[56] Other accounts suggest he slumped in his chair at his office, muttered, "Oh, dear God", and then quickly phoned Vernon Presley, where Parker advised Presley's father that his son's image needed to be protected. I said, 'Yeah, you rubbed my head.' [48] (During Presley's career, except for a few concerts in Canada in 1957, he never performed outside the United States.) [45], By 1972, Parker had managed to increase Presley's weekly wage in Las Vegas to $150,000 ($971,718 in 2021 dollars[11]), and secured $50,000 a year ($323,906 in 2021 dollars[11]) for himself as a "consultant to the hotel chain". God, yes! What happened to the Colonel who managed Elvis? Parker was still worried that Presley would return to nothing, that the public would have found a new star to fawn over by then, and that his golden goose would be reduced to nothing more than a "has-been".[35]. Parker began 1956 intending to bring his new star to the national stage. He attended Elvis funeral dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, avoiding any display of emotion. [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. This proved very lucrative, especially when the single for Presley's first film, Love Me Tender, sold over one million copies in advance sales. [5] However, Judge Joseph Evans, aware that Lisa Marie Presley was still a minor, appointed attorney Blanchard E. Tual to investigate Parker's management. In November, Parker and Snow persuaded RCA to buy Presley out from Sun for $40,000, and on November 21, Presley's contract was officially transferred from Sun Records to RCA Victor. And I know it wasn't him, but it's true. The opposing counsel responded by presenting into evidence a copy of Parker's U.S. Army enlistment form which stated, through a legal loophole, that because Parker signed his enlistment papers under his alias "Thomas Andrew Parker" and once he took the oath by swearing allegiance to the United States of America, he unofficially renounced his Dutch citizenship, although it is claimed that he died a Dutch citizen. When Elvis returned home from the Army, The Colonel focused on more films, TV appearances, and albums, saturating the airwaves with Elvis. 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. In early 1929, a 23-year-old newlywed woman, Anna van den Enden, was found beaten to death in the living quarters behind a greengrocer store. He suggested to Parker that, as Presley had recorded and was still performing the song "I'll Remember You" written by Kui Lee, the donations could go to the Kui Lee Cancer Fund that had been set up following the death of the songwriter in 1966. Parker's Net Worth When He Died Was $1 Million. [16] He suggested to Sholes that Sands could record material similar to Presley's style. [67] It is also recorded that Marie did not divorce her second husband until 1936, and her brother, Bitsy, recalled no ceremony of marriage between Parker and Marie. 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 . 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. [33] Parker, on the other hand, was fully aware that any special treatment given to Presley would instantly be used against him in the media and by those who disliked his style of music. The show, titled "Welcome Home, Elvis", was Presley's first national television appearance since The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. [59] Due to an ill-advised agreement between Parker and Presley that gave RCA sole ownership of all his recording royalties prior to 1973, the estate was relying heavily on the income from Factors Etc. ", "Photos: Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker", https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/a-new-light-on-colonel-tom-parker.shtml, "A Larger-Than-Life Look at a Larger-Than-Life Star", "Meet the Fifth (Jewish) Beatle Manager Brian Epstein", "The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the rock-a-billies", Tom Parker collection and interviews with co workers, ED Bonja Interview Elvis Photographer - the Elvis Information Network exclusive. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. Frank Sinatra, who had declared Presley a rock and roll disgrace in the 1950s, was keen to have him appear on his show. At that time Parker believed Elvis to be black. 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! Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 January 21, 1997),[1] commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager. Their instincts were proven right; the TV special proved an enormous hit, and the album that was released featuring performances from the special became a best-seller, but the comeback special was interrupted when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968. [50] This would be successful for a short time, but when Presley discovered the trick, he simply found himself other doctors. [18] A one-year management contract with Presley provided Moore with a 10-percent commission, which Moore said he never took. "[40], Presley had to do no more than provide RCA Victor with three albums a year,[37] and his film soundtracks did that for him. Stories appeared in the press regularly about Presley, including that he would do a live CCTV broadcast when he returned and that he had signed a deal for a series of annual television spectaculars to be broadcast across the country. [16], Eddy Arnold fired Parker in 1953 over Parker's growing involvement with the singer Hank Snow. [44] The tours were so popular and financially successful that they determined Presley's workload for the remainder of his life and career. Parker hoped that marriage would not only boost Presley's career but also possibly tame him. He received more than half of the income from Elvis's early success, which at the time was an unprecedented figure. [55] The book was published one year later on July 12, 1977, one month before Presley's death. In 1967, Parker pushed Elvis to marry Priscilla Beaulieu, hoping that it would help change the tide of his career. [4] It was later revealed that Presley owned 22% of the company, Parker owned 56%, and the final 22% was made up of various business associates. Elvis died of a heart attack aged 42 on August 16 1977. However, Hanks, who has six prior nominations and won twice, was snubbed for his role as Colonel Tom Parker. [15] Presley had been at Sun Records since the beginning of his career, but Sam Phillips, the owner of Presley's current label, was aware that to have any kind of a successful future Presley would need the backing of a much larger label. Parker adopted the title as if it were part of his identity, frequently being referred to as "The Colonel," despite his military discharge. Austin Butler won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, beating out favorite Brendan Fraser (The Whale), and he picked up a nomination for the same award at the Oscars. [57], Parker set out to protect his future income. (Elvis), Tom Hanks (Colonel Tom Parker), Olivia DeJonge (Priscilla) and other actors will also be on . The two had become almost strangers, and false reports in the media suggested that Presley's contract was up for sale. According to Smithsonian Magazine, Parker liked to present himself as an American man called Thomas Andrew Parker . [60] However, he did occasionally bother them by criticizing some decisions. [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Tom Parker Is Dead at 87; Controlled Presley's Career", "Colonel Parker Managed Elvis' Career, but Was He a Killer on the Lam? He is passionate about film, comics, TV and spends way too much on collectibles. [4] Although Parker had served honorably for a time, he went AWOL this time and was charged with desertion. "[42] Parker used the argument that Presley was his only client and he was thus earning only one fee.[42]. He died of complications from the stroke[72] the following morning at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. In 1968, he was asked in an interview if it was true that he took fifty percent of everything Elvis earned. Parker did not appear to care if the films were good or bad but only about the profits. Thats insane! [17] In the beginning, Presley, Moore, and the bassist Bill Black were a trio, the Blue Moon Boys. 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. [15] Eventually, Parker began getting more involved in music promotion again, this time for himself rather than the Society. Parker was able to receive more than half of the income from the enterprise, an unprecedented figure for a music manager. He said 'Well then there ain't no doubt about it. It was producer Steve Binder who put forward the idea of Presley singing his old hits and even the staged section with his old band, Scotty Moore and D. J. Fontana, the latter inspired by a post-rehearsal informal jam in Presley's dressing room. [69] In October 1990, Parker married Loanne Miller, his secretary since 1972. His Dutch birthplace and immigrant status were not revealed for many years. [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. On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke. Instead, he found employment as a field agent with a local animal shelter, the Hillsborough County Humane Society. [15] However, Parker remained involved in many of Arnold's live tours and demanded a buyout of $50,000 (US$506,405 in 2021 dollars[11]) to settle their contract. [55] Worried about the impact such details might have on his career, Presley, through his father, asked Parker to stop the publication. However, as he always does, Hanks shone as Tom Parker in Elvis, and the Colonel proved to the world that he could play a complex villain. . While Elvis and the Colonel carried the movie to several awards, Hanks' omission stands out above most others. I said 'Yeah'. [15] Over the next few years, he helped Arnold secure hit songs, television appearances, and live tours. Known for his keen promotion and merchandising savvy, Parker, or "the Snowman," would help to make Elvis a household name, putting the singer on everything from lunch boxes to board games to trading cards and beyond. [citation needed] After a cold reception during his first few shows,[30] Parker cut Presley's appearance to two weeks. [52] Angered by this outburst, Parker declared: "You can't fire me. He also assisted Jimmie Davis' campaign to become Governor of Louisiana. Related: The Darkest Moments In Oscars History. By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. Elvis didn't really fire Colonel Parker on stage in Vegas. They struggled to survive during the Great Depression, working short cons and traveling across the country in search of work. At the time of his death, Parker was suffering with diabetes, gout, and various other health problems. Parker decided that Las Vegas was the perfect place to do it,[41] and on May 1, 1967, the couple were married in a ceremony that lasted only eight minutes and had a handful of guests. Andreas Cornelius Van Kuijk ("Colonel Tom Parker"), manager and promoter: born Breda, Holland 26 June 1909; twice married; died Las Vegas 21 January 1997. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. 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. [55] As with all the talk about Presley touring overseas, Parker never followed through with the deal. [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. [11][10], Parker first became involved in the music industry as a music promoter in 1938, working with the popular singer Gene Austin. Related: Elvis True Story: Who Was Orion? [56] At the funeral, he persuaded Presley's father to sign over control of Presley's career in death to him. And there certainly would've been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker.' First, Baz Luhrmann joined a list of directors including Joe Wright, Frank Darabont, and Lawrence Kasdan as someone who had two Best Picture nominations but didn't get a Best Director nomination either time. Coupled with the fact that the character of Tom Hanks' Tom Parker isn't his usual role, and Hanks was eager to play the part. [52] Parker was furious, and he stormed into Presley's dressing room after the show to confront him. According to financial documents, Parker took nearly half of Elvis' income, which is an indication that the singer's lifestyle was heavily reliant on debt. He would sniff out talent and attempt to milk them for all they were worth, including Elvis, whom he initially saw as an act that wouldn't last more than a few years. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [citation needed], For the remainder of Presley's life, Parker saw little of him. According to Priscilla, Elvis was happy to pay 50% to Parker to manage him.[73]. Instead, Parker sent demonstration recordings to record producer Steve Sholes at RCA Victor. Reportedly, Hanks was approached by movie director Baz Luhrmann, and after a short conversation, the actor was hooked. Parker made several attempts to have it stopped, but failed to do so. 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. [61], As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. However, it would be a quiet wedding. He was 87. [66] Some suggested that Parker married Marie to disguise his illegal status in the United States;[65] a marriage to a U.S. citizen with a child could help him bury his past in a "ready-made family". He was given the honorary title of "Colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia from Governor Jimmie Davis as thanks for the work he did on his political campaign. [50] However, it wasn't long before Presley was able to find other doctors to meet his demands. None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." [5] Parker countersued. [29] Some viewed him as a clown-like figure, wiggling his hips for screams, while others found him vulgar and more suitable for late-night gentleman's clubs. Finally, Tom Hanks wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Frequently photographed with Presley, Parker became a celebrity in his . [15] The rank was honorary, since Louisiana had no organized militia, but Parker used the title throughout his life, becoming known simply as "the Colonel" to many acquaintances. [16] Parker had intended to mold Sands into the next Roy Rogers, but Sands had no interest in such a plan. Having previously sold the rights to Presley's early recordings to RCA Records, he struggled to secure a steady income, and his financial situation worsened after he sustained significant gambling losses. It's one of only a very few villainous roles that Hanks has taken in his long career in movies, making it a relatively rare departure for the actor. "It wasn't good at all," she said of Parker's control. . [14] Parker served in the peacetime army as a precondition for taking advantage of that stipulation, but he never subsequently applied to become a citizen. Parker made his last public appearances in 1994. 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