33:
839:
388:
282:
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
260:
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
1165:
769:
797:
976:
243:
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 the
923:
972:
356:
Fontana died in his sleep on June 13, 2018, in
Nashville at the age of 87. At the time of his death, he was suffering from complications of a broken hip.
984:
964:
1155:
1135:
916:
936:
876:
176:
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 460
805:
909:
857:
1145:
616:
515:
753:
234:". The band toured extensively. Throughout 1956 and 1957, the band had several television appearances, which included
698:
557:
435:
417:
958:
866:
1140:
1130:
413:
409:
522:
1150:
32:
932:
318:
269:
211:. This became the band that would perform and record the vast majority of Presley's hits of the 1950s.
895:
398:
645:
745:
547:
402:
314:
251:
1160:
901:
463:
231:
70:
871:
1125:
1120:
264:
Moore and
Fontana also performed together without Presley, including a 2001 recording with
236:
87:
188:
After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, Fontana (nicknamed "D.J.") was employed by the
8:
854:
671:
891:
886:
344:
247:
208:
154:
842:
749:
694:
334:
227:
189:
1036:
968:
540:
526:
223:
219:
106:
1014:
861:
533:
168:(March 15, 1931 – June 13, 2018) was an American musician best known as the
1098:
1040:
1032:
1006:
774:
714:
329:
265:
1114:
1066:
1010:
322:
173:
110:
98:
317:
on
January 14, 2009, and on April 4, also in 2009, he was inducted into the
1048:
1002:
998:
980:
582:
200:
196:
1018:
215:
140:
881:
1084:
257:
204:
144:
102:
992:
951:
846:. NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library
493:"(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I"/"I Need Your Love Tonight"
387:
207:(bass), and Elvis Presley (rhythm guitar). They called themselves
1166:
Burials at
Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery (Nashville, Tennessee)
1026:
325:(born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis) took his stage name from the drummer.
302:
192:
to be an in-house drummer on its
Saturday night radio broadcast.
169:
120:
844:
Oral
History, DJ Fontana shares early moments of his life story
931:
254:. Fontana played with Elvis for 13 years, from 1955 to 1968.
218:, The Blue Moon Boys played on several Elvis hits, including "
617:"D.J. Fontana, 87, Elvis Presley's Longtime Drummer, Is Dead"
553:"One Broken Heart For Sale"/"They Remind Me Too Much of You"
261:
trick ponies and lucky "Rock Stars," D.J. is the real deal."
293:
In 1983, Fontana published a book in pictorial form, titled
214:
Along with the occasional piano and backing vocals from the
484:"Wear My Ring Around Your Neck"/"Doncha' Think It's Time"
575:"Crying in the Chapel"/"I Believe in the Man in the Sky"
339:
244:
177:
456:"I Want You, I Need You, I Love You"/"My Baby Left Me"
798:"Longtime Elvis Presley drummer D.J. Fontana has died"
297:, detailing his years playing with Elvis. Fontana's
770:"D.J. Fontana, Elvis Presley's drummer, dead at 87"
594:"Frankie and Johnny"/"Please Don't Stop Loving Me"
472:"All Shook Up"/"That's When Your Heartaches Begin"
199:) that was without a drummer. The band included
1112:
855:ElvisInfoNetwork Interview with DJ Fontana 2010
742:The Encyclopedia of Musicians and Bands on Film
588:"Blue Christmas"/"Santa Claus Is Back in Town"
195:Fontana joined a band (originally assembled by
740:Goldsmith, Melissa U. D.; et al. (2016).
321:, in the "sidemen" category. English musician
917:
693:. University of Illinois Press. p. 117.
475:"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"/"Loving You"
416:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
924:
910:
505:"Are You Lonesome Tonight"/"I Gotta Know"
338:, and by Eric William Pierson in the 2005
31:
739:
560:"/"Please Don't Drag That String Around"
496:"A Big Hunk o' Love"/"My Wish Came True"
436:Learn how and when to remove this message
688:
572:"Ain't That Loving You, Baby"/"Ask Me"
487:"Hard Headed Woman"/"Don't Ask Me Why"
1113:
511:"I Feel So Bad"/"Wild in the Country"
502:"It's Now or Never"/"A Mess of Blues"
905:
640:
638:
611:
609:
1156:20th-century American male musicians
1136:Musicians from Shreveport, Louisiana
414:adding citations to reliable sources
381:
313:D. J. Fontana was inducted into the
516:(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame
450:"Heartbreak Hotel"/"I Was the One"
13:
877:D. J. Fontana Phonecasting Channel
635:
606:
578:"I'm Yours"/"Long Lonely Highway"
499:"Stuck on You"/"Fame and Fortune"
453:"Blue Suede Shoes"/"Tutti Frutti"
367:Robert Hampton and Johnny Paycheck
14:
1177:
824:
543:"/"Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello"
478:"Jailhouse Rock"/"Treat Me Nice"
959:Little Anthony and the Imperials
837:
569:"Viva Las Vegas"/"What'd I Say"
566:"Kissin' Cousins"/"It Hurts Me"
536:"/"Anything That's Part of You"
386:
804:. June 14, 2018. Archived from
563:"Bossa Nova Baby"/"Witchcraft"
469:"Too Much"/"Playing for Keeps"
1146:20th-century American drummers
790:
762:
733:
707:
682:
664:
558:(You're the) Devil in Disguise
308:
1:
599:
459:"Hound Dog"/"Don't Be Cruel"
359:
275:
240:. The band broke up in 1958.
872:Interview with D. J. Fontana
591:"Tell Me Why"/" Blue River"
295:D.J. Fontana Remembers Elvis
16:American drummer (1931–2018)
7:
550:"/"Where Do You Come From"
332:in the 1979 motion picture
10:
1182:
933:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
719:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
523:Can't Help Falling in Love
490:"I Got Stung"/"One Night"
319:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
283:mixed it with rockabilly.
1076:
1058:
943:
896:NAMM Oral History Library
867:D. J. Fontana TCB website
836:
831:
508:"Surrender"/"Lonely Man"
305:debuted on July 3, 2007.
252:Elvis' 'Comeback' Special
183:
150:
136:
126:
116:
94:
77:
57:
47:
42:
30:
23:
746:Rowman & Littlefield
689:Morrison, Craig (1996).
466:"/"Any Way You Want Me"
364:Unknown recording duet:
351:
882:Rockabilly Hall of Fame
646:"D.J. Fontana has Died"
481:"Don't"/"I Beg of You"
315:Rockabilly Hall of Fame
270:That's All Right (Mama)
250:, often referred to as
180:recordings with Elvis.
1141:American rock drummers
1131:American male drummers
581:"Puppet on a String"/"
328:Fontana was played by
285:
166:Dominic Joseph Fontana
53:Dominic Joseph Fontana
43:Background information
977:Glouster "Nat" Rogers
860:July 7, 2018, at the
280:
71:Shreveport, Louisiana
892:DJ Fontana Interview
748:. pp. 418–419.
410:improve this section
237:The Ed Sullivan Show
88:Nashville, Tennessee
1151:American memoirists
288:— D.J. Fontana
621:The New York Times
518:"/"Little Sister"
248:television special
209:The Blue Moon Boys
155:The Blue Moon Boys
132:Early 1950s – 2018
1108:
1107:
985:Ernest Wright Jr.
851:
850:
755:978-1-44226-986-6
446:
445:
438:
190:Louisiana Hayride
160:
159:
1173:
1059:Early influences
1037:Darryl McDaniels
969:Anthony Gourdine
965:Clarence Collins
926:
919:
912:
903:
902:
887:Drummerworld.com
841:
840:
829:
828:
818:
817:
815:
813:
808:on June 15, 2018
794:
788:
787:
785:
783:
766:
760:
759:
737:
731:
730:
728:
726:
711:
705:
704:
686:
680:
679:
668:
662:
661:
659:
657:
642:
633:
632:
630:
628:
613:
548:Return to Sender
527:Rock-A-Hula Baby
441:
434:
430:
427:
421:
390:
382:
289:
220:Heartbreak Hotel
129:
107:rhythm and blues
84:
67:
65:
50:
35:
21:
20:
1181:
1180:
1176:
1175:
1174:
1172:
1171:
1170:
1111:
1110:
1109:
1104:
1072:
1054:
1015:Robert Trujillo
939:
930:
862:Wayback Machine
838:
832:External videos
827:
822:
821:
811:
809:
796:
795:
791:
781:
779:
778:. June 14, 2018
768:
767:
763:
756:
738:
734:
724:
722:
713:
712:
708:
701:
687:
683:
670:
669:
665:
655:
653:
652:. June 15, 2018
650:Elvis Australia
644:
643:
636:
626:
624:
623:. June 14, 2018
615:
614:
607:
602:
597:
534:Good Luck Charm
442:
431:
425:
422:
407:
391:
372:I Love My Jesus
362:
354:
311:
291:
287:
278:
203:(lead guitar),
186:
163:
127:
86:
82:
69:
63:
61:
48:
38:
37:Fontana in 2012
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1179:
1169:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1106:
1105:
1103:
1102:
1099:Spooner Oldham
1095:
1088:
1080:
1078:
1074:
1073:
1071:
1070:
1062:
1060:
1056:
1055:
1053:
1052:
1045:
1044:
1043:
1041:Joseph Simmons
1033:Jam Master Jay
1023:
1022:
1021:
1007:James Hetfield
989:
988:
987:
955:
947:
945:
941:
940:
929:
928:
921:
914:
906:
900:
899:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
849:
848:
834:
833:
826:
825:External links
823:
820:
819:
789:
775:The Tennessean
761:
754:
732:
706:
699:
681:
672:"D.J. Fontana"
663:
634:
604:
603:
601:
598:
596:
595:
592:
589:
586:
579:
576:
573:
570:
567:
564:
561:
554:
551:
544:
537:
530:
519:
512:
509:
506:
503:
500:
497:
494:
491:
488:
485:
482:
479:
476:
473:
470:
467:
464:Love Me Tender
460:
457:
454:
451:
447:
444:
443:
394:
392:
385:
361:
358:
353:
350:
330:Ed Begley, Jr.
310:
307:
299:Life and Times
279:
277:
274:
266:Paul McCartney
232:Jailhouse Rock
228:Don't Be Cruel
185:
182:
162:Musical artist
161:
158:
157:
152:
148:
147:
138:
134:
133:
130:
124:
123:
118:
114:
113:
96:
92:
91:
85:(aged 87)
79:
75:
74:
68:March 15, 1931
59:
55:
54:
51:
45:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1178:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1161:Elvis Presley
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1118:
1116:
1101:
1100:
1096:
1094:
1093:
1092:D. J. Fontana
1089:
1087:
1086:
1082:
1081:
1079:
1075:
1069:
1068:
1067:Wanda Jackson
1064:
1063:
1061:
1057:
1051:
1050:
1046:
1042:
1038:
1034:
1031:
1030:
1029:
1028:
1024:
1020:
1016:
1012:
1011:Jason Newsted
1008:
1004:
1000:
997:
996:
995:
994:
990:
986:
982:
978:
974:
970:
966:
963:
962:
961:
960:
956:
954:
953:
949:
948:
946:
942:
938:
937:Class of 2009
934:
927:
922:
920:
915:
913:
908:
907:
904:
897:
893:
890:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
859:
856:
853:
852:
847:
845:
835:
830:
807:
803:
799:
793:
777:
776:
771:
765:
757:
751:
747:
743:
736:
720:
716:
710:
702:
700:0-252-02207-6
696:
692:
685:
677:
673:
667:
651:
647:
641:
639:
622:
618:
612:
610:
605:
593:
590:
587:
584:
580:
577:
574:
571:
568:
565:
562:
559:
555:
552:
549:
545:
542:
541:She's Not You
538:
535:
531:
528:
524:
520:
517:
513:
510:
507:
504:
501:
498:
495:
492:
489:
486:
483:
480:
477:
474:
471:
468:
465:
461:
458:
455:
452:
449:
448:
440:
437:
429:
419:
415:
411:
405:
404:
400:
395:This section
393:
389:
384:
383:
380:
379:
378:
373:
369:
368:
357:
349:
347:
346:
341:
337:
336:
331:
326:
324:
323:Wayne Fontana
320:
316:
306:
304:
300:
296:
290:
284:
273:
271:
267:
262:
259:
255:
253:
249:
246:
241:
239:
238:
233:
229:
225:
221:
217:
212:
210:
206:
202:
198:
193:
191:
181:
179:
175:
174:Elvis Presley
171:
167:
156:
153:
149:
146:
142:
139:
135:
131:
125:
122:
119:
115:
112:
108:
104:
100:
99:Rock and roll
97:
93:
89:
81:June 13, 2018
80:
76:
72:
60:
56:
52:
46:
41:
34:
29:
25:D. J. Fontana
22:
19:
1097:
1091:
1090:
1083:
1065:
1049:Bobby Womack
1047:
1025:
1003:Kirk Hammett
999:Cliff Burton
991:
981:Sammy Strain
957:
950:
843:
810:. Retrieved
806:the original
801:
792:
780:. Retrieved
773:
764:
741:
735:
725:February 10,
723:. Retrieved
718:
715:"DJ Fontana"
709:
690:
684:
676:Drummerworld
675:
666:
654:. Retrieved
649:
625:. Retrieved
620:
583:Wooden Heart
432:
423:
408:Please help
396:
377:D.J. Fontana
376:
375:
371:
366:
365:
363:
355:
343:
333:
327:
312:
303:phonecasting
298:
294:
292:
286:
281:
263:
256:
242:
235:
213:
201:Scotty Moore
197:Sam Phillips
194:
187:
165:
164:
128:Years active
83:(2018-06-13)
18:
1126:2018 deaths
1121:1931 births
1019:Lars Ulrich
374:" Drummer:
342:miniseries
309:Recognition
216:Jordanaires
151:Formerly of
1115:Categories
1085:Bill Black
973:Tracy Lord
944:Performers
691:Go Cat Go!
600:References
426:March 2021
360:Recordings
276:Other work
258:Stan Lynch
205:Bill Black
145:RCA Victor
117:Occupation
103:rockabilly
64:1931-03-15
49:Birth name
993:Metallica
952:Jeff Beck
397:does not
224:Hound Dog
858:Archived
812:June 14,
802:ABC News
782:June 14,
656:June 17,
627:June 17,
230:", and "
1077:Sidemen
1027:Run-DMC
898:(2001)]
418:removed
403:sources
301:weekly
170:drummer
121:Drummer
111:country
752:
721:. 2009
697:
184:Career
137:Labels
95:Genres
90:, U.S.
73:, U.S.
352:Death
345:Elvis
335:Elvis
814:2018
784:2018
750:ISBN
727:2009
695:ISBN
658:2018
629:2018
401:any
399:cite
268:of "
226:", "
222:", "
172:for
78:Died
58:Born
894:at
525:"/"
412:by
370:, "
340:CBS
272:".
245:NBC
178:RCA
141:Sun
1117::
1039:,
1035:,
1017:,
1013:,
1009:,
1005:,
1001:,
983:,
979:,
975:,
971:,
967:,
935:–
800:.
772:.
744:.
717:.
674:.
648:.
637:^
619:.
608:^
585:"
529:"
348:.
143:,
109:,
105:,
101:,
925:e
918:t
911:v
816:.
786:.
758:.
729:.
703:.
678:.
660:.
631:.
556:"
546:"
539:"
532:"
521:"
514:"
462:"
439:)
433:(
428:)
424:(
420:.
406:.
66:)
62:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
.jpg)