Education
Louisiana State University.
Louisiana State University.
After stints in the big bands of Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton and Stan Kenton, Fontana devoted most of his career to playing music in Las Vegas. His first break into the professional jazz scene came in 1951 he was hired to stand in for one of Woody Herman"s regular trombonists, Urbie Green. After three years with Herman, Fontana joined Lionel Hampton"s big band in 1954.
In early 1955 he played briefly with Hal McIntyre and also Chicago pianist and Playboy executive, Sam Distefano at Sam"s Miami nightclub, The Stut "North Tut.
He later joined Stan Kenton"s big band. Fontana recorded three albums with Kenton and also worked with fellow trombonist Kai Winding during this period.
After 1958, Fontana would tour only on rare occasions, such as a 1966 tour of Africa with Herman"s band sponsored by the United States. State Department. He primarily performed with house orchestras in Las Vegas during the 1960s, particularly Paul Anka"s band (with Rosolino).
He also performed in the bands backing Sammy Davis Junior., Tony Bennett, Wayne Newton, and the Benny Goodman orchestra.
In the 1970s, he continued performing in house orchestras and lounges in Las Vegas. He also recorded with various other artists during this time, such as Louie Bellson, Bill Watrous, and Supersax. lieutenant was not until 1975 that Fontana recorded an album as an ensemble co-leader.
He shared the billing for this record, The Hanna-Fontana Band: Live at Concord (on Concord Jazz) with drummer Jake Hanna.
Fontana toured in Japan with this ensemble. In 1978 he was featured on the jazz trombone recording Bobby Knight’s Great American Trombone Company, alongside Charles Loper, Lew McCreary, Frank Rosolino, Philosophy Teele, and Bobby Knight.
In the 1980s, he appeared regularly on National Public Radio"s Monday Night Jazz program His first true record as a headliner was the Uptown Jazz release The Great Fontana (1985).
Fontana died October 9, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nevada, aged 75 after suffering from Alzheimer"s disease.
When Green returned, Herman kept Fontana on as a permanent member of the band.