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Dominic Joseph FontanaAmerican musician, Elvis Presley's drummer
Date of Birth: 15.03.1931
Country:  USA |
Content:
- American Music Icon and Elvis Presley's Drummer
- Known as "D.J."
- The Blue Moon Boys
- Beyond The Blue Moon Boys
- Later Years and Recognition
- Legacy and Death
American Music Icon and Elvis Presley's Drummer
Early Life and CareerD.J. Fontanawas an American musician and the renowned drummer for Elvis Presley for 14 years. In October 1954, he joined Presley's band, igniting a 15-year partnership. Fontana played on over 460 of Elvis' RCA recordings.
Known as "D.J."
Before his collaboration with Presley, Fontana was recruited as a regular drummer for the Louisiana Hayride, a weekly radio broadcast. Sam Phillips assembled a band that initially lacked a drummer. Joining Fontana were Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (bass), and Elvis Presley (rhythm guitar), forming The Blue Moon Boys.
The Blue Moon Boys
With added piano and backing vocals from The Jordanaires, The Blue Moon Boys created numerous Elvis hits, including "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," and "Jailhouse Rock." The group toured extensively and made several television appearances on shows like The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956 and 1957.
Beyond The Blue Moon Boys
The band disbanded in 1958, with Black never performing with Fontana or Presley again. Black passed away in 1965. Despite the official dissolution of the group, Fontana and Elvis continued to perform and record together throughout the 1960s, sometimes alongside Moore.
Later Years and Recognition
In 1968, Fontana participated in the NBC special often referred to as "Elvis' Comeback." Fontana was highly regarded for his drumming skills, as stated by Stan Lynch: "[Fontana] possessed accuracy, power, swing, dynamics, impeccable time, and—the highest compliment—simplicity when it counted most. DJ propelled the greatest singer and the best songs... ever. He did it year after year, classic after classic. In a world of one-trick ponies and flash-in-the-pan 'rock stars,' D.J. was the real deal."
Moore and Fontana also performed together without Presley, including a 2001 recording of "It's All Right (Mama)" with Paul McCartney. Fontana authored an illustrated book in 1983 titled "D.J. Fontana Remembers Elvis," chronicling his time with Presley. His weekly television show, "Fontana's Life and Times," premiered in 2007.
In 2009, Fontana was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, followed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Sideman" category in 2011. English musician Wayne Fontana (born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis) adopted his stage name after the drummer. Fontana was portrayed by Ed Begley Jr. in the 1979 film "Elvis" and Eric William Pearson in the 2005 CBS miniseries "Elvis."
Legacy and Death
D.J. Fontana passed away on June 13, 2018, in Nashville at the age of 87. He had been suffering from a hip fracture at the time of his death. Fontana's legacy as a legendary drummer and integral member of Elvis Presley's band remains unforgettable.
