The Rise and Fall: Colonel Parker's Role in Elvis' Turbulent Life
The Dark Side of the King: The Rise and Fall of Colonel Tom Parker
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, was a household name by the 1970s, but behind the glittering facade lay a web of addiction, exploitation, and deceit. At the heart of this saga was his manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, a man who would stop at nothing to line his own pockets. But who was this enigmatic figure, and what secrets did he hide from the world?
The Making of a Mogul
Born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in Holland in 1909, Parker was a Dutch immigrant who entered America as a stowaway in the 1920s. He soon adopted the identity Tom Parker from Huntington, West Virginia, and went on to serve in the US army, where he lost his Dutch nationality and became stateless. This convenient lack of citizenship would prove a blessing in disguise for Parker's future dealings.
After a stint working in the touring carnivals of small Southern towns, Parker moved into music management with country stars Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow. His big break came in 1955 when he discovered an unknown young Elvis Presley performing in Louisiana. It took some clever schmoozing to win over the boy's parents, but within a year, Elvis was on national television, and by 1956, he was the most famous young man in the world.
The King's Court
As Elvis's fame soared, so did Parker's bank balance. He took a whopping 50% of his client's earnings, leaving Elvis to live off the crumbs. But that wasn't all - Parker had a network of side-deals and backroom arrangements that allowed him to bleed Elvis dry. Songwriters were coerced into giving up a percentage of their royalties in exchange for the privilege of having their songs recorded by the King.
Dolly Parton was one notable exception who refused to be intimidated. When Elvis asked to record her hit song "I Will Always Love You," she stood firm, recognizing the value of her creation. Parker's greed knew no bounds, and he even managed to extort a share of the profits from Elvis's numerous movie appearances.
The Colonel's Empire
Parker's control over Elvis was absolute, but his vision for his client's career was limited to one thing: making money. He cared little for the artistic merit of Elvis's projects or the impact they might have on his image. In fact, Parker's greatest achievement was probably convincing Hollywood producers and record executives that he knew what he was doing - even when it came to writing film scripts!
The result was a string of lackluster movies that made Elvis a laughing stock in Tinseltown. "I wouldn't be being honest with you if I said I wasn't ashamed of some of the movies I've been in, and some of the songs I had to sing in them," Elvis confessed to this writer during an interview in Las Vegas.
But the Colonel remained silent, his eyes gleaming with a knowing glint. He was too busy counting his millions to worry about the consequences of his actions.
The King's Demise
As the 1970s wore on, Elvis's addiction took its toll on his health and career. His manager's own addiction, meanwhile, had become a major problem - but not just with prescription pills. The Colonel's love of roulette wheels and high-stakes betting left him bankrupt more than once.
In the end, it was Elvis who paid the ultimate price for Parker's machinations. On August 16, 1977, the King died in his Graceland bathroom from a heart attack brought on by years of abuse. The Colonel's addiction never left him, but after Elvis's death, he was no longer a high-roller. Feeling abandoned and humiliated when a Memphis court took away his management of everything Elvis, Parker lived out his final 20 years in a modest Las Vegas home.
The Legacy of Deceit
Today, the story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley is one of shame and regret. But it also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of exploitation and the corrupting influence of power. As this writer has learned from Peter Guralnick's exhaustive study, "The Colonel And The King" (White Rabbit, £35, 624pp), Parker's legacy is a complex one - part brilliant promoter, part ruthless profiteer.
Guralnick's book is a treasure trove of insider information and behind-the-scenes revelations that shed new light on the inner workings of Elvis's world. By examining the hundreds of contracts and letters that Parker saved over the years, Guralnick paints a picture of a man who was single-mindedly driven by his own interests.
But to this writer, there is one crucial difference between a good manager and a brilliant promoter: a genuine concern for the well-being of their clients. The Colonel may have been a master of the game, but he was never a true friend or mentor to Elvis Presley. His legacy will forever be tainted by his own addiction and greed.
Sources
Guralnick, P. (2023). The Colonel And The King: The Secret Story of Elvis's Manager. White Rabbit, £35, 624pp.
This article was first published on thescholarlynote.com.