Blackwood Brothers in 1934.
Tragedy For Blackwood Brothers in 1954
Tragedy struck the Blackwood Brothers Quartet, when two of its members R.W. Blackwood and Bill Lyles were killed, in a plane crash on June 30, 1954. Cecil Blackwood would later replace R.W. Blackwood and J.D. Sumner replaced Bill Lyles as bass after the plane crash.
The Absolute Gospel website has an excellent article describing the accident and the aftermath:
http://absolutelygospel.com/index.php?/content/articles/3948
Trendsetters For Southern Gospel Innovations
The Blackwood Brothers were the first southern gospel group, to customize a bus for traveling to concerts.
They also founded the National Quartet Convention which started in 1957 and is still active 57 years later and is held every September.
James Blackwood 1919-2002
I was fortunate to see James Blackwood sing with the Blackwood Brothers many times over the years, when they performed in concerts in the Central Louisiana area. He was an excellent spokesman for the group, during their concerts and was one of my favorite Blackwood Brothers singers.
J.D. Sumner 1924-1998
J.D. Sumner is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records, as singing the lowest note ever sung. I remember in one Bill Gaither video, that he was singing a song, when the organist started to play faster, than Sumner wanted him to. The look he gave the organist was priceless. It may or may not have been a prank on Sumner, but if it was a prank it was not well received.
Two of my favorite Blackwood Brothers Quartet songs featuring Sumner were I’ve Got To Walk Than Lonesome Road and There’s A Light.
J.D. Sumner on stage with Elvis Presley in 1976, which was a year before Elvis died.
J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet often toured with Elvis Presley. Still not sure if southern gospel was represented well during this time, since they were singing so much secular music during these years. J.D. Sumner gave credit to Elvis for helping him stop being an alcoholic. Shame J.D. couldn’t return the favor and convince Elvis to stop using drugs. Instead J.D. was more of an enabler and more or less discounted reports, that Elvis was a user, when he debunked those reports at the funeral for Elvis. That was before the extent of drug usage was known by the general public, but Sumner with his close proximity to Elvis probably knew exactly what Elvis was doing with drugs.
The golden era of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet are long gone, but their music will live on for years to come. I have a collection of their music from the early days till later years on cassette. It is great to hear the gospel style singing and piano playing, that most of us grew up with in the 50’s and 60’s.
James and J.D. and most of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet singers of the past are gone, but they will never be forgotten.
Nostalgia and Now 
They’re great! I just looked them up on You Tube! Thanks for sharing all these great information, as always.
Maryanne, Thanks for the kind words. This is the kind of music I sing at church, when I sing special music. Grew up with these old songs. You know I liked them to wear the grooves out on their record album.
e WeWere in the air during their crash. Found out upon landing at Ar. coming from Wyoming. If you ever sat under some of JD.;s teaching you would know the dirty look was an angry one. He wasn’t much for joking unless it was ,planned and that was rare.He was an ace on teaching tone, and if you didn,t do, his anger unleached,and , you learned your do, rae, me,s and stood up before the class and sung them alone He sure made kids sweat.That was at the Stamps Baxter Music Schoolof Southern Gospel Music in Dallas. I haven’t ever forgot my lessons there. . So different to Julliard in New York, James Blackwood was a really nice guy to kids. He loved to hear classical too. I haven’t forgotten to send you an E-mail.
Frances, It had to be shock to learn that Bill Lyles and R.W. Blackwood had been killed in the plane crash. Not surprised that JD had anger problems when teaching at the Stamps Baxter Music School. Noticed that he didn’t like to be around other bass singers, that took the spotlight off of him. I always have liked James Blackwood.