DJ Fontana

Video

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Birth Date
Deceased Date
Job Title
Musician, Drummer

DJ Fontana drove down to Houston in a pink Cadillac with Elvis Presley after being hired as the then unknown singer’s first drummer. They pulled up to Herbie Brodstein’s Drum Shop (Herb would later form Pro-Mark Drum Sticks) to buy a kit. After playing on all of the sets Herb had out on display, young Elvis sat at Herb’s own set and asked if it was for sale. It was. Months later Herb saw his drum set in the pages of Life magazine. DJ recorded with Elvis beginning in 1956 and throughout the 1960s, most notably on "Hound Dog," “Jailhouse Rock,” “Treat Me Nice” and “All Shook Up.” DJ was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a sideman in 2009.