[msb-alumni] D.J. Fontana, Drummer for Elvis Presley, dies at 87
- From: Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2018 14:19:34 -0400
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D.J. Fontana "passed away in his sleep" at 9:33 p.m. Wednesday, said his son,
David Fontana of Smyrna, in a Facebook post.
He was 87 years old, and, from 1954-1968, played drums behind Elvis Presley.
He's on approximately 460 of the King's recordings, including indelible
classics
"Jailhouse Rock" and "Heartbreak Hotel," and performed on the '68 Comeback
Special.
During his years in Nashville, he worked with everyone from Red Sovine to Ringo
Starr.
Dominic Joseph Fontana was born Mar. 15, 1931 in Shreveport, La. He began
playing drums in high school and taught himself to play by listening to big
band
records. He was hired to be the house drummer for the the Louisiana Hayride in
1953, and spent his Saturday nights backing country artists like Webb Pierce
and
Faron Young.
A early publicity photo of Elvis Presley with Scotty
A early publicity photo of Elvis Presley with Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana and
Bill Black. (Photo: File Photo)
Fontana met Presley at the Hayride in late 1954: "They sent Elvis' records from
Memphis. I thought the sound was really incredible," he told The Tennessean in
1984. "It was really different...When Elvis, (guitarist) Scotty Moore and
(bassist) Bill Black came down as a trio, Scotty approached me about drumming
with them. We ran through about two or three songs backstage, including 'That's
All Right, Mama.' "
The musicians hit it off, and it wasn't long before Fontana was touring and
recording with them. He spent 14 years with Presley on stage, in the studio and
on set — he appeared in several Presley films, including "G.I Blues," "King
Creole," "Jailhouse Rock" and "Loving You."
"D.J.’s first Nashville sessions with Elvis happened in January 1956 at the
Television, Radio, and Film Commission (TRAFCO) of the Methodist Church," said
Michael Gray, Senior Museum Editor of the Country Music Hall of Fame and
Museum.
"After RCA Studio B was built in 1957, Presley recorded more than 200 sides in
that room. D.J was on most of the records Elvis made at Studio B. Many times
'A-Team' drummer Buddy Harman would join D.J. on percussion. The two drummers
would help maintain an exciting but consistent rhythm, with Buddy providing
fills while D.J. concentrated on keeping the tempo solid."
Fontana was booked on the Studio B sessions that resulted in some of Presley's
most beloved hits, such as “A Big Hunk O’ Love,” “Ain’t That Loving You,” “A
Fool Such as I,” “I Got Stung,” “Stuck on You,” “It’s Now or Never,” “Are You
Lonesome Tonight,” “Little Sister,” “Good Luck Charm,” “Love Letters” and
“(You’re
the) Devil in Disguise," as well as his gospel album "How Great Thou Art."
A early publicity photo of Elvis Presley and D.J. Fontana.
A early publicity photo of Elvis Presley and D.J. Fontana. (Photo: File Photo)
Fontana moved to Nashville in the '60s and became an in-demand session musician.
When Ringo Starr came to Nashville in 1970 to make country album "Beaucoups of
Blues," Fontana and other session m
Eight-year-old Mary Kosloski had a date with Elvis Presley Jan. 8, 1958, and he
kept her waiting for more than two hours. The Collierville girl, who was the
national March of Dimes poster child in 1955, seemed to forgive all when Elvis
appeared and told her: 'If you were 10 years older, honey, I wouldn't let you
go.' The pair were photographed with teddy bears and pandas Elvis was sending
to
the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis for auction during an upcoming
fund drive.
More than 150 people jammed into the mayor's office Dec. 17, 1963, to see Elvis
Presley hand out Christmas checks totaling $55,000. The checks benefited 58
Memphis and Mid-South charities. In appreciation, the organizations presented
Elvis with a six-foot plaque. It was warm in the room, and when Commissioner
Claude Armour announced Elvis was going to pass out the checks, the singer
wiped
his brow and said, 'Elvis is going to pass out, period.'
Elvis Presley on the day of his induction into the U.S. Army on March 24, 1958.
He is shown leaving Downtown Memphis on the bus that will take him to Kennedy
Veterans Hospital.
Next Slide
37 Photos
Elvis in Memphis
In the late 1990s, Fontana and Scotty Moore reunited for the album "All the
King's Men," which featured top-notch musical guests, among them Keith
Richards,
Levon Helm and Joe Ely.
In 2009, Fontana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a sideman.
He is also a member of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum selected him to participate in their
"Nashville Cats" program, which celebrates musicians who've played an integral
role in country music history, in 2011.
Funeral arrangements are unknown at this time.
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