Chris MacDonalds' MEMORIES OF ELVIS Feat. DJ Fontana Plays bergenPAC Tonight

bergenPAC will present Chris MacDonald's MEMORIES OF ELVIS tribute concert, featuring Elvis' original drummer DJ. Fontana, tonight, August 22nd at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $59, $49, $29, $19 available at www.ticketmaster.com, www.bergenpac.org or by calling (201) 227 1030.

Chris MacDonald lovingly brings back the magic of "the King of Rock-n-roll" with his tribute Memories of Elvis. 30 years ago, we lost one of the greatest entertainers and pop culture icons of our time. Join us for a celebration of the life and music of Elvis Presley. Chris has performed in the famous Legends in Concert stage productions throughout the country and has actually appeared with Elvis' own original back up group the Jordanaires. Adding to the authenticity of his tribute, this experienced and energetic entertainer has the honor of being the only tribute artist approved and contracted by Elvis Presley Enterprises for the annual Elvis week and Birthday week festivities at Graceland's Heartbreak Hotel for 7 consecutive years (2000 - 2006). You will really enjoy this tribute to an All-American Legend in a truly dynamic performance complete with costumes, dancers and high-energy concert band.

Adding to the authenticity of his tribute, this experienced and energetic entertainer has the honor of being the only tribute artist contracted by Elvis Presley Enterprises to perform at Graceland's Heartbreak Hotel.Chris has performed his tribute throughout the country, including venues in Vegas, Branson, New York and with the famous Legends in Concert stage productions. Chris has also appeared with Elvis' own original back up group the Jordanaires for a special concert event at the 5000 seat Hard Rock Live Venue at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Chris' show is not an overdone impersonation. It is a natural, heartfelt tribute to an All-American Legend in a truly dynamic performance complete with dancers, costumes and high energy concert band. With this newly updated version of his popular tribute, Chris has created a multi-media experience. Video clips of Elvis's career and close-ups of all the live action on stage will be projected on a large screen above the stage, bringing everyone even closer to their own "Memories of Elvis."

Dominic Joseph Fontana is an American musician best known as the drummer for Elvis Presley for 14 years. He played on over 460 RCA cuts with Elvis.Nicknamed "D. J.", he was employed by the Louisiana Hayride to be an in-house drummer on its Saturday night radio broadcast. In October 1954 he was hired to play drums for Presley, and that marked the beginning of a fifteen-year relationship. He performed on the NBC television special known as the '68 Comeback Special.

Fontana, joined a band (originally assembled by Sam Phillips without a drummer) consisting of Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (bass) and Elvis Presley (rhythm guitar), calling themselves "The Blue Moon Boys". The band became the band that would perform and record the vast majority of the Elvis Presley hits of the 50's (some also including piano and backing vocals from the Jordanaires) including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog", "Don't Be Cruel", and "Jailhouse Rock". The band also toured extensively and performed on several television appearances including The Ed Sullivan Show through 1956 and 1957.

I learned the value of simplicity at the Hayride. I heard Scotty and Bill and Elvis one night and knew that I couldn't mess up that sound. That's why I always play what I feel. If that won't work, I just won't do it again. I think the simple approach comes from my hearing so much big band music. I mixed it with rockabilly.

The band officially broke up in 1958 although Fontana and Elvis still played and recorded together regularly throughout the 1960s. Moore would sometimes join them. Moore and Fontana have also performed together, including a 2002 recording of "That's All Right (Mama) with Paul McCartney. After 1958, Black never played with the band again; he died in 1965. In 1983 he published a book in pictorial form titled "D. J. Fontana Remembers Elvis" about his years playing with Presley. Fontana's Life and Times weekly phonecasting debuted on July 3, 2007. Fontana's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Cleveland on January 14, 2009. On April 4, 2009, Fontana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the sidemen category.