D.J. Fontana
The drummer for Elvis Presley for 13 years, playing on over 460 RCA recordings.
Dominic Joseph Fontana (March 15, 1931 – June 13, 2018) was an American musician best known as the drummer for Elvis Presley for 13 years. In 1955, he was hired to play drums for Presley, which marked the beginning of a 13-year relationship. He played on over 460 RCA recordings with Elvis. After being employed by the Louisiana Hayride as an in-house drummer on its Saturday night radio broadcast, Fontana (nicknamed "D.J." from his childhood initials) was classified 4-F due to a medical condition and never served in the U.S. Army. Fontana joined a band (originally assembled by Sam Phillips) that was without a drummer and included Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (bass), and Elvis Presley (rhythm guitar). They called themselves the Blue Moon Boys, though Fontana was not part of the original lineup—he joined later in 1955, after the group had already been performing and recording without a drummer. This became the band that would perform and record the vast majority of Presley's hits of the 1950s.
- Role
- Drummer
- Affiliation
- Elvis Presley
- Instrument
- Drums
- Status
- Deceased
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Along with the occasional piano and backing vocals from the Jordanaires, 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 included The Ed Sullivan Show. The Blue Moon Boys effectively disbanded when Elvis was drafted in 1958. Although the band had officially broken up, Fontana, Moore, and Elvis continued to work together intermittently throughout the 1960s—they were not present on many 1960s recording sessions. In 1968, Fontana performed on the NBC television special, often referred to as Elvis' Comeback Special. Fontana played with Elvis for 13 years, from 1955 to 1968.
In Their Own Story
Stan Lynch 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 trick ponies and lucky 'Rock Stars,' D.J. is the real deal." In 1975, Fontana and Moore reunited to record "E.P. Express" with friend Carl Perkins. In August 1992, Fontana performed at Ellis Auditorium for a "Good Rockin' Tonight" show alongside Carl Perkins, Moore, the Jordanaires, James Burton, the Sun Rhythm Section, and Ronnie McDowell. They later took this show format on a small tour of England. In 1993, Fontana, Moore, and Carl Perkins performed at a telethon in Jackson, TN. Fontana and Moore also toured Europe with vocalist Bloomer Jenson, organized by the Elvis Presley fan club "It's Elvis Time". In 1994, Fontana, Moore, and Carl Perkins performed at the Jackson telethon again and were joined by McDowell. In 1997, Fontana and Moore reunited to record the album All the King's Men, featuring guest appearances from the Bill Black Combo, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, Levon Helm and Jim Weider of The Band, Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick, and others. In April 1999, Fontana and Moore toured the UK. In 2001, Fontana and Moore recorded a version of "That's All Right" with Paul McCartney for the documentary Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records.
Reader's Guide
In 1983, Fontana published a book in pictorial form, titled D.J. Fontana Remembers Elvis, detailing his years playing with Elvis. Fontana's Life and Times weekly phonecasting debuted on July 3, 2007. Fontana was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame on January 14, 2009, and on April 4 that year, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in the "sidemen" category. English musician Wayne Fontana (born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis) took his stage name from the drummer. Fontana was played by Ed Begley Jr. in the 1979 motion picture Elvis and by Eric William Pierson in the 2005 CBS miniseries Elvis. 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.
Did You Know?
- Fontana played on over 460 RCA recordings with Elvis.
- He was nicknamed "D.J." from his childhood initials, and was classified 4-F due to a medical condition, never serving in the Army.
- English musician Wayne Fontana (born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis) took his stage name from the drummer.
- Fontana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009, in the "sidemen" category.
- He died in his sleep on June 13, 2018, in Nashville at age 87 from complications of a broken hip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was D.J. Fontana?
Dominic Joseph Fontana, known as D.J., was an American drummer who served as Elvis Presley's primary percussionist for 14 years. Born in 1931 and passing in 2018, he is best remembered for his long-standing musical partnership with the King of Rock and Roll.
What role did D.J. Fontana play in Elvis's band?
Fontana was the drummer who provided the rhythmic foundation for Elvis Presley's recordings and live performances starting in 1955. He completed the classic trio alongside guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, helping to define the early rock and roll sound.
How many records did D.J. Fontana play on with Elvis?
He performed on more than 460 recordings released by RCA Victor during his tenure with Presley. His drumming is a consistent element across the vast majority of Elvis's studio albums and singles from that era.
What was D.J. Fontana doing before he joined Elvis Presley?
Before working with Elvis, Fontana served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and later became an in-house drummer for the Louisiana Hayride radio show. He was hired by Sam Phillips to join the band when they needed a permanent drummer.
When did D.J. Fontana's career with Elvis end?
Fontana left Elvis Presley's band in 1969 after a 14-year collaboration, though he remained close friends with the singer until his death. He continued to tour and record as a solo artist and collaborator well into his later years.
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