The offered gold metal "ELVIS PRESLEY SHOW" I.D. badge was the one that Elvis Presley gave to his friend and leader of his backup band, The Stamps Quartet, J.D. Sumner. The gold card simply identifies J.D. as “Stamps.” Elvis and J.D. Sumner shared a love of gospel music which was the catalyst for Elvis hiring J.D. and the Stamps Quartet as his backup singers in November 1971.
After being inspired by the Kenpo Karate black belt cards that Elvis' instructor Ed Parker gave him and other students in the early 1970s, Elvis commissioned Apollo Trophies, a trophy and engraving shop in Los Angeles that had made the cards for Parker, to create similar identification cards for him to give to his inner circle, close friends and band members in order to allow them backstage access during the shows. These special metallic badges each had the recipient’s name engraved along with a “title.” For example, the one given to Ed Parker listed his title as “Master Kenpo Karate,” and the one that he gave to Muhammad Ali listed his title as “The Champ”—even the one he gave to his father Vernon had his title listed as “Exec. Administrator Personal Business.” The gold badges further stated that the recipient “is a member of the ELVIS PRESLEY SHOW,” and each badge contained a facsimile Elvis Presley signature in the lower right and TCB logo to the left, along with “S.O. Kim” designer initials.
This identification card comes with a notarized certified copy of an original bill of sale between J.D. Sumner and Mike Moon, dated May 1, 1980, on which this gold card is listed as item “(g) One gold card permanent backstage entrance pass given by Elvis Presley to J.D. Sumner.” The back of the gold card retains the original Apollo Trophies oval sticker. The badge measures 2 1/4 by 3 1/2 inches and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated. The badge exhibits signs of wear and use with minor scratching around the end. The reverse of the gold card contains heavy adhesive residue, likely from a display method at one point. Excellent condition.