D. J. Fontana
| Dominic Joseph Fontana | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dominic Joseph Fontana |
| Born |
March 15, 1931 Shreveport, Louisiana, United States |
| Genres | Rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Labels | Sun, RCA Victor |
| Associated acts | The Blue Moon Boys, Elvis Presley |
 Oral History, DJ Fontana shares early moments of his life story. NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library
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Dominic Joseph Fontana (born March 15, 1931, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States) is an American musician best known as the drummer for Elvis Presley for 14 years. He played on over 460 RCA cuts with Elvis.
Nicknamed "D. J.", Fontana was employed by the Louisiana Hayride to be an in-house drummer on its Saturday night radio broadcast. In October 1954 he was hired to play drums for Presley, and that marked the beginning of a fifteen-year relationship. He performed on the NBC television special known as the '68 Comeback Special.
Fontana joined a band (originally assembled by Sam Phillips without a drummer) consisting of Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (bass) and Elvis Presley (rhythm guitar), calling themselves "The Blue Moon Boys". This became the band that would perform and record the vast majority of the Elvis Presley hits of the 1950s (some also including piano and backing vocals from the Jordanaires) including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog", "Don't Be Cruel", and "Jailhouse Rock". The band also toured extensively and performed on several television appearances including The Ed Sullivan Show through 1956 and 1957.
"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." ~ Stan Lynch
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Wikipedia