The truth about his early years was revealed in 1960 when one of Parker's sisters, Nel Dankers-van Kuijk, living in the Netherlands, recognized him in photographs standing next to Presley. Their's was probably the most unique artist-manager relationship ever in show business, clearly one of the most successful. So clearly the rock star never worked up the will to actually go through with the firing. [60] In 1993, interest in Presley's enduring legend, interest that is sometimes notable for its obsessiveness, provoked Parker to remark: "I don't think I exploited Elvis as much as he's being exploited today. However, it soon became obvious that Elvis had staying power, with the right guidance. After Elvis's drug-related death in 1977, Parker virtually retired and only occasionally emerged to defend his role as Presley's mentor. [31] Parker made sure that the contract allowed Presley the freedom to make at least one film a year with another studio, and also managed to set up an office, with staff, at Paramount. Phillips told them to make a separate deal with Elvis. [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. Instead, Parker sent demonstration recordings to record producer Steve Sholes at RCA Victor. On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke. When critics questioned this arrangement and that Parker was exploiting Presley for more money because of greed, Presley quipped "I could have signed with East Coast Entertainment where they take 70 percent! Elvis died of a heart attack aged 42 on August 16 1977. The actor has proven time and again that he's up to the challenge of playing a real-world personality and the role of Elvis and the Colonel is no different. In January 1997, Parker suffered from a stroke and died the next day in a hospital in Las Vegas at the age of 87. Parker began 1956 intending to bring his new star to the national stage. Parker made several attempts to have it stopped, but failed to do so. Tom Parker didn't enjoy a good reputation even after being associated with one of the legendary artists that history has ever seen. He had booked Presley into a four-week Las Vegas engagement, misjudging the reaction of the slightly older, more reserved audiences that Las Vegas attracted. Parker became known as a shrewd, showy, and manipulative businessman who was able to work out lucrative deals at minimal overhead while making sure his pockets were lined healthily along the way. Colonel Parker was a very complicated person, and his . p. 258. [36] If Parker had had any doubts about his return, they were soon gone when he witnessed the turnout along the route. (Elvis), Tom Hanks (Colonel Tom Parker), Olivia DeJonge (Priscilla) and other actors will also be on . Elvis Presley had his own struggles, particularly in his later years, as his lavish spending, addiction issues, divorce, and declining health took a toll on The King. Second, for a movie about a musician, Elvis also didn't receive any music nominations at the Oscars. [5] However, Judge Joseph Evans, aware that Lisa Marie Presley was still a minor, appointed attorney Blanchard E. Tual to investigate Parker's management. [44] The tours were so popular and financially successful that they determined Presley's workload for the remainder of his life and career. Parker realized early on the bigger potential of Austin Butler's Elvis and transitioned to managing him full-time. "[72] She reiterated her positive opinion to Tom Hanks in 2022 when the actor prepared to play Parker for Elvis (2022). [51] In her book, The Colonel, she writes: "in the days before the Betty Ford Clinic, the Colonel didn't know where to take him for discreet, effective help and loathed risking the loss of work if the truth got out". [26] By the summer Presley had become one of the most famous new faces of the year, causing excitement among the new teenage audience and outrage among some older audiences and religious groups. [65], Others, however, had doubts about whether they were legally married at all. But, after he gave a detailed invoice to Elvis, the star realized he couldn't pay Parker, so they continued collaborating. And I know it wasn't him, but it's true. Parker held another press conference on September 4, 1972, in Las Vegas to confirm that the concert, now titled Aloha from Hawaii, would be broadcast on January 14, 1973. [4] From about 1931 until 1938, he worked as a "carny" with Royal American Shows. Despite the shady financial dealings Parker maintained with Presley, his net worth when he died was much less than that of Elvis, who died with a net worth of $5 million - around $20 million when adjusted for inflation. [15], Parker and Neal worked together to promote Presley, using their own Hank Snow Tour to book him and tour him. [50] Author Alanna Nash suggests that one of the reasons Parker didn't do more is because he may have just not known how to handle the situation. [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. [16] Critics were very positive in their reviews of both the drama and Sands, leading to Capitol Records signing Sands within a week. Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. [7] As a boy, he worked as a barker at carnivals in his hometown, learning many of the skills that he would require later while working in the entertainment industry. But according to Alanna. [17] In the beginning, Presley, Moore, and the bassist Bill Black were a trio, the Blue Moon Boys. On March 26, 1956, after Presley's management contract with Neal expired, Presley signed a contract with Parker that made him his exclusive representative. [60] On the surface, however, relations between the two were as good as ever, with Parker helping the Hilton to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Presley's death. Asked by a journalist what he would do now, Parker responded: "Why, I'll just go right on managing him! [15] However, RCA Victor producer Steve Sholes was convinced that Presley's style of music would be a huge hit with the right label, and he began talks with Parker. He also assisted Jimmie Davis' campaign to become Governor of Louisiana. However, they had a dispute over an incident Presley had done on stage, and Parker was about to get fired. Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of JoBlo.com, he has over a decade of writing and reporting about the entertainment industry and has covered everything from Comic Con to CinemaCon to Star Wars Celebration, as well as covering numerous set visits and junkets all over the world. In general, fans of the icon think that Colonel Parker never let Elvis fully shine. [16] Soon after, Sands' song "Teen-Age Crush" reached number 2 on the pop charts, eventually selling 800,000 copies. After his Army hitch, he had him stop making personal appearances, and limited his public exposure to three sappy movies a year. Having been a staple in The King's life for so long, he was well known to Elvis' ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, who humored his appearances at such venues, regarding him as a family friend despite their clashes over the estate. [4], On August 14, 1981, Judge Evans ordered Elvis Presley Enterprises to sue Parker for mismanagement. It took a probate court to remove Parker and his 50% fee from future dealings. Related: Why Elvis' Reviews Are So Positive. [65] Unbeknown to Parker at the time, she had a second son from her first marriage, but had given him up for adoption at birth due to his disability (a club foot). He completed basic training at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]. The talks had included details about European tours, and buying out Presley's contract would not have been a problem for Hulett and his company. [16] Remembering his previous experience with Sands, Sholes dismissed Sands as a viable replacement for Presley.[16]. [4] Although Parker had served honorably for a time, he went AWOL this time and was charged with desertion. According to Presley's biographer Peter Guralnick, Presley and Parker "were really like, in a sense, a married couple, who started out with great love, loyalty, respect that lasted for a considerable period of time, and went through a number of stages until, towards the end of Presley's life, they should have walked away. For the entirety of Presley's nearly 25-year career as "The King," his manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, was the man who made all the career decisions. [26] Parker, with his 25% share of profits, found ways to make money from his artist that other managers before him had never thought of. He realized that by keeping RCA Victor, and more importantly the public, hungry for more Presley material, he would be able to negotiate a better contract when Presley returned from active service. In any case, Parker remained Presley's manager without a break until Presley's death in 1977. Related: The Darkest Moments In Oscars History. [72], His funeral was held at the Hilton Hotel and was attended by a handful of friends and former associates, including Eddy Arnold and Sam Phillips. He died in 1997 at the age of 87. He's a very smart man. [4] Priscilla and the Trust were prepared to let Parker continue to handle Presley's business affairs, and petitioned the court to that end. The Amazing Comeback Of Colonel Tom Parker "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. [15] Parker and Snow eventually formed Hank Snow Enterprises and Jamboree Attractions, a successful promotional outfit for up-and-coming country singers. Parker's response: "That's not true at all. What happened to Colonel Tom Parker? In 1935, while travelling with a circus, Parker met and married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. These four shows alone grossed $730,000 ($4,729,029 in 2021 dollars[11]). "A couple times he set me up in the Elvis Presley suite on top of the Hilton, and I would go play Elvis for a week One night we were at the crap table together and he rubbed my head for luck. The Colonel was well-known as a strong promoter that frequently leaned into exploitation. He was punished with solitary confinement, from which he emerged with a psychosis that led to him spending two months in a mental hospital,[4] and he was discharged from the Army because of his mental condition. [46] Parker had also decided that it was time for Presley to return to New York, and had arranged for him to perform at Madison Square Garden in June. [16] He suggested to Sholes that Sands could record material similar to Presley's style. [16] Parker had intended to mold Sands into the next Roy Rogers, but Sands had no interest in such a plan. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. According to Priscilla, Elvis was happy to pay 50% to Parker to manage him.[73]. Little, Brown. Tom Hanks has built a reputation for disappearing into his roles. Elvis had gone to the home of an employee he liked, whose wife was dying from cancer, and Hilton terminated the employee because of a rule banning any contact between employees and hotel talent . Never one to miss an opportunity to make money off of his prized client, Colonel Tom Parker jumped on Elvis' death as a marketing cash grab. He arranged for Presley to appear on popular television shows, such as The Milton Berle Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, securing fees that made Presley the highest-paid star on television. Elvis and the Colonel were associated throughout the musician's entire career, including music, movies, and TV specials. [53] Streisand's production company, First Artists, offered Presley a salary of $500,000 ($2,517,934 in 2021 dollars[11]) and 10% of the profits. The show, titled "Welcome Home, Elvis", was Presley's first national television appearance since The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. [68] Marie died on November 25, 1986, of a chronic brain syndrome at age 78. 1. "[24], With his first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel", in 1956,[25] Presley became a recording star. Parker remained Elvis' manager until Presley's death in 1977. Elvis Presley expressed his desire to go overseas frequently, but he was kept at bay with easy and fast money arranged by The Colonel on projects in the U.S. By the time they reached the final years of Elvis' career, the two were so intertwined and invested that it made more sense to stay in business than to walk away. He was 87. "[27][28], Parker signed a deal with Beverly Hills film merchandiser Hank Saperstein for nearly $40,000 to turn Presley into a brand name. [53] Despite this, however, the deal never materialized. The very next morning, Tom died in a renowned hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada due to stroke-related complications. Snow attended the signing, thinking that Elvis had signed a management contract with Jamboree Attractions, which he owned with Parker. "[60], In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, was dedicated to him. The other five nominations were for technical (Editing, Sound, Cinematography) and design (Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling). [53] Yet, despite Presley's eagerness to do the shows, Parker again turned them down. Elvis is signed exclusively to the Colonel. Although from the Netherlands originally, actor Tom Hanks' Parker had a Southern-style accent due to a huge chunk of his life being spent there, but it was more of a mixture with his native Dutch accent. He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in films. [15], In 1948, Parker received the honorary rank of colonel in the Louisiana State Militia from Jimmie Davis, the governor of Louisiana and a former country singer, in return for work Parker did on Davis's election campaign. The actor has talked about the project, what drew him to it, and how he felt about the overall story. Parker was also afraid that any attempt to block Presley from being drafted would result in a more detailed look into his own service record. Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. [51], After the Aloha special, Parker made a deal that would later be used in court to prove that he had not acted in the best interests of Presley. [52] Parker was furious, and he stormed into Presley's dressing room after the show to confront him. Elvis: The Controversy Behind Colonel Tom Parker Explained, Elvis Cast Guide: What The Characters Look Like In Real Life, illegal immigrant (the theme of the Netflix series, Elvis True Story: Who Was Orion? [34] He was upset about the possibility that would affect his career, but Parker was secretly overjoyed. While Elvis and the Colonel carried the movie to several awards, Hanks' omission stands out above most others. [18] When the contract expired, the Memphis radio personality Bob Neal stepped in and made a deal with Phillips to become Presley's manager. And there certainly would've been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker.' Presley's acting career was originally intended to be a serious one, but after seeing a chance to cross-promote singles and albums with the films, Parker persuaded Presley to sing in his films. Austin offered Parker the opportunity to move to Nashville, Tennessee, where music was becoming a big business, but for reasons unknown Parker turned him down. Despite the court controversy, Parker continued to appear at Elvis-themed events, from anniversaries to special events, etc. [44] However, Presley had asked him to raise funds to pay for his upcoming divorce settlement, and Priscilla divorced Elvis in 1973. [49] The album was released simultaneously around the world, and went to number 1 on the US charts, the first Presley album to do so since the Roustabout soundtrack, in 1964. But according to IMDb, it was because Elvis just didn't like dealing with confrontation. In January 1979, it was discovered that Presley had lost out on royalties for songs on which he had been listed as an author or composer because Parker had unwisely advised him not to sign up to ASCAP or its younger competitor, BMI. However, there were some interesting omissions from the award announcements. [14] In 1945, Parker became Arnold's full-time manager, signing a contract for 25% of his earnings. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal was a shocking one. Parker is also a controversial figure, known to have defrauded the King of Rock and Roll on several occasions for as much as $8 million. In 1968, he was asked in an interview if it was true that he took fifty percent of everything Elvis earned. [32], In 1957, Parker finally managed to give Tommy Sands his big break by arranging for him to audition for and star in The Singin' Idol, a drama for NBC that was loosely based on the life and career of Presley. And I know that Elvis loved it. [16], Regardless of the success that Parker and Presley had achieved, Parker was still struggling to believe that Presley's career would last longer than a year or two. [52], Although many around Presley were worried about his worsening drug dependency, Parker appeared to ignore the problem. Parker adopted the title as if it were part of his identity, frequently being referred to as "The Colonel," despite his military discharge. After Elvis' death in 1977, the Elvis Presley manager continued on as if The King were still alive. But according to Alanna Nashwho spent time with the real Colonel in the '90sthere were times when he was just as scary as what you see onscreen. [33] Parker had seen many acts come and go during his earlier years in management, and felt that it would be foolish to believe that Presley, despite being Parker's most successful act to date, would be any different. [41] Frank Sinatra had married Mia Farrow in 1966, and it had produced enough publicity for Parker to sit up and take notice. Instead, he found employment as a field agent with a local animal shelter, the Hillsborough County Humane Society. [55] Although Parker publicly denied these claims, he had been in talks with Peter Grant, the manager of Led Zeppelin, about the possibility of him overseeing a European tour for Presley. [33] [46] Originally planned as three performances, demand was so high that Parker decided to add a fourth performance, making Presley the first performer to sell out the venue four consecutive times. What Really Happened To Colonel Tom Parker? There are probably a number of reasons for this. The contract, dated July 12, 1954, eight days after their first recording session, was signed by Presley and his parents. While it is believed that he made over $100 million dollars during his time with Elvis, he was rumored to only be worth a million dollars when he died, and at one point, had gambling debts in excess of $ Continue Reading Related questions This deed on the part of Vernon and Gladys Presley marked a permanent separation of Elvis from his mother, and as Elvis was a classic "mama's boy". [37] Parker signed long-term contracts with the film studios,[39] possibly to guarantee work and income for both him and Presley. 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