How to Play Drums on Don't Be Cruel by Elvis Presley with D.J. Fontana

Elvis' drummer, D.J. Fontana, along side Scotty Moore on lead guitar and Bill Black on bass, called themselves "The Blue Moon Boys". This band would perform and record the vast majority of Presley's hits of the 1950s including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog", "Don't Be Cruel", and "Jailhouse Rock". The band toured extensively and performed on that new thing-a-ma-bob, called 'television.' Fontana was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[@randyporter3491]

Just watching, makes you feel like you are in the presence of greatness. What a legend.

[@hollywinningham6375]

Met Mr fontana a few years back and we talked a little Elvis 😊❤ what a sweet man..sad he's gone now 😪

[@ccdrumcover6815]

Dear D. J nice to see you playing drum, you was the number 1... B.R Claudio from Chile...

[@campbellmarty36]

I canNOT believe a drummer hating the kick drum! MY how times have changed!!! Wow!!

[@erastuserazade9785]

Only in America ! Great musical team, Elvis and musical group .

[@larrysmith1568]

"Don't be Cruel" defines classic rock and roll. Top 5 best record ever.

[@univac7677]

Thank you DJ. The pleasure was all ours. RIP.

[@brandonhill72]

Songs like this are extinct. What a shame. Simple. Minimal. Beautiful. Watch a young drummer these days try to cover this song. Can't do it. D.J. One of my faves!! Thank you D.J.

[@AaronStark1993]

DJ was great, but to say that young drummers aren't able to cover his parts is just not true. Like you said, they were simple and minimal. Any relatively experienced drummer can play these songs easily.

[@simon201063]

A true gentleman and a great drummer.

[@lazzz1013]

Elegant drumming style.

[@glenyswana7259]

Awesome, we are so privileged to watch these videos of legends

[@ErwinAndOatmeal]

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful video of a drumming legend. We really appreciate the Elvis stories too! This really helped us to learn the details of the drum part. 🥁 Thank you!!!

[@theevildrummingsithlord1492]

His bass drum kicks are so light and controlled! I've lately been trying out brushes when I play drums.

[@OLEGGOTH]

RIP ELVIS"S DRUMMER(

[@jamesy5607]

RIP. DJ. The beat behind the King !

[@rhythmista7707]

One of the best tracks he played on was Elvis' "Surrender".. His drumming on that song is nothing short of superb !.

[@shiftyhe]

What the HECK does DJ do at the end of "You're So Square (Baby I Don't Care)" -love DJ. And "My Baby Left Me?" -so great

[@fredbazoo]

It's easy to understand.....He knows he's there to "help" the band.....not be the star of it.....He accompanies.....he does not overwhelm.....Just like Ringo in the Beatles.....

[@yeclauhe]

Wonderful

[@darrelldurley9204]

Need Elvis singing this guy don't have the emotion that Elvis put in his songs.

[@deepseadrumz1]

I'm pretty sure He and Scotty Moore played on Alvin Lee's album called "Alvin Lee in Tennessee." It was "rocknroll."

[@Sp-lv5jx]

Amazing

[@kennethcurtis1856]

Elvis had two of the greatest drummers in DJ and Ronnie Tutt.

[@MikeyJMJ]

R.I.P Ronnie just died this week

[@raunovittaniemi4905]

Yuo are legend..........😎

[@blackisblack22]

The real thing starts at 10:34 you are welcome.

[@bryandrums32]

I wonder what kind of snare and cymbals he used in this clip,,, I kind of looks like a old supraphonic???? Idk

[@kajingberg7187]

Beauty. Better if it was Elvis singing.

[@sbskking]

11:06

[@Ticonderous1]

Why is Elvis not singing ??

[@OdinOfficialEmcee]

With how light he works the kick and hi hat he may as well not play them and save the energy lol. Those are *not* cutting through the mix _at all_

[@jimmymoz9140]

BS! Any idiot can play loud. The F do you know about playing drums ?

[@rossconi]

subtleties...

[@alphabeets]

Perhaps not everything needs to cut through the mix.

[@alphabeets]

Perhaps not everything needs to cut through the mix.

[@craigmorgan6010]

Presuming it would have sounded ‘better’ had he played harder (which is a very subjective thing) it was probably preferred by produces for drummers to play quieter. The back beat being all the way through songs and a drummer backing a - what we would now call a - ‘rock’ or ‘pop’ drummer was very new at the time

[@callum1651]

I came here to troll but given the circumstances....

[@abelincoln5698]

well you need a better hobby

[@tobisteffen]

He should remove the kick drum altogether rather than playing it like a girl.

[@alphabeets]

I guess you know better what to do. 😂