D. J. Fontana | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Fontana in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Dominic Joseph Fontana (1931-03-15)March 15, 1931 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | June 13, 2018(2018-06-13) (aged 87) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Drummer |
| Years active | Early 1950s – 2018 |
| Formerly of | The Blue Moon Boys |
Dominic Joseph Fontana (March 15, 1931 – June 13, 2018) was an American musician best known as thedrummer forElvis Presley for 14 years. In 1955, he was hired to play drums for Presley, which marked the beginning of a 15-year relationship. He played on over 460RCA recordings with Elvis.[1][2]
After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, Fontana (nicknamed "D.J.") was employed by theLouisiana Hayride to be an in-house drummer on its Saturday night radio broadcast.[3]
Fontana joined a band (originally assembled bySam Phillips) that was without a drummer[4] and includedScotty Moore (lead guitar),Bill Black (bass), and Elvis Presley (rhythm guitar). They called themselvesthe Blue Moon Boys. This became the band that would perform and record the vast majority of Presley's hits of the 1950s.[5]
Along with the occasional piano and backing vocals from theJordanaires, the Blue Moon Boys played on several Elvis hits, including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog", "Don't Be Cruel", and "Jailhouse Rock". The band toured extensively. Throughout 1956 and 1957, the band had several television appearances, which includedThe Ed Sullivan Show. The band broke up in 1958.
Although the band had officially broken up, Fontana, Moore, and Elvis still regularly played and recorded together throughout the 1960s. In 1968, Fontana performed on theNBC television special, often referred to asElvis' Comeback Special.[5] Fontana played with Elvis for 13 years, from 1955 to 1968.
Stan Lynch said of Fontana: "Armed with accuracy, power, swing, dynamics, great time and — the biggest compliment of all — simplicity whenever it was best, D.J. rocked the greatest singer and the greatest songs ... ever. He did it year after year, record after classic record. In a world of one trick ponies and lucky 'Rock Stars,' D.J. is the real deal."[6]
Moore and Fontana also performed together without Presley, including a 2001 recording withPaul McCartney of "That's All Right (Mama)".[4]
I learned the value of simplicity at the Hayride. I heard Scotty and Bill and Elvis one night and knew that I couldn't mess up that sound. That's why I always play what I feel. If that won't work, I just won't do it again. I think the simple approach comes from my hearing so much big band music. I mixed it with rockabilly.
In 1983, Fontana published a book in pictorial form, titledD.J. Fontana Remembers Elvis, detailing his years playing with Elvis. Fontana'sLife and Times weeklyphonecasting debuted on July 3, 2007.
Fontana was inducted into theRockabilly Hall of Fame on January 14, 2009, and on April 4 that year, he was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame, in the "sidemen" category.[8] English musicianWayne Fontana (born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis) took his stage name from the drummer.
Fontana was played byEd Begley Jr. in the 1979 motion pictureElvis and by Eric William Pierson in the 2005CBS miniseriesElvis.[9]
Fontana died in his sleep on June 13, 2018, in Nashville at the age of 87.[10] At the time of his death, he was suffering from complications of a broken hip.[11]
Unknown recording duet:Robert Hampton and Johnny Paycheck, "I Love My Jesus" Drummer:D.J. Fontana
| External videos | |
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 Oral History, DJ Fontana shares early moments of his life story. NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library |
| International | |
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| National | |
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| People | |
