I have a chance to buy the J.D. autobiography "Gospel Music is My Life". They want $75.00 for it.

I know there are several really good books that no aspiring, amateur, gm historian should be without.

Q - Is this one of them?

What are the names of some other books that should be in every library?

Thanks

J.D.'s book is one of them. It seems that I have seen a few over the past couple of years for a lot less. The original book had several chapters addedon sometime in the 90's. It's mainly updates on Elvis, Masters V, etc.

I hate to say this, but $75 is a great deal for that book. I bought it when it was "new" had had JD and the Stamps autograph it for me. I'd have to be in deep despair to sell it!

Thanks guys.

What about other books I should put on my list?

I have Gerald's Book and the Blackwood Brothers History that came out recently.

The updated version of the book is available at jdsumnerandthestampsquartet.com for $18. I figured you were trying to pull some legs, since it's Wednesday, until I saw the original on ebay for $90. Other than the ones already mentioned and the few that have been well publicized, there is one little book that I found to be interesting and enjoyable. It's "Turn Your Radio On," by Ace Collins. It was published by Zondervan Publishing in 1999. It contains stories behind 65 well-known gospel songs.

I'm really not trying to pull legs today. If you can find the first pressing of JD's book, it's a steal at any price.

Dean posted a list several years ago of some of the great gospel music books. Maybe we can prevail upon him to post it again.

Here's a list of some ---
Dean

Above All (Blackwood Bros) - K.J. Racine
Bad Boy of Gospel Music (Calvin Newton) - Russ Cheatam
Bill Gaither, It’s More Than Music - Bill Gaither & Ken Abraham
The Cathedrals (George Younce & Glen Payne) - Ace Collins
Close Harmony - James Goff
Don’t Quit Now - Phil Enloe
Fifty Years on the Bench - Jack Clark
Gospel Music Encyclopedia - Robert Anderson & Gail North
Gospel Music Is My Life – JD Sumner with Bob Terrell
Gospel Quartet Music Then & Now - Doc Horsley
Gospel Trivia - Phillip G. Wammack
Happy Rhythm (Statesmen) - David Taylor
History of Gospel Music – Duane Allen and Jesse Burt
Hold On (The Greenes) - Mike Collins
Homecoming – Bill Gaither
I Almost Missed the Sunset - Bill Gaither
It - LeRoy Abernathy
J.G. Whitfield, A Tribute in Essence - Debbie Fleming
James Blackwood Memories - Allen Dennis
James Blackwood Story – James Blackwood & Dan Martin
Last Train to Memphis - Peter Guralnick
The Legacy of Buck & Dottie Rambo - Buck Rambo & Bob Terrell
The Legacy of the Blackwood Brothers - Paul Davis
A Legend Lives On (Chuck Wagon Gang) — Bob Terrell
Let the Song Go On (Speer Family) — Paula Becker
The Lewis Family History/Picture Book - Lance Leroy
The Life and Times of J.D. Sumner - Bob Terrell
Life With A Legend: The Story of Kenny Hinson - Larry Hinson
Mighty Lot of Singin’ - Gerald Williams with Judy Cox
The Music Men - Bob Terrell
Nothin’ But Fine (Jake Hess) - Jake Hess & Richard Hyatt
O Happy Day (Goodmans) - Jamie Buckingham
The Oak Ridge Boys - Ellis Widner & Walter Carter

***Precious Memories: The Recorded History of the Blackwood Brothers 1934-1985 – John Crenshaw, Jim Guild, Wayne Hilliard

The Rangers Quartet Book of Memories - Mrs. Vernon Hyles
The Rest of the Song - Squire Parsons
Sego - James Sego & R.L. Lamb
Stories Behind 50 Gospel Favorites - Lindsay Terry
Tracing the Roots of Southern Gospel Singers - B.F. McLemore
Turn Your Radio On - Ace Collins
Vestal - Vestal Goodman & Ken Abraham
What a Wonderful Time (Inspirations) - Bob Terrell
Where is Elvis - Ed Hill & Don Hill
With All My Heart (Lily Fern Weatherford) - Lily Weatherford & Gail Shadwell

Dean, bless you. That is an awesome wish list. I will print, keep, look, and maybe someday, include them on my shelf!!

Thanks!

PS. Usually the ebay price on these things go up considerably as soon as Dean or John put out a list like this!!

Surely John and Dean don't do this to drive up deliberately the price of the multiple copies of these books that they own. :D

I think there is only one book on this list that I own two copies and that's "Let the Song Go On" about the Speer Family.

However, one is my personal copy (autographed by the entire family) and the other was owned and inscribed to my aunt. . . the lady that drove me to more gospel concerts than you can ever imagine! I can't let go of either of them.

I didn't realize my little "Gospel Music Is My Life" book was so valuable! J. D. autographed it and wrote a personal note to me back when I worked for the Stamps organization for a short while in 1971.

I don't have any extra copies but my wife will be willing to sell them after I'm gone -- she has this strange idea that she is going to outlive me!

Dean

I did find an original some years back. I don't think I paid quite that much for it. I bought the revised one first and had J.D. autograph it then which was around 1992. It is interesting to compare versions and see what was added, updated and changed. :)

I noticed that Dean had 2 Elvis books on his list. Another Elvis book that has a lot of gospel music information in it is "Elvis" by Albert Goldman. I has a chapter called "Quartette". Lot's of stuff about Chief, JD, Jake, and 50's groups.

Do a Trust, appoint a successor trustee, and leave those books to the GOGR or the GMH of fame.

Alternatively,

Make sure your wife has my mailing address so I can go to the garage sale :rollinglaughing:

Why don't someone write a book about The Plainsmen? I think it really make for some interesting reading. Johnboy, you could REALLY make a mark on Gospel Music should you undertake this mission. But, be as kind to them as you were The Blackwood bunch.

Dead men tell no tales. . . :you wish:

Got the book, read it all last night. It is the 1971 first edition.

I want you all, and especially John, Dean, and others, to know that reading that book meant a whole lot more after having been gratuitously educated by all you folks on this board on others over the past several years.

The history of the groups and the names of the artists made a whole lot more sense and came alive with all the education I have received from you folks.

THANK YOU SO MUCH and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE.