Some say that no one could make Elvis do something he didn't want to do but, didn't the Colonel make him burn his favorite books and wasn't he in charge of his own wedding? June Juanico wrote in her book that during the time she was with Elvis they had to hide from Parker to be together, and I've heard from some of the MM that Joe Esposito was contantly in contact with him to let him know what Elvis was doing. If he only managed his career, why would he want to know...
So, do you think the Colonel had control over Elvis private life? And if he had such power over him, what was the Colonel thinking when Elvis life began to be a real mess? I've never heard anyone close to Elvis say the Colonel tried to help him with that...
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I believe the Colonel was trying to control Elvis' personal life as well as his career and that Elvis tried to hide a lot of things from him and I sure don't blame him. I read that when the Colonel was managing Eddy Arnold, he actually moved into Eddy's house and Eddy had a heck of a time getting him out and then fired him. The guy sure had a lot of nerve....
The Peter Guralnick biographies "the rise (and) the unmaking of elvis presley" should help to answer some of those questions. The Colonel was a very controlling, single-minded man. He treated EVERYONE the same, not just Elvis! I wouldn't put all the blame on the Colonel because at some point we have to take control of our own lives. If Eddy Arnold could find the courage to fire him, why couldn't Elvis? From what I read, Elvis didn't appear to have the confidence or self esteem to stand up to him. I also believe that if he didn't have the Colonel in his life he would have found himself another manager just like the Colonel. A very complicated relationship!!!
I don't put all the blame on the Colonel, lightcloud, but those kind of people know too well how to play with people's insecurities and like you said it seems Elvis was very insecure.
I didn't know he moved into Eddy Arnold's house, Diane.
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Yes he did move in with Eddy Donut. I think I read that in the book The Colonel. That's taking wanting control a bit far don't you think? As far as Elvis having the courage to fire the Colonel, I think Elvis always fought the idea that he came from "poor trash" just as his mother did and I bet the Colonel enforced that and used it all he could.
lightcloud, I agree I think the Colonel treated everyone the same way. He was very single-minded, controlling and egotistical.
I also bet he did. What a shame...Originally Posted by Diane
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I think the Col wanted to control as much of Elvis's career as he could-and I think in his "Stealth unseen fashion" he wanted to influence Elvis's private life without appearing to Elvis to be doing so. I think his "Snowman tactics" worked much of the time to keep Elvis where he wanted him.
Work in Progress!
From an outsider point of view it seems to me that the Col wasted, let slip by a lot of opportunities for Elvis. And some i believe were because he felt by giving Elvis a bit more freedom professionally he would lose some of his control over him. He also seemed to embellish himself to some degree in his private life but i do believe on occassion it was out of fear of losing Elvis. Elvis was self destructive and he was the Col's only income.
I do wonder if had Elvis been given more freedom as an artist would he still be here. How much of his drug use was due to his disappointment at some aspects of his career. But he was a grown man and it always amazed me that he just didn't fire the Col.
I think Elvis became reliant on the Col and in turn the Col used that to keep Elvis where the Col wanted him. It certainly was a complicated relationship.
I never looked for trouble but I never ran.
Just when my blood-pressure was levelling out a bit y`all go and mention the colonel!!! He was the root of all evil in the Elvis-world...he was a greedy,conniving,controlling,cantankerous,manipula tive,sneaky,interfering,musically-dumb,over-paid,tacky,waste of his clients` talent. He took advantage of every weakness that he could find in Elvis and used it to make himself appear far more neccessary than he actually was.He was blind to everything but profit and inflating his own ego with his "successful" deals. Elvis never had a chance to grow as an artist with Parker in charge... if they were both alive today I reckon parker would still be trying to tie Elvis into some tacky,lame deal or other..... The Colonel was as bad as he was big. Sorry about that...I get carried away sometimes.
Sometimes it's like he is still operating from wherever he might be now...
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It sure does, wouldn't put it past him to try and control the minds of those who are in control of Elvis' image today...
Elvis did not have the courage to Fire Parker plain and simple. It seemed Elvis did`nt do grown up responsible stuff too good.
RIGHT ON DONUT!!!
With some of the "stuff" (I use that term only because this is a family-friendly forum) that EPE releases these days and some of the incredibly questionable business decisions that are made by the various entities on behalf of Elvis, I really wonder if there is a contract somewhere that The Colonel signed to be in control of Elvis until the end of time...
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
So SleepyJack...tell us how you REALLY feel???Just when my blood-pressure was levelling out a bit y`all go and mention the colonel!!! He was the root of all evil in the Elvis-world...he was a greedy,conniving,controlling,cantankerous,manipula tive,sneaky,interfering,musically-dumb,over-paid,tacky,waste of his clients` talent. He took advantage of every weakness that he could find in Elvis and used it to make himself appear far more neccessary than he actually was.He was blind to everything but profit and inflating his own ego with his "successful" deals. Elvis never had a chance to grow as an artist with Parker in charge... if they were both alive today I reckon parker would still be trying to tie Elvis into some tacky,lame deal or other..... The Colonel was as bad as he was big. Sorry about that...I get carried away sometimes.
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
Mike.................
Ugh! I could just copy & paste Jack's comments!
col parker, IMO, did a lot of good for Elvis, However! he didn't do enough! He claimed to be the mastermind and dealbreaker of all time, but he didn't know the half of Elvis' real worth - or he would've made sure that quality albums were produced for soundtracks! He would have pushed Elvis into acting classes and made some Oscar winners instead of saying stupid stuff like "don't go winning Elvis no Oscars".
http://photos.elvispresley.com.au/mo..._of_habit.html
He should've looked into the careers of other actors - mainstays like Paul Newman, and tried to duplicate that!
Like Sonny West said," if the col MADE Elvis, why didn't he make another Elvis?' Then he could've kept his gambling addiction alive & well
Just pretend, I'm holding you, and whispering things soft and low.
And think of me, how it's gonna be and just pretend I didn't go
Spooky, huh?RIGHT ON DONUT!!!
With some of the "stuff" (I use that term only because this is a family-friendly forum) that EPE releases these days and some of the incredibly questionable business decisions that are made by the various entities on behalf of Elvis, I really wonder if there is a contract somewhere that The Colonel signed to be in control of Elvis until the end of time...
TCB!
Mike
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I saw an interview where Ricky Stanley said that. Wonder who said it first!!Like Sonny West said," if the col MADE Elvis, why didn't he make another Elvis?' Then he could've kept his gambling addiction alive & well
I liked all you post there. I think that colonel tried have control on Elvis but Elvis always tried con't be controlled.
Definitely spooky Donut!!Spooky, huh?
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
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