When D.J. Fontana joined the roster of talented musicians supporting Elvis Presley, drummers in touring bands were a luxury. Playing off Presley’s sound, rather than disrupting it, Fontana laid the groundwork for the same rhythms employed by pop and rock stars today. As the Los Angeles Times notes, Fontana’s style was about being “a propellant gear in a musical engine.” He didn’t use innovation to …
Floating Points & Four Tet: Final Plastic People On the now-closed London dance club Plastic People, regulars Four Tet and Floating points explain: “To say this space, along with the owner Ade’s singular vision, was fundamental in our personal musical formation would be a complete understatement.” Have a listen to their final six-hour set. Belle & Sebastian: The Cat with the Cream “The Cat with …
On what would have been his 80th birthday this week, Elvis Presley’s first-ever recording was auctioned off for $300,000. Though many fans may not know this ballad—called “My Happiness”—it was an essential stepping stone in his career. Presley had gone on his own to Sun Records to record the song, and six months later they called him in to do two more. While he was …
