D.J. Fontana, a drummer who performed with Elvis Presley during some of the key moments of his career, has died. Fontana died Wednesday in his sleep at age 87, according to his son, David Fontana, who posted the news on Facebook.
Fontana was the last surviving member of Presley’s backup trio during his early, classic period. Bassist Bill Black passed in 1965 at age 39, while guitarist Scotty Moore died in June 2016 at age 84. Fontana played on his Sun Records recordings and such landmark hits as “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock.” He was also there for Elvis’s 1968 comeback television special, which is being re-released this summer.
Dominic Joseph Fontana was born in 1931 and began working with Presley in 1954, teaming with the King on the popular radio program Louisiana Hayride, which taped in Fontana’s hometown of Shreveport, La. Fontana was an on-call percussionist for the production.
“The manager of the Hayride...
Fontana was the last surviving member of Presley’s backup trio during his early, classic period. Bassist Bill Black passed in 1965 at age 39, while guitarist Scotty Moore died in June 2016 at age 84. Fontana played on his Sun Records recordings and such landmark hits as “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock.” He was also there for Elvis’s 1968 comeback television special, which is being re-released this summer.
Dominic Joseph Fontana was born in 1931 and began working with Presley in 1954, teaming with the King on the popular radio program Louisiana Hayride, which taped in Fontana’s hometown of Shreveport, La. Fontana was an on-call percussionist for the production.
“The manager of the Hayride...
- 6/14/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
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