Reply With QuoteI think Alanna Nash did a great job on this book.
Lots of things I never knew. He was pretty messed up himself.
I don't hate him, just wish thngs had turned out differently--for all of them.
Love him or hate him - Col. Tom Parker was always on Elvis' side!
Elvis thought he owed it all to Colonel Tom Parker.
Other's aren't so sure.
Andreas 'Dries' Cornelis Van Kuijk was born on 26 June 1909 in Breda, Holland.
He was the fifth of nine children.
His father, Adam, was a liveryman who met his mother, Maria, while he was in the army.
When Andreas was 16 years old, his father died, and he moved to Rotterdam.
He worked as a borgeman but was entranced by the ocean-going ships in the port.
It wasn't too long before he was on board a ship to New Jersey. It was thought he stowed himself away.
He was then enlisted with the US Army - they didnt really care about papers back then - and was stationed in Hawaii.
When he finally wrote home, it was in english and it was signed ' Thomas Parker'.
The name was given to him by the Captain who interviewed him at the time of his enlistment.
Years later Elvis's friend Lamar Fike asked parker ' how come you never told us you were a Dutchman?'
Parker looked at him and said ' Son, you never asked me'.
Parker spent several years with a touring carnival called The Johnny J. James Exposition.
His special act was dancing chickens, which he achieved by hiding a hot plate under the straw of the cage!
After marrying Marie Mott in 1935, Parker left the carnival to work for the Tampa Humane Society ( I bet he never told them about the dancing chickens!) he then moved to Nashville and became the manager to country singer Eddie Arnold.
Parker was given an honorary commission, from an old friend called Jimmy Davis.
He became Louisana Governor and then Parker was known as the Colonel from that day onwards.
Funnily enough, in March 1961, Governor Buford Ellington of Tennessee made Elvis an honorary Colonel.
Elvis didn's deem it necessary to use his title.
In 1953, Eddie Arnold fired Parker for unknown reasons.
Parker then hooked up with Hank Snow and created Jamboree Attractions, which became the biggest booking agencies in the South.
Yet that partnership broke up acrimiously when Parker, without Snow, signed a new young talent.
His name was Elvis Presley.
Parker first met Elvis in February 1955, in a Memphis Coffee Shop.
Parkers first words to Elvis were ' You got a manager, son?'.
He signed Elvis onto the Jamboree Attractions and was ready to pounce on him.
Elvis was still under-age in 1955, so Parker knew the contract had to be signed by his parents.
Vernon was a push over but Gladys didnt trust Parker.
So to get her into his good books, backstage at one of her son's shows, she met a close friend of Parker's who told her ' Parker is a good Christian gentleman'.
Then Elvis's parents signed the contract on 15 August 1955.
Soon Parker set up a deal with RCA records company and Hill and Range, his own music publishers.
Steve Scholes, RCA's Director of Country music, put his neck on the line by offering $23,000.
Hill and Range offered a further $15,000.
So with $40,000 offer in place, Parker paid Sam Phillips an agreed $35,00 and give Elvis $5,000.
Elvis signed with RCA on November 21 1955.
The next day he sent a telegram to Parker in which he promised to stick with him through thick and thin, and he also loved him like a father.
On January 8, 1956, Elvis turned 21 years old and was given a new contract - To sign as an adult.
It ratified all previous contracts and gave the Colonel 25% of all Elvis's earnings.
Once Parker became his full time manager, he never wanted anyone esle.
He told the press ' I'll live and breath Elvis 24 hours a day'.
Parker showed his nerve when he demanded $100,000 for Elvis to star in Love Me Tender.
When the Producer said even Jack Lemmon didn't get that kind of money.
Parker looked into his eyes and said ' Maybe Lemmon needs a new manager!'.
Parker was also scared once Elvis hit Hollywood, he would see what Parker was really going.
So Parker started to lsolated Elvis from the outside world.
That's how the Memphis Mafia started.
One day songwritter Mike Stroller knocked on Elvis's hotel room door, Elvis greeted him nervously and said the Colonel wouldnt like me doin one to one meetings.
When Elvis joined the Army, Parker told him ' Son, I consider it my patriontic duty to keep you in the 90% tax bracket'.
Parker's view was ' If you want to see Elvis Presley, you buy a ticket!'.
Elvis was not allowed to give private shows, in the army or anywhere esle.
Also Elvis never did encores, he always left them begging for more.
During the filming of Blue Hawaii, Parker ran shouting and yelling into the middle of a scene, pointing at Elvis's watch and demanded ' If you want the watch in, you'll have to pay another 10 grand!'.
No wonder Elvis began to hate making films.
In public, Hal Wallis admired Parker, as a supersalesman - Yet in private, he said ' I'd rather try and close a deal with the devil'. Parker really couldnt care less about Presley's acting talent.
He wanted a simple film, with cute girls and an album worth of songs.
Also Parker wanted alot of money for these films, after all he was making a fortune.
When a TV executive came to Parker offering $50,000 for a single prime time appearance by Elvis, Parker respounded ' That'll be be just fine for me, but how much will you give Elvis?'
The extent of Parker's role in Elvis's wedding is disuted, some say he told Elvis to get married for publicity purposes, but it was a rushed affair with a sevagely brief guests list, which caused a huge ructions among Elvis's entourage.
Parker also refused to let the happy couple have the honeymoon in europe they wanted, he said it would upset the fans around the world.
Why Elvis didn't insist on the wedding he and Priscilla really wanted is enduring mystery.
Parker was a competent hypnotist.
He lked to get staff members to act like chickens and once had the Memphis Mafia barking like dogs.
However, theories that Parker kept Elvis hypontised for 20 years should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Elvis stood up to the Colonel on a handful of occasions.
One was the 1968 TV Special, which Parker wanted a dull Christmassy show, thank god Elvis did it his way.
It give him one of his finest, rawest performances.
Then the second time happened when Parker didnt want Elvis to record a particular song due to recording right.
That song was ' Suspicious Minds'.
In 1969, Elvis went back on the road and played the International Hotel in Las Vegas.
Alex Shoofy, the hotel's general manager, came to see Parker in the hotel dining room and offered a 5 year contract in which Elvis would play the hotel in February and August each year and earn $125,000 a week.
Parker scribbled some terms on a red tablecloth, but he ignored inflation and tied Elvis long term.
Alex Shoofy signed his agreement on the tablecloth and promptly told the press it ' was the best deal ever made in this town'.
Not, perhaps, for Elvis.
Parker had a long term gambling habit and it got alot worse in Vegas.
He moved into the hotel in a fancy suite and lost million a year on the tables!
In the 70's, Elvis's income came from touring.
In February 1972, he signed away one third of his tour profit to Parker.
In 1973, after a heated row, Elvis fired Parker, but he wouldnt leave - without his million he was still waiting for.
Elvis threw a fit and went on a huge drug fuelled week that culminated in a teenage girl almost overdose.
Who does Elvis call to sort out the mess and keep the press away??
Parker.
Parker turned down endless offers for Elvis to tour the world.
The reason was Parker was an illegal immigrant without a passport.
In 1973, RCA bought the masters - and royalty rights - of all Elvis's previous recordings for $5.4million.
Jack Soden of EPE describes the deal as being right up there with the Indians selling Manhatten for 24 dollars.
Seven years later, a lawyer for the Presley Estate Blacnchard Tual,concluded that Colonel Parker and RCA were probably guilty of collusion, conspiracy, fraud and misrepresention.
In 1974, Parker set up Boxcaar Enterprises to handle the merchanding business.
Parker was on 40% on the income while Elvis only got 15%!
When Joe Esposito phoned Parker to tell him Elvis had died, Parkers first words were ' Oh dear god! then after a long pause ' nothing has changed!
This wont change anything!'
Within a dat of Elvis's death, Parker got Vernon Presley ( the exector to Elvis's will) to agree to keep al l the deals made with Elvis as they were.
He also signed a deal with the merchanding company, Factors Inc, that meant Parker would take 78% of the proceeds of the forthcoming souvenir boom!
At Elvis's funeral, Parker wore an hawiian shirt and a baseball cap.
At the cemetery he wondered away from the graveside and say by himself on a police motorbike.
After Vernon's death in 1979, the courts got involved and after a long battle, a deal was struck whereby Parker was cut from all connections with the Presley Estate for a hefty sum.
Colonel Tom Parker (aka Andreas 'Dries' Cornelis Van Kuijk) died in January 1997.
Opinion on Parker remains divided.
Some believe he was a brilliant promoter and tireless manager. Other's think that the career of naive genius was nearly destroyed by his greed.
Some of you all never been down South too much...
I'm gonna tell you a little story, so you'll understand where I'm talking about
I think Alanna Nash did a great job on this book.
Lots of things I never knew. He was pretty messed up himself.
I don't hate him, just wish thngs had turned out differently--for all of them.
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
Originally Posted by Polk-Salad-Annie
Actually, that is incorrect. The overdose happened in '71 in Lake Tahoe, NV. Elvis called the Colonel and it was kept out of the papers. According to some of the MM, Elvis never got in touch with the girl who overdosed after the incident, either.
Last edited by Tony Trout; 05-07-2008 at 01:06 PM.
I really believe that Col. Parker was unable to understand the "artistic" side of music and acting b/c he was a 'business man' not an artist. In art, passion is the driving force, in business, you are driven by money and contracts.
Elvis got bored with what Col. arranged for him and felt suffocated both in the 60's and the 70's, strangely enough, didn't do anything about it.
Col. got greedy b/c he had a "product" in Elvis that was highly desired and failed to realize when Elvis was not satisfied with his music and art.
However, the 2 strong personalities were, I believe that only Col. Parker could have managed Elvis. Elvis was as talented as Col. Parker was shrewd. They complimented each other perfectly.
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
Actually, it was in Palm Springs according to the Wests.
This is from Jerry Hopkins book.
"Red and Sonny West tell of a time when a girl Elvis took to Palm Springs was hospitalized after they'd spent an evening swilling Hycadan, a codiene cough syrup."
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
As a matter of fact, I think Palm Springs has been mentioned in more than one book. I'll do some checking...
I took advantage of the time spent at the hospital and re-read some books...the "Elvis What Happened" book did in fact point to Palm Springs. I think that there are two more that did so as well...I'll see if I can round 'em up!As a matter of fact, I think Palm Springs has been mentioned in more than one book. I'll do some checking...
Daddy, I miss you more every day. You will always be my hero..
Y'all are right...me made a boo-boo (Hey, "SuperPervert" ain't perfect, ya know?). It was Palm Springs, CA. I guess ol' Marty's memory is failing him. I read it incorrectly in "Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations From The Memphis Mafia".
No comment about Marty . Mom always told me ,"if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing." so I won't.
I forgive you though . No one can know or remember everything.
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
"Love him or hate him - Col. Tom Parker was always on Elvis' side!"
Oh i don't know about that. I think he was on the side of what's best for the Col.
I think the Col. let a lot of good opportunites for Elvis pass him by. Some will say Elvis was a grown man and those decisions were up to him and yes that's true. But Elvis also was a man of high work moral ethics and a contract whether he thought was right or wrong once he'd signed it it would be honored.
I know that the overdose incident was covered up, but maybe if it wasn't Elvis may have got some help for his own presription meds problems. I don't think he would have been charged with anything as it was an cough medicine wasn't it that the girl o'd on?
Any way i'm rambling.
In the long wrong i don't think the Col. had the business sense as Elvis became bigger to look at long term goals. Such s the Vegas contract.
Ok ramble over. whew
Y'all are right...me made a boo-boo (Hey, "SuperPervert" ain't perfect, ya know?
Alright now...we are gonna let this one slide without demoting you. But if you continue to 'boo-boo'...we may be forced to take away your tights!
Daddy, I miss you more every day. You will always be my hero..
I don't really know what to think about Colonel Parker. On one hand he was a genius. He promoted Elvis like no other artist had been promoted before and certainly Elvis Presley wouldn't be such a phenomenon without the Colonel.
But on the other hand Parker took advantage of the King in a big way, he dealt out contracts that served him more than his client and Elvis could have made even more money if the Colonel had made better contracts (which was possible).
It is hard to critizes someone who is on top. Nobody sold more records than Elvis and therefore it is hard to say that even more could have been sold if they had been produced more properly. Elvis was one of the best paid actors in Hollywood and again it is hard to say, that he could have done better. It's a tricky situation.
I believe that the Colonel was good for Elvis up to a certain point. But even if Elvis was the highest paid singer in Vegas the deal was rotten and Parker could have made a far better contract with the hotel (the deal was great for the hotel, but certainly not for the King). So I guess Elvis should have gotten rid of Parker by 1969/70 and look for another manager.
Well SuperPerv, we never said we loved for your mind... it was more the thought of those red tights.Y'all are right...me made a boo-boo (Hey, "SuperPervert" ain't perfect, ya know?
Alright now...we are gonna let this one slide without demoting you. But if you continue to 'boo-boo'...we may be forced to take away your tights!
Hey Mister T..the Super P. If you act nice this is what we will get you for our trip to Memphis.
Well SuperPerv, we never said we loved for your mind... it was more the thought of those red tights.
Rosie is right TT...every woman loves a man who can leap tall buildings in a single bound WHILE wearing those contour hugging tights....
Daddy, I miss you more every day. You will always be my hero..
I wonder if they come in control top??Rosie is right TT...every woman loves a man who can leap tall buildings in a single bound WHILE wearing those contour hugging tights....
And you can bet your bippie that I'm bringing along a camera to catch all of the ACTION....
Daddy, I miss you more every day. You will always be my hero..
I wonder if they come in control top??
Daddy, I miss you more every day. You will always be my hero..
I know you had mentioned getting a new camera before the trip.And you can bet your bippie that I'm bringing along a camera to catch all of the ACTION....I would love to get one as well..Gail has a really good one. At this point, anything newer than the ole' Polaroid Swinger would be an upgrade for me.
I believe that Parker stayed longer than he was needed .I don't really know what to think about Colonel Parker. On one hand he was a genius. He promoted Elvis like no other artist had been promoted before and certainly Elvis Presley wouldn't be such a phenomenon without the Colonel.
But on the other hand Parker took advantage of the King in a big way, he dealt out contracts that served him more than his client and Elvis could have made even more money if the Colonel had made better contracts (which was possible).
It is hard to critizes someone who is on top. Nobody sold more records than Elvis and therefore it is hard to say that even more could have been sold if they had been produced more properly. Elvis was one of the best paid actors in Hollywood and again it is hard to say, that he could have done better. It's a tricky situation.
I believe that the Colonel was good for Elvis up to a certain point. But even if Elvis was the highest paid singer in Vegas the deal was rotten and Parker could have made a far better contract with the hotel (the deal was great for the hotel, but certainly not for the King). So I guess Elvis should have gotten rid of Parker by 1969/70 and look for another manager.
IMO, he was just as guilty as any of the doctors that treated Elvis.
Elvis could have sold his own records by that time. He just lacked the confidence to believe he could do it.
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
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