D. J. Fontana
D. J. Fontana | |
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![]() Fontana in 2012 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Dominic Joseph Fontana |
Born | Shreveport, Louisiana,U.S. | March 15, 1931
Died | June 13, 2018 Nashville, Tennessee,U.S. | (aged 87)
Genres | Rock and roll,rockabilly,rhythm and blues,country |
Occupation | Drummer |
Years active | Early 1950s – 2018 |
Labels | Sun,RCA Victor |
Formerly of | The Blue Moon Boys |
Dominic Joseph Fontana(March 15, 1931 – June 13, 2018) was an American musician best known as thedrummerforElvis Presleyfor 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 460RCArecordings with Elvis.
Career
[edit]After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, Fontana (nicknamed "D.J." ) was employed by theLouisiana Hayrideto be an in-house drummer on its Saturday night radio broadcast.
Fontana joined a band (originally assembled bySam Phillips) that was without a drummer.[1]The band 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.[2]
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 theNBCtelevision special,often referred to asElvis' 'Comeback' Special.[2]Fontana played with Elvis for 13 years, from 1955 to 1968.
Stan Lynchsaid 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."[3]
Moore and Fontana also performed together without Presley, including a 2001 recording withPaul McCartneyof "That's All Right (Mama)".[1]
Other work
[edit]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.
— D.J. Fontana[4]
In 1983, Fontana published a book in pictorial form, titledD.J. Fontana Remembers Elvis,detailing his years playing with Elvis. Fontana'sLife and Timesweeklyphonecastingdebuted on July 3, 2007.
Recognition
[edit]D. J. Fontana was inducted into theRockabilly Hall of Fameon January 14, 2009, and on April 4, also in 2009, he was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame,in the "sidemen" category.[5]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 2005CBSminiseriesElvis.[6]
Death
[edit]Fontana died in his sleep on June 13, 2018, in Nashville at the age of 87.[7]At the time of his death, he was suffering from complications of a broken hip.[8]
Recordings
[edit]Unknown recording duet:Robert Hampton and Johnny Paycheck,"I Love My Jesus"Drummer:D.J. Fontana
- "Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" [2 × Platinum]
- "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Tutti Frutti" [Gold]
- "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" / "My Baby Left Me" [Platinum]
- "Hound Dog" / "Don't Be Cruel" [4 × Platinum]
- "Love Me Tender"/" Any Way You Want Me "[3 × Platinum]
- "Too Much" / "Playing for Keeps" [Platinum]
- "All Shook Up" / "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" [2 × Platinum]
- "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" / "Loving You" [2 × Platinum]
- "Jailhouse Rock" / "Treat Me Nice" [2 × Platinum]
- "Don't" / "I Beg of You" [Platinum]
- "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" / "Doncha' Think It's Time" [Platinum]
- "Hard Headed Woman" / "Don't Ask Me Why" [Platinum]
- "I Got Stung" / "One Night" [Platinum]
- "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" / "I Need Your Love Tonight" [Platinum]
- "A Big Hunk o' Love" / "My Wish Came True" [Gold]
- "Stuck on You" / "Fame and Fortune" [Platinum]
- "It's Now or Never" / "A Mess of Blues" [Platinum]
- "Are You Lonesome Tonight" / "I Gotta Know" [2 × Platinum]
- "Surrender" / "Lonely Man" [Platinum]
- "I Feel So Bad" / "Wild in the Country" [Gold]
- "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame"/" Little Sister "[Gold]
- "Can't Help Falling in Love"/"Rock-A-Hula Baby"[Platinum]
- "Good Luck Charm"/" Anything That's Part of You "[Platinum]
- "She's Not You"/" Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello "[Gold]
- "Return to Sender"/" Where Do You Come From "[Platinum]
- "One Broken Heart For Sale" / "They Remind Me Too Much of You" [Gold]
- "(You're the) Devil in Disguise"/" Please Don't Drag That String Around "[Gold]
- "Bossa Nova Baby" / "Witchcraft" [Gold]
- "Kissin' Cousins" / "It Hurts Me" [Gold]
- "Viva Las Vegas" / "What'd I Say" [Gold]
- "Ain't That Loving You, Baby" / "Ask Me" [Gold]
- "Crying in the Chapel" / "I Believe in the Man in the Sky" [Platinum]
- "I'm Yours" / "Long Lonely Highway" [Gold]
- "Puppet on a String" / "Wooden Heart"[Gold]
- "Blue Christmas" / "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" [Platinum]
- "Tell Me Why" / "Blue River" [Gold]
- "Frankie and Johnny" / "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" [Gold]
References
[edit]- ^ab"D.J. Fontana, 87, Elvis Presley's Longtime Drummer, Is Dead".The New York Times.June 14, 2018.RetrievedJune 17,2018.
- ^ab"D.J. Fontana has Died".Elvis Australia.June 15, 2018.RetrievedJune 17,2018.
- ^"D.J. Fontana".Drummerworld.
- ^Morrison, Craig (1996).Go Cat Go!.University of Illinois Press. p. 117.ISBN0-252-02207-6.
- ^"DJ Fontana".Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.2009.RetrievedFebruary 10,2009.
- ^Goldsmith, Melissa U. D.; et al. (2016).The Encyclopedia of Musicians and Bands on Film.Rowman & Littlefield.pp. 418–419.ISBN978-1-44226-986-6.
- ^"D.J. Fontana, Elvis Presley's drummer, dead at 87".The Tennessean.June 14, 2018.RetrievedJune 14,2018.
- ^"Longtime Elvis Presley drummer D.J. Fontana has died".ABC News.June 14, 2018. Archived fromthe originalon June 15, 2018.RetrievedJune 14,2018.
External links
[edit]External videos | |
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