DJ Fontana, 1931 - 2018
June 14, 2018 6:47 PM Subscribe
RIP and TCB, DJ Fontana. Best known as Elvis' drummer, Fontana backed Elvis from 1954 to 1968. He could deliver a machine gun on Blue Suede Shoes, or he could simply 'get out of the way', but his work with Presley “helped define the rhythmic foundations of the last several decades of pop music”. He recorded 'approximately' 460 cuts with the King for RCA. The band is back together. DJ Fontana was 87.
More machine gun stylings here, on Hound Dog.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:56 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:56 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
I once met a guy who claimed to have done a sub gig for him, for an Elvis show, but I had no way to verify.
posted by thelonius at 7:00 PM on June 14, 2018
posted by thelonius at 7:00 PM on June 14, 2018
When I saw this I thought it was D.C.Fontana, the lady writer from the original Star Trek.
Sorry, D.J., but I'm relieved.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:45 PM on June 14, 2018 [14 favorites]
Sorry, D.J., but I'm relieved.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:45 PM on June 14, 2018 [14 favorites]
Is this where we have Ringo and Meg in one corner, and Neal and John Bonham in another? If so, I LOVE IT! MORE! Elvis' personal drummer, he was clearly...
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:02 PM on June 14, 2018
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:02 PM on June 14, 2018
TCB, DJ.
posted by rocket88 at 8:38 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rocket88 at 8:38 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by Silverstone at 9:03 PM on June 14, 2018
posted by Silverstone at 9:03 PM on June 14, 2018
When I saw this I thought it was D.C.Fontana, the lady writer from the original Star Trek.
Sorry, D.J., but I'm relieved.
oneswellpoof you are not alone.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:50 PM on June 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
Sorry, D.J., but I'm relieved.
oneswellpoof you are not alone.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:50 PM on June 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
. (The videos you linked, Captain, are great. I especially liked the Hound Dog one because it really showed the guy's mastery of his art.)
posted by CCBC at 11:29 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by CCBC at 11:29 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
I met him after a gig in Aberdeen. Great drummer and a nice guy in the 2 minutes I was chatting to him.
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posted by gnuhavenpier at 3:38 AM on June 15, 2018 [4 favorites]
.
posted by gnuhavenpier at 3:38 AM on June 15, 2018 [4 favorites]
.
I was lucky enough to see the man in a small club when he toured with The Sun Rhythm Section — many, many moons ago when I lived in Dallas, before I moved to the big city. The Sun Rhythm Section dressed in what looked like more or less matching brown polyester suits, making them look for all the world like a bunch of bland, variously elderly insurance salesmen in town for some convention, but they blew the roof off that joint, rocking harder than any band of any age I’d ever seen. Rest in peace, mister. If peace is what you want.
posted by Empty Planet at 3:49 AM on June 15, 2018 [3 favorites]
I was lucky enough to see the man in a small club when he toured with The Sun Rhythm Section — many, many moons ago when I lived in Dallas, before I moved to the big city. The Sun Rhythm Section dressed in what looked like more or less matching brown polyester suits, making them look for all the world like a bunch of bland, variously elderly insurance salesmen in town for some convention, but they blew the roof off that joint, rocking harder than any band of any age I’d ever seen. Rest in peace, mister. If peace is what you want.
posted by Empty Planet at 3:49 AM on June 15, 2018 [3 favorites]
.
posted by vibrotronica at 8:37 AM on June 15, 2018
posted by vibrotronica at 8:37 AM on June 15, 2018
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posted by drnick at 6:48 PM on June 14, 2018