[35] He was reportedly afraid that Presley would realize that there were other managers available prepared to sign contracts that did not require as much as 25% of his earnings. 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. 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. He said 'Well then there ain't no doubt about it. Asked by a journalist what he would do now, Parker responded: "Why, I'll just go right on managing him! 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. While Presley was serving in West Germany, Parker was hard at work keeping Presley's name known to the public. Hanks said, "I was anticipating hearing horror stories about this venal, cheap crook. Parker adopted the title as if it were part of his identity, frequently being referred to as "The Colonel," despite his military discharge. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. Parker remained Elvis' manager until Presley's death in 1977. [52], Although many around Presley were worried about his worsening drug dependency, Parker appeared to ignore the problem. 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. [53] First Artists, not used to such huge demands, didn't put forward a counter-offer and decided instead to offer the role, along with the original salary offer, to Kris Kristofferson, who accepted. [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. He completed basic training at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]. [69] In October 1990, Parker married Loanne Miller, his secretary since 1972. What happened to the Colonel who managed Elvis? [4], In The Colonel, her 2003 biography of Parker, Alanna Nash wrote that Parker may have been a suspect or a person of interest in an unsolved murder case in Breda. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. The premises had been ransacked in search of money. He said 'Did I really?' He arranged for a screen test with Paramount Pictures, and after impressing them with Presley's acting ability, Presley was signed to a seven-picture contract. [53] Despite this, however, the deal never materialized. Despite the court controversy, Parker continued to appear at Elvis-themed events, from anniversaries to special events, etc. [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". [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. After his Army hitch, he had him stop making personal appearances, and limited his public exposure to three sappy movies a year. The Amazing Comeback Of Colonel Tom Parker "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 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. [15], In early 1955, Parker became aware of a young singer, Elvis Presley. Colonel Parker died in 1997 in Las Vegas after suffering a stroke at 87 years old, outliving Elvis by 20 years. [41] The Cadillac tour proved to be somewhat more successful than the film itself. Most notably, in Colonel Tom Parker, the mysterious manager portrayed by Tom Hanks in Elvis. Parker hoped that marriage would not only boost Presley's career but also possibly tame him. For his part, Parker himself died with a net worth of $1 million, or roughly . "[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. Parker's main role during these tours was to plan the logistics and make sure tickets were sold. After Presley showed signs of rebellion again in 1966 and because of his flagging career, Parker decided that it was time for a new approach: marriage. [4] Priscilla and the Trust were prepared to let Parker continue to handle Presley's business affairs, and petitioned the court to that end. Parker was an avid gambler, which is believed to have been the source of many of his "fast money" dealings with Austin Butler's Elvis. On top of that, Parker found venue upon venue for Elvis to perform in, be it recording studios, Hollywood films, TV specials, and even satellite broadcasts, immersing the artist into the cultural zeitgeist while keeping him landlocked in North America. A carnival worker by background, Parker moved into music promotion in 1938, working with one of the first popular crooners, Gene Austin, and then country music singers Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, and Tommy Sands in his early career. [35] He sent Presley's friends to keep him company, arranged for business associates to watch over him while they were working in Europe, and kept in regular contact with him. He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in films. [68] Marie died on November 25, 1986, of a chronic brain syndrome at age 78. [23] Later, when Hank Snow asked Parker about the status of their contract with Presley, Parker told him: "You don't have any contract with Elvis Presley. He is passionate about film, comics, TV and spends way too much on collectibles. 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 point, Moore and Black had no contractual ties to either Phillips or Presley. Tom Parker wasn't a household name before Elvis, but it's clear that after the biopic, it soon will be. [43], It took the energetic 1968 television special Elvis, which the Singer Company sponsored, and a subsequent series of acclaimed recording sessions in Memphis, Tennessee, that included songs such as "Suspicious Minds" and "In the Ghetto", to restore Presley's musical reputation. Parker's cut of Presley's earnings was typically 50%, and by the time Presley died in 1977, Parker had earned an estimated $40 million from his share of Presley's income. However, the tide wasn't actually changed until a 1968 TV special, produced by Scott Binder, put Elvis the singer back on top, while simultaneously showing the Colonel how close he was to losing the singer to another producer. Nash portrays the Colonel as a psychopathic murderer born June 26, 1909 in Breda, Holland, whose real name is Andreas "Andre" Cornelis van Kuijk. The Elvis manager certainly had some unethical practices when it came to the King of Rock n Roll, and many were shocked upon viewing the film to find out that this was the case. According to Presley's friend, Jerry Schilling, Presley was excited about the opportunity to take on a new challenge. [26] With over 78 different possibilities, from charm bracelets to record players, Presley merchandise brought in $22 million by the end of 1956. 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". Colonel Tom Parker was a man with a shady past. [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. Parker's response: "That's not true at all. However, it soon became obvious that Elvis had staying power, with the right guidance. In 1958, Parker encouraged Elvis to voluntarily enlist in the Army (part of Elvis' true story) after he received a draft notice and serve a two-year stint as a regular soldier, showing the world that he was just like any average American. In May 1973, in an attempt to deal with Presley's growing dependence on prescription drugs, Presley's father, Vernon, and Parker attempted to cut off his supply. [15] As Presley was still a minor, his parents had to sign the contract with Parker on his behalf. However, that was not the case since Elvis was still under contract to Bob Neal. [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. [72] Priscilla Presley attended the funeral to represent the Elvis Presley Estate and gave a eulogy that, to many in the room, summed up Parker: "Elvis and the Colonel made history together, and the world is richer, better and far more interesting because of their collaboration. [55] Worried about the impact such details might have on his career, Presley, through his father, asked Parker to stop the publication. [1][4], At age 15, Van Kuijk moved to Rotterdam, gaining employment on boats in the port town. [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. QUICK FACTS Birth Year: 1909 Birth date: June 26, 1909 Birth City: Breda Birth. 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! "[27][28], Parker signed a deal with Beverly Hills film merchandiser Hank Saperstein for nearly $40,000 to turn Presley into a brand name. [4] A year later at 18, with enough money to sustain him for a short period, he entered America illegally by jumping ship from his employer's vessel. [4] He also noted that Parker's handling of Presley's business affairs during his lifetime, including the decision to sell off past royalties to RCA for $5.4 million in 1973, was unethical and poorly handled. From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis, Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances, Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II, Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology, The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters, From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters, Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters, Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings, The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonel_Tom_Parker&oldid=1141644408, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from April 2020, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from December 2022, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2023, Articles needing additional references from February 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 02:32. [68] Parker began to distance himself emotionally from her, heartbroken by her slow mental deterioration from the woman he once knew. None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." [citation needed], After the success of Presley's return to live performing in Las Vegas, Parker decided it was time to take him back out on tour for the first time in 13 years. The Masked Lookalike Explained, Every Baz Luhrmann Movie, Ranked According To Box Office Mojo, Tom Hanks' Tom Parker isn't his usual role. [52], In February 1975, during his engagement in Las Vegas, Presley, along with Parker, met with Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters. [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. Colonel Tom Parker, as played by Tom Hanks in Elvis, was the controversial manager of singer Elvis Presley (played by Austin Butler) with a mysterious past who had a key role in both The King's success and downfall. [52] Parker was furious, and he stormed into Presley's dressing room after the show to confront him. [49] Seeing the chance to publicize Presley's charitable nature once again, Parker eagerly agreed. [16] NBC had originally wanted Presley for the role, but Parker had turned them down. [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. In 1967, Parker pushed Elvis to marry Priscilla Beaulieu, hoping that it would help change the tide of his career. The other five nominations were for technical (Editing, Sound, Cinematography) and design (Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling). According to Smithsonian Magazine, Parker liked to present himself as an American man called Thomas Andrew Parker . These four shows alone grossed $730,000 ($4,729,029 in 2021 dollars[11]). [53], From 1974 onward, Presley's weight gain and prescription drug abuse became too much to be controlled. He made him join the Army after Elvis was offered an out by the Memphis draft board. [12] He was a successful promoter, but he wanted to move into management.[12]. While Elvis and the Colonel carried the movie to several awards, Hanks' omission stands out above most others. Mourners recall being surprised at his wearing a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, smoking his trademark cigar, and purposely avoiding the casket. He's a very smart man. However, there were some interesting omissions from the award announcements. Presley was never one to stand up against Parker, but he knew that this TV show was his one chance at a true comeback, and with Binder backing him, Presley told Parker he was doing it "Binder's way". [4] At age 17, he first displayed signs of wanting to run away to the United States to "make his fortune". And now I need to locate my wallet, because I noticed there was no ticket booth on the way in here, but I'm sure that the Colonel must have arranged for some toll on the way out. 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. Here's why Colonel Tom Parker is so controversial. You read that right, $146.6 million dollars. [33], Presley had been showing signs of rebellion against Parker, and Parker believed that a stint in the Army would cure him of this. In 1963, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's audacious manager who had gotten his start selling candy apples in carnivals, read in the paper that Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential yacht, the U.S.S. [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. This is because Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had previously arranged a deal to sell those to RCA for $5.4 million, out of which only $1.35 million went to Elvis after Parker's 50% fee and income taxes. That was 1977 money, using the inflation calculator $30 million in 1977 is equaled to $146,671,287.13 in 2022. In the end, both Elvis and Colonel Parker shared a tragic journey that mirrored their working relationship. K-pop stars break under the. February 27, 2023 . [44] These live performances, as well as being financially satisfying, also allowed Parker to fulfill Presley's recording contract with RCA Victor. He influenced Presley's personal life, including Presley's decisions to accept military service in 1958 and to marry Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967. [16] He arranged live appearances and became something of a father figure to the then-15-year-old Sands. Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 - January 21, 1997), commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager.. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. But according to IMDb, it was because Elvis just didn't like dealing with confrontation. Snow eventually led Parker to Elvis Presley. During this part of Presley's career, Parker and Presley agreed to a 50/50 "partnership", which, with Parker controlling merchandising and other non-music related items, resulted in Parker earning more than his client. Elvis and the Colonel worked to change his overall image in the wake of the backlash from his critics, who frequently deemed him offensive. "Last Train to Memphis". [5] However, Judge Joseph Evans, aware that Lisa Marie Presley was still a minor, appointed attorney Blanchard E. Tual to investigate Parker's management. What happened to Colonel Tom Parker? Dolly admitted: "I cried all night. [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. In particular, Hanks was looking forward to taking part in a fresh look at the story, as the tale of Elvis is well-known enough to garner fatigue. [41], To make up for lack of earnings, Parker arranged for Presley's gold Cadillac to go on tour. During the week-long visit, Parker was informed by Adam van Kuijk that their mother had died three years earlier in 1958, never knowing what happened to her son after he left the Netherlands for good in 1929. I said 'Yeah'. More: Does Elvis Have An After Credits Scene? [5] During a second, more detailed investigation, Tual discovered that all earnings were paid directly to the Trust instead of Parker. [29], Despite this setback, Presley was still going from strength to strength. "I had the luxury of essentially recreating somebody who no one really knew. [41] In Houston alone in one afternoon, 40,000 people paid to see it, with one woman offering to have sex with the tour manager if he would allow her to sit in it. With 1956 coming to a close, Parker had made Presley one of the most well-known, well-paid entertainers in the world. Presley had a singing style different from the current trend, and Parker was immediately interested in the future of this musical style. I wanted to punch him in the face. He also became friendly with the estate again, attending special ceremonies and events in Memphis, invited by Priscilla. Elvis died of a heart attack aged 42 on August 16 1977. [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. [49] Sherman had read in news accounts that there was to be no charge for admittance to the concerts, a donation to charity being required instead. I quit! I said, 'Yeah, you rubbed my head.' [55] As with all the talk about Presley touring overseas, Parker never followed through with the deal. p. 258. A proud father, a combat veteran, dog lover, gym rat, coffee enthusiast and all around equal opportunity doughnut devourer, you can follow his daily exploits on Twitter and Instagram, as well as YouTube Videos on The Arctic Ninja Network. 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