Published on November 1, 2016 by Ashley Smith  
elvis presley

Samford University’s Wright Center Signature Series is presenting an evening of gospel music at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 with “Elvis and J.D.: A Gospel Celebration.” 

The event will feature the Blackwood Quartet and the Southern Masters Quartet. The Blackwood Quartet is led by Mark Blackwood, and the Southern Masters Quartet includes Ed Hill, Buddy Burton, Tank Tackett, Roy Pauley and Ron Pauley. 

Hill played with Elvis Presley, and he was the voice of the familiar saying, “Elvis has left the building.” According to Wright Center Director Kenny Gannon, J.D. Sumner and Presley were great friends, and gospel music influenced Elvis’ music career from an early age. This concert celebrates both of these influential musicians. 

“This concert will share music that all of us love,” Gannon said. “Both quartets have members that are truly legendary in the gospel world.” 

Tickets are $15 and $20 and can be purchased online or by calling the Samford Arts box office at 205-726-2853. 

The event is part of the Wright Center Signature Series, which has several upcoming spring concerts. The Assad Brothers classical guitar duo will perform Feb. 21 in Brock Recital Hall. This performance is cosponsored by the Davis Architects Guest Artist Series and the Birmingham Chamber Music Society. 

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, a multimedia spectacular, will take place April 6. Grammy Award–winning Steven Curtis Chapman will be at Wright Center April 22 with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Tickets for this performance are available through alabamasymphony.org

Ashley Smith is marketing and communication coordinator for Samford Arts.

 

 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.