Elvis Sidemen Join Rock & Roll Hall

Elvis Presley image used by permission, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.

Jan. 15, 2009 — Two musicians who figured prominently in the early breakthrough years of Elvis Presley, drummer D.J. Fontana and late bass player Bill Black, will enter the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the organization’s sideman category, the Hall announced Wednesday.

They’ll be recognized during an April 4 ceremony in Cleveland, along with rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson, guitarist Jeff Beck, soul acts Bobby Womack and Little Anthony & The Imperials, rap group Run-D.M.C. and hard-rock ensemble Metallica. Also joining as a sideman wil be piano player Spooner Oldham.

The induction of D.J. and Bill completes the presence of Elvis and his early crew in the Rock Hall. Elvis was one of the inaugural members when the illustrious Hall began singling out the most influential artists, musicians and executives in 1986. Guitarist Scotty Moore was also added in 2000.

Scotty and Bill were with Elvis from the beginning, playing on recordings such as "That’s All Right" and "I Forgot To Remember To Forget." D.J. was added shortly after, making his debut with the King during a performance on "The Louisiana Hayride" in October 1954. All three sidemen contributed to such important hits as "Heartbreak Hotel," "All Shook Up," "Don’t Be Cruel," "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock."

Wanda Jackson recorded such pop hits as "Fujiyama Mama" and "Let’s Have A Party" in the 1950s, but also scored a smattering of Top 15 country hits between 1954 and 1967. In 1956, she was also the first to record "Silver Threads And Golden Needles," now most closely associated with Linda Ronstadt.

Two of the other 2009 inductees have also had their own past successes in country music. Bobby Womack wrote "It’s All Over Now," a Rolling Stones hit that charted in the Top 20 when remade by John Anderson in the mid-1980s. Spooner Oldham — in addition to playing on hits by Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett — authored "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers," a hit for Bob Luman in 1972 and for Steve Wariner in 1984.