Real name: John Purser

Effective period / Period of releases: 1958

“Catfish” Purser was an Australian rock 'n' roll drummer with The Dee Jays 1956 - 1961. Born in Petersham, New South Wales, in 1933 — his father, Tom, was also a drummer — Catfish was 12 when he banged his first drum with the Air League band. After starting drum lessons aged 19, he was sent to play at Valentine’s restaurant under R. M. O’Keefe’s Furniture Store — and Johnny O’Keefe and The Dee Jays were born. J.O.K. and The Dee Jays went on to perform with the biggest names in music, making music history as they joined the likes of Little Richard, Eddy Cochrane, The Platters, Chuck Berry, Johnny Ray, Tab Hunter and Bobby Rydell on their Australian tours. He passed away on the Gold Coast in 2017.