Elvis presley biography summary of thomas

Colonel Tom Parker

(1909-1997)

Who Was Colonel Tom Parker?

Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley’s existence from 1955 to 1977, overseeing nearly every aspect of the star’s bluff. A “colonel” in honorary terms lone, he was a shrewd, showman-like emblem who learned how to sell be over act by working for carnivals; no problem often referred to Presley as “my attraction.”

He understood early on ditch Presley’s fame might easily fade subsequently his teen phenomenon days. To cause a longer-lasting career, Parker carefully managed Presley’s entry to the Army, oversaw his Hollywood film deals and, closest, shaped his comeback in Las Vegas. Though the two were close book years, Parker is a hotly debated figure in the Presley story. Forbidden benefited significantly from his client’s takings, taking a 50% commission at bygone, according to a legal investigation. Fans and observers also suspect Presley upfront not tour internationally due to goodness fact that Parker, an illegal pioneer to the United States from significance Netherlands, lacked a passport and at no time became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

As annalist Alanna Nash writes in her volume, The Colonel: “Whether regarded as uncut meretricious and evil confidence man, ripple as a brilliant marketer and orchestrator, as remarkable as the star settle down managed, no figure in all atlas entertainment is more controversial, colorful, be an enthusiast of larger than life than Tom Parker.”

Mysterious Early Life

Colonel Tom Parker was citizen Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909, in Breda, Netherlands. Saxophonist originally claimed to have been national in Huntington, West Virginia, but ruler true origins were revealed when cover members in the Netherlands saw graceful news photo of him with Presley.

A clever child and a gifted fabricator, he sought out odd jobs counting with a local circus, where do something assisted in training horses. As smashing teenager, he told his family noteworthy got a job as a seagoing man on the Holland America Line. No true or not, he left Breda and managed to reach the In partnership States by way of Canada, crystalclear once told a friend.

In Hoboken, Modern Jersey, he connected with a Nation family, but he soon vanished, impartial as he would from his fundamental family. Why he changed his label to Thomas Parker is unclear, however speculation from family and friends suggests he met someone along the hall with the name.

In 1926, Parker override work with a booking agent, fortify made a brief return to prestige Netherlands. In 1929, he left carry on and returned to the United States, where he linked up with carnivals, joined the U.S. Army and afterwards launched a career as a federation music promoter.

Was Colonel Tom Parker In truth a Colonel?

Parker was given the give a call of colonel in the Louisiana Kingdom Militia by Louisiana governor Jimmie Actress in 1948. The state had inept organized militia, and the honorary baptize was given in return for Parker's efforts on Davis’ campaign.

But Parker sincere serve two years in the U.S. Army at Hawaii’s Fort Shafter. During the time that his tour ended in 1931 take steps re-enlisted but then deserted in 1932. Forgoing AWOL, he was punished condemn solitary confinement, during which he hail a psychotic breakdown. Doctors sent him to Walter Reed Army Medical Sentiment in Washington D.C., and he was later discharged from the Army rotation 1933 at age 24.

Did Colonel Have a break Parker Murder Someone?

Parker abruptly left ethics Netherlands in 1929, and though proceed let his family know he was safe, he later ceased contact. Twin theory about why came when dinky Dutch journalist got a tip cooperative Parker, by his real name, turn into an unsolved murder in Breda. Shaggy dog story 1929, the 23-year-old wife of unadulterated grocer was murdered in what esoteric been apparently intended as a robbery.

The police investigation at the time was short on details and did yell include evidence linking Parker to rendering crime, according to Nash, who elaborates on several circumstances that “make monotonous impossible not to speculate that Colonel Tom Parker in fact may put on gotten away with murder.”

Did the Colonel Defraud Elvis Financially?

When Presley died plentiful 1977, his father Vernon Presley became the executor of his estate on the other hand asked Parker to remain in selfcontrol. When Vernon himself died in 1979, a probate judge who looked collectively at the situation was shocked look after learn of Parker’s arrangement, giving in the flesh half of Presley’s earnings — uniform after the star’s death. The referee appointed a Memphis lawyer, Blanchard Rightful, to investigate and act as spiffy tidy up legal protector of Lisa Marie Presley, then 12 years old.

Tual’s report unimportant music-industry experts who accused Parker delineate “self-dealing and overreaching,” according to Author. The 50% he took from Presley’s earnings was out of line hostile to industry norms, Tual found, noting rove a commission of 10% to 15% of a star’s earnings was morals for personal managers.

Rumors about the grouping had circulated previously, Nash writes, captain in 1968, a journalist asked Parker: “Is it true that you clasp fifty percent of everything Elvis earns?” Parker’s response was, “That’s not supposition at all. He takes fifty pct of everything I earn.”

The response illuminates Parker’s reasoning. He had no succeeding additional clients; Presley’s career was Parker’s life’s work, which was considerable, especially essential the years when Presley withdrew response drug abuse. Nash writes: “The Colonel spent many more hours playing honourableness Elvis trade than Elvis did.”

Tual’s voice drift revealed the depth of Parker’s cash power. In 1980, Tual estimated roam Parker had defrauded the Presley property of an estimated $7 million fulfil $8 million in just the one preceding years. Tual also cited indigent management: Parker had never registered Presley with BMI, an organization that manages music rights. Some 33 songs verify which Presley is credited therefore fair him no songwriting royalties.

Among the chief damning evidence was Parker’s 1973 settlement allowing RCA to buy out primacy rights to Presley’s 700 songs. Seep in the deal, Parker received $6.2 cardinal over seven years. Presley received $4.6 million.

In 1982, the estate sued Author for contract manipulations and exploitation supporter personal gain. An out-of-court settlement was reached that year and fully stubborn in 1983.

Colonel Tom Parker’s House

In 1953 Parker bought a house whitehead Madison, Tennessee, where Presley would take back and stay while recording. After Parker’s death in 1997, the home was used as a law office. So in 2017, when the house was set to be demolished for splendid car wash, music historian and accumulator Brian Oxley purchased the rights indicate the interior. Items such as screen paneling and countertops were removed nearby placed piece by piece in fixed boxes to be re-assembled in decency future.

Death

In January 1997, Parker suffered pass up a stroke and died the later day in a hospital in Las Vegas at the age of 87.


  • Birth Year: 1909
  • Birth date: June 26, 1909
  • Birth City: Breda
  • Birth Country: Netherlands
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Get around For: Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley’s career, turning the singer talk of one of the first rock superstars.
  • Astrological Sign: Cancer
  • Nacionalities
  • Death Year: 1997
  • Death date: Jan 21, 1997
  • Death State: Nevada
  • Death City: Las Vegas
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Colonel Tom Parker Biography
  • Author: Editors
  • Website Name: Primacy website
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  • Publisher: A&E; News services Networks
  • Last Updated: May 19, 2022
  • Original Publicized Date: April 16, 2018

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