Colonel Parker's 'Hold'...

[NEA]

Hi Guys,

I was in conversation with an older gentleman today who is a big Elvis fan and we got to talking about Colonel Parker's managerial tactics regarding EP. The gentleman suddenly stated that there was a speculating rumour about Colonel's so-called 'hold' over Elvis and his career - the rumour goes something like this:

Elvis had accidentally killed a person in a car-crash early on his career and The Colonel was the only witness to this, and so began the tug of emotional blackmail...

Now, I could have heard this rumour many years ago - I can't 100% remember...what do you think guys?

Intriguing?

NEA.

[Tommy]

I don't believe it

Thanks for posting,

Tommy

[NEA]

My thoughts exactly, Tommy.

[Jungleroom76]

I've NEVER heard this story either...

As far as I know, the only reason Elvis kept The Colonel around as his manager was because of Elvis' deep sense of loyalty to The Colonel for making Elvis a superstar!! Elvis always felt that, without The Colonel, no one would have heard of Elvis Presley on an international level!! Of course, Sam Phillips was the man who truly "discovered" Elvis, but it was Col. Parker who got Elvis the record deal with RCA, got Elvis booked on all of the hot TV shows of the 1950's (The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show, Ed Sullivan, etc.), brokered Elvis' movie deals, etc. And without all of that, Elvis figured he would have just been a regional success at best. So it is because of all of The Colonel's early dealings on Elvis' behalf which helped catapult Elvis to superstardom, that Elvis felt such a strong sense of loyalty to The Colonel. And despite the many questionable managerial decisions that The Colonel made from roughly the mid-60's until Elvis' death, Elvis kept The Colonel on as his manager! Plus, of course, there is the well-known moment during the 60's (that was documented in the CBS mini-series ELVIS earlier this year) when Elvis planned on firing The Colonel, but was faced with such a high price to buy out The Colonel's contract, that he just dropped the whole idea and kept The Colonel on. Now THAT was blackmail!!!

Of course the reason that The Colonel stuck with Elvis is quite simple...

MONEY!!!!
MONEY!!!!
MONEY!!!!

That is indeed an interesting rumor, though NEA!!!

TCB!
Mike

[0349054]

Yeah the Colonel wanted a payment of 1 million, he said it was money owed to him by Elvis. Neither Elvis or Vernon were good at that kind of stuff, and that price scared them. The Colonel knew that Elvis thought he was passed it in the 70's. The 'hold' was originally out of loyalty and then in the end due to financial reasons. That car crash thing never happened, its as crazy as that book that claims the hold was due to Elvis having slept with men! And Elvis was a complete homophobe.

[Leroy]

A friend of mine went to a meeting some days ago where the Imperials were guests of honor. He had a conversation with Terry Blackwood about Elvis' love for Gospel music. He asked him why Elvis didn't record more Gospel not only because of his love for it but also because the only Grammy's he won was with Gospel material. Terry stated that the Colonel did not agree with Elvis doing Gospel. He even added a clausule into the contract to prevent Elvis of recording more Gospel.

By the way, the reason the Colonel stuck with Elvis was not money alone; it was also power. Power to manipulate the record- and movie industry.

[0349054]

I didn't know about any clause regarding the recording of Gospel Music in Elvis' contract. If such a clause was in the contract, then I wonder when was it inserted. You said Terry Blackwood said to prevent him recoding more Gospel, so then it's probabaly after, "He Touched Me", which it is true that we got no more Gospel Albums after that. Maybe during 1974, when Elvis and The Colonel briefly fired each other and The Colonel hit Elvis with the $1 million bill, he inserted a new clause in the contract, because he re-negotiated the contract before he would go back to work for Elvis. The only thing I knew about that new contract the differed from the previous one, was that it was now 50/50.

The Colonel did plenty of side deals with RCA over the years. I don't know if Elvis knew or if it's true. John Moran, Tom Jones'
publicist in the early 80's told one of the guys that Parker tried to sell the contract to Tom's manager but I don't know if any of that is true.

But you cant sell the contract without the artists permission.


Because Elvis didn't know much about business he deferred and relied on
The Colonel for that part of it. Parker or Elvis could have fired each other
as they did briefly in '74 but he couldn't sell the contract.


Some of the guys think he was behind the vendors selling stuff to the people outside the gate, after Elvis died.
Elvis' body wasn't even cold before he made a merchandising deal with
factors and during the funeral got Vernon to sign the contract.

There was a talk in the University of Memphis, about Elvis and The Colonel. It started by exploring whether Elvis could have been famous without The Colonel and concluded that Elvis succeeded inspite of The Colonel. Gladys never liked him, and I think her judgement was spot on.

[eap1977]

Hi Guys,

I was in conversation with an older gentleman today who is a big Elvis fan and we got to talking about Colonel Parker's managerial tactics regarding EP. The gentleman suddenly stated that there was a speculating rumour about Colonel's so-called 'hold' over Elvis and his career - the rumour goes something like this:

Elvis had accidentally killed a person in a car-crash early on his career and The Colonel was the only witness to this, and so began the tug of emotional blackmail...

Now, I could have heard this rumour many years ago - I can't 100% remember...what do you think guys?

Intriguing?

NEA.

Hi guys!

I read somewhere that when Elvis came back from the army that his cousin (I believe) had recorded with a new movie camera Elvis and 3 or 4 teenage girls at Graceland in some compromising situations and that the Col got a hold of this, can't remember which trash biography this cam from.

Whatever the reasons (as they were probably more that we can know or understand) they were there and very strong! It's so easy from our distance to say Elvis should have seen this or that but 20/20 vision comes from hindsight. Sometimes I sit around and daydream about what could have been if only...

[Wendy56]

There's no way this story can be true (!!!) NO-WAY

[KPM]

I didn't know about any clause regarding the recording of Gospel Music in Elvis' contract. If such a clause was in the contract, then I wonder when was it inserted. You said Terry Blackwood said to prevent him recoding more Gospel, so then it's probabaly after, "He Touched Me", which it is true that we got no more Gospel Albums after that. Maybe during 1974, when Elvis and The Colonel briefly fired each other and The Colonel hit Elvis with the $1 million bill, he inserted a new clause in the contract, because he re-negotiated the contract before he would go back to work for Elvis. The only thing I knew about that new contract the differed from the previous one, was that it was now 50/50.

The Colonel did plenty of side deals with RCA over the years. I don't know if Elvis knew or if it's true. John Moran, Tom Jones'
publicist in the early 80's told one of the guys that Parker tried to sell the contract to Tom's manager but I don't know if any of that is true.

But you cant sell the contract without the artists permission.


Because Elvis didn't know much about business he deferred and relied on
The Colonel for that part of it. Parker or Elvis could have fired each other
as they did briefly in '74 but he couldn't sell the contract.


Some of the guys think he was behind the vendors selling stuff to the people outside the gate, after Elvis died.
Elvis' body wasn't even cold before he made a merchandising deal with
factors and during the funeral got Vernon to sign the contract.

There was a talk in the University of Memphis, about Elvis and The Colonel. It started by exploring whether Elvis could have been famous without The Colonel and concluded that Elvis succeeded inspite of The Colonel. Gladys never liked him, and I think her judgement was spot on.

The Col. was security to Elvis and he felt loyalty also. Elvis was notorious for avoiding big decisions. He should have stuck it out and paid off the COl. the one time got fed up. As far as I know and have read Elvis recorded, after 1969, whatever he wanted to. The trouble was he did not want to record very often. I'm sure RCA and Parker would have loved a gospel album in 76 and 77 if they could have got him into a studio for more than a day or so.

[0349054]

Yeah, thing is as you said, he just wouldent go to a studio. I asked one of the MM, and the clause regarding Gospel Music, never existed, the Colonel had no say over the type of music Elvis recorded - that's not to say he didn't feed him rubbish material from the publishing comapnies though.

[NEA]

Once again, the likes of Priscilla in "Elvis By The Presleys" and a number of 'close' friends of Elvis have been contradicted about Elvis & The Colonel's business relationship - Parker did not agree with Elvis recording Gospel music, so much so that he had a clause written into their contract.

More creative indifference and interference...Business As Usual.

[0349054]

I'm fairly sure there was no clause in the contract. NEA, where are you getting the information regarding a clause in the contract from, just out of curiosity? And when was it inserted? I've asked two of the MM, and neither knew anything about it or believed it could exist.

[NEA]

Hi 0349054,

I was merely quoting a rumour that was used in an earlier post on this thread, and using it as a contradiction in terms.

You asked two members of the Memphis Mafia about this?...the only problem here is that Sonny West can tell 'his' theory and Charlie Hodge could tell you 'his' theory...and then, there's David Stanley's theory...and so on...who do you believe?

It's a crap-shoot...I say you've got to go with your own instincts after your research - anybody who was 'close' to Elvis are all consistently unreliable if you ask me, as they just love to re-write history because that promotes them as the number one insider and helps pay the bills for another little while.

Nevertheless, just my opinion.

NEA.

[0349054]

I agree with you for the most part. Its better to take all the accounts and derive your own conclusion from that. But something like a contract clause, well, the guys have no advantage in lying. I'm just wondering where that rumour started, because I cant see how it could ever be true. I just dont believe it. And it wasnt Sonny or Charlie, and Stanley - don't get me started on the Stanley's! Thanks though for the quick reply NEA.

[Jungleroom76]

You asked two members of the Memphis Mafia about this?...the only problem here is that Sonny West can tell 'his' theory and Charlie Hodge could tell you 'his' theory...and then, there's David Stanley's theory...and so on...who do you believe?

It's a crap-shoot...I say you've got to go with your own instincts after your research - anybody who was 'close' to Elvis are all consistently unreliable if you ask me, as they just love to re-write history because that promotes them as the number one insider and helps pay the bills for another little while.

COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF NEA!!!

It would be so interesting to pick one particular story (choosing a story that is pretty well documented) and then ask each of the guys that were around Elvis to share their memories of that story, and compare them to each other and see just how far off each one was and how each person spins the story to make sure that they are the main person in the story with Elvis!!!

THAT would be an interesting study....

TCB!
Mike

[KPM]

I recall I read somewhere that Elvis was contractually obligated for a Gospel album after 1971 but I for the life of me can not recall which book I read it in.
Lets face it the Col. wanted money rolling in and if a Gospel album would do it he would not turn it down. I think its obvious that after If I Can Dream Elvis was calling the shots about what music and when. The Col. was sending Elvis reminders all the time about how many new singles and albums he was suppose to cut each year and Elvis, it seems , ignored them for the most part. If he could not even force him into the studio how could he force a NO GOSPEL clause that would have only ticked off Elvis even more.
I know you've all heard how Steve Sholes told the Jordanaires not to sing gospel in 56 if it would slow down sessions. When Elvis finally was told why they would not join in on gospel jams, he let everyone know he would sing what he wanted until he was ready to record-and that was the end of that.

[0349054]

I know a lot is said about the MM, but theres only a few members who tell howlers. The real, core of the Memphis Mafia, from the 50's normally agree with each other on what happened. I tend to believe them, but I also tend to believe that Elvis was muti-faceted and quite a complex person, so it is hard to describe him. Basically its up to everyone what they believe, but I trust the guys more than authors who are basing their work on secondhand interviews with the guys and on books written by people who didnt know Elvis.

For instance, while Guarnlicks books are very good, he wrote them for the Estate, and used, Priscillas book, "Elvis and Me", as one of his sources. That book, is quite ficitonal. But thats getting into everything, like Priscilla says that her father never forced Elvis to marry her, but I don't tend to believe that. I tend to beliveve that Elvis was somewhat forced into that marriage, and everyone knows he thought so highly of Ann-Margaret. I think, had Elvis and Ann-Margaret wed, then Elvis would still be with us.

[0349054]

I recall I read somewhere that Elvis was contractually obligated for a Gospel album after 1971 but I for the life of me can not recall which book I read it in.
Lets face it the Col. wanted money rolling in and if a Gospel album would do it he would not turn it down. I think its obvious that after If I Can Dream Elvis was calling the shots about what music and when. The Col. was sending Elvis reminders all the time about how many new singles and albums he was suppose to cut each year and Elvis, it seems , ignored them for the most part. If he could not even force him into the studio how could he force a NO GOSPEL clause that would have only ticked off Elvis even more.
I know you've all heard how Steve Sholes told the Jordanaires not to sing gospel in 56 if it would slow down sessions. When Elvis finally was told why they would not join in on gospel jams, he let everyone know he would sing what he wanted until he was ready to record-and that was the end of that.

Completely agree. I cant see Elvis ever agreeing to such a clause, or ever abiding by it. His concerts in the late 70's were more country and gospel than rock and roll. As he said, he couldent see himself rocking to Hound Dog or Blue Suede Shoes much longer.

[Jungleroom76]

I think, had Elvis and Ann-Margaret wed, then Elvis would still be with us.

I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY!!!

I also think that if Elvis had married Linda Thompson, he would still be with us too!!

TCB!
Mike