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. Parker returned to the U.S . AccordingSmithsonian Magazine, the reason for this attitude is the same reason Parker refused to travel internationally and why he usually settled lawsuits instead of taking the chance of being forced to testify under oath: He was terrified that his status as an illegal immigrant would be revealed. He allegedly took a 50% commission on his earnings and exploited him to support his gambling and betting addiction. After a stint as a salesman he joined the US army in 1930 and served with the coastal artillery at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Speaking to Stephen Colbert on The Late Show last year, Hanks described Parker as both a genius and a scoundrel He was a very disciplined man, but also a guy who you might want to check your wallet to make sure you still have all those fives and 10s. Most surprisingly, Hanks described asking Elvis Presleys ex-wife Priscilla about Parker, and getting a surprising answer. In 1967, Parker pushed Elvis to marry Priscilla Beaulieu, hoping that it would help change the tide of his career. He saw the greasy-haired lad, clad in a pink suit, transform into a superhero. And when he said that, I said, 'Oh, well, okay, now that's brand new.". But Parker, even later in life, was unrepentant: In The Daily News of Los Angeles obituary, hes quoted as saying, I sleep very good at night. Known for his keen promotion and merchandising savvy, Parker, or "the Snowman," would help to make Elvis a household name, putting the singer on everything from lunch boxes to board games to trading cards and beyond. He was 87 years old at the age of his death. Perception of Parker shifted, as he seemed to be mismanaging Presley's career into the ground, prioritizing short-term profits over long-term success. As The Washington Post notes, British music promoter Harvey Goldsmith said flat out that when he tried to sign Presley to a performance in England, Parker told him privately it would never happen because he was afraid to leave the U.S. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Elvis was given a spot in the Louisiana Hayride, a radio show, and Colonel Parker knew that this young lad could prove to be a dark horse. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Elvis' movie fact check: What's true, what's fiction in new biopic? Elvis and the Colonel were associated throughout the musician's entire career, including music, movies, and TV specials. In Elvis biopic, Tom Hanks plays the Tampa dogcatcher who managed the King One reason Parker needed all that money was his gambling and as theDailyExpressreports, he may have contributed to Presley's early death by pushing the singer to perform two shows a night, seven days a week, for his Las Vegas residencies in order to keep the cash coming. Rarenotes that despite being a superstar, Elvis Presley only toured outside the U.S. three times all in 1957, and all in Canada. He claimed to have been born in Huntington, West Virginia. Its a must-watch for every Presley fan, and even if you are not, give it a watch to witness the insane stardom that the man enjoyed in that era and the effect he had on the socio-political environment of the country. 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. Despite Parker's troubling exploitation of Presley, though,. AKA Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk. There was money to be made, and Elvis wanted to travel abroad too. No matter what Colonel Parker says, his actions did qualify as a betrayal. As a veteran even a veteran with a stain on his record Parker would have been an ideal choice for the draft. Yet he never bothered and remained an illegal immigrant his entire life. Smithsonian reports that Parker even restricted Presley from touring internationally due to his own undocumented status, forfeiting a potentially enormous payout. 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. Never one to miss an opportunity to make money off of his prized client, Colonel Tom Parker jumped on Elvis' death as a marketing cash grab. Date of death: 21 January 1997 Las Vegas: Manner of death: natural causes; Cause of death: stroke; Place of burial: Palm Downtown Mortuary And Cemetery; Country of citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands; . He would sniff out talent and attempt to milk them for all they were worth, including Elvis, whom he initially saw as an act that wouldn't last more than a few years. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal is certainly one of the highlights of the movie, giving audiences something they aren't used to seeing from the actor. He negotiated it as a PR move to make him appear to be the all-American boy, she says. He was 87. While proving to be a frequent challenge for Parker, Elvis and the Colonel stuck together. Parker found ways to market Elvis through merchandise, TV appearances, and films, always working in some kind of cross-promotion to make more money off the endeavor. Parker was eventually sued by the Elvis estate over mismanagement, which found his dealings over the years to be unethical and extortionate. but continued in his management role until the singer's death in 1977. . Col. Parker got 25 percent of Presley's total income at times and 50 percent at other times -- percentages that some in the Presley circle considered too high. His father, Vernon, was an incompetent business manager, which allowed Tom Parker to play his tricks. Elvis finally brought the pink Cadillac and a huge mansion in Memphis, Tennessee. Much of the money went to Col. Tom Parker, the King's enigmatic, cigar- chomping manager and Svengali. After that, Parker consistently turned down offers for Presley to tour in Europe and Japan, deals often worth millions of dollars. AsThe Washington Postreports, the judge in the suit was so shocked by what he saw that he said Parker was "guilty of self-dealing and overreaching" and barred him from any involvement with the estate going forward. But neither Elvis nor Steve Binder saw it like that. If Parker hadn't been so paranoid about Presley being outside of his direct control, The King would have earned a lot more money. CAPTION: COL. TOM PARKER. And there certainly would've been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker.' 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. The Washington Post also reminds us that this cost Presley whose estate was worth just $7 million when he died a great deal of money. Where is Colonel Tom Parker's grave and when did he die? - The Sun The Masked Lookalike Explained, Every Baz Luhrmann Movie, Ranked According To Box Office Mojo, Tom Hanks' Tom Parker isn't his usual role, The New Mad Max Might Break A Decades Old Series Rule, Chris Pratt Joins Luigi Actor To Troll Super Mario Bros. Movie Voice Critics, Warner Bros Just Destroyed The Rings Of Power. Living Characters And Themes, Explained: What Is The Meaning Of Rodneys Mission To Build The Playground? Who would account for that mental and physical fatigue? Elena Eremina Hi there! He had toured with carnivals, worked with elephants and. See the article in its original context from. Shocking Truth Behind Singer Tom Parker's Cause of Death - US day News But towardthe end of the evening, DJ Rufus Thomas brought Elvis out for a leg gyration and the crowd went wild. Backstage, King and Presley posed together for a picture. Parker adopted the title as if it were part of his identity, frequently being referred to as "The Colonel," despite his military discharge. The man had immigrated illegally to the United States of America, and that is why he didnt want to travel abroad, as it would expose his real identity. During that period, Elvis mother passed away, and there were other political developments that shook him to his core. Paul Shirey is a senior news writer for Screen Rant. That year, the small, struggling label sold Presleys contract to RCA Victor for $35,000. These branded Elvis products included jewelry, record players, and lipstick that bore the slogan, Keep Me Always On Your Lips. But Parker didnt stop there: He even arranged for the sale of buttons that read I Hate Elvis and Elvis Is a Jerk. In other words, hed monopolized the Elvis merchandise market and raked in 50% of the millions of dollars in profit. Then in 2017, when the house was set to be demolished for a car wash, music historian and collector Brian Oxley purchased the rights to the . Not surprisingly, the news conference had a promotional tie-in: a display in the Elvis suite at the Las Vegas Hilton, where Presley performed from 1969 to 1977. Parker was still adamant about churning out every ounce of energy the man had. So far as the wider world knew, the Colonel was Thomas Andrew Parker, born in Huntingdon, West Virginia, some time shortly after 1900. Elvis could have played the lead in West Side Story, for example, or the role that made Jon Voight a star in Midnight Cowboy. He thought it might be a little too Broadway. Colonel Parker lay on the hospital bed, overlooking the International Hotel of Las Vegas, and all over the media, there was news that he was responsible for the death of Elvis Presley. Elvis didnt stop performing the way he wanted to, and eventually, the right-wing had enough. In early 1929, a 23-year-old newlywed woman, Anna van den Enden, was found beaten to death in the living quarters behind a greengrocer store. But it was not so. Colonel Tom Parker. Although Parker successfully landed Arnold performances in Las Vegas and acting roles in movies, Arnold evidently found his management style claustrophobic, because he fired him in 1953. Viewers who are more familiar with Elvis Presleys music than his life story might be surprised by the prominence Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) in Baz Luhrmanns Elvis biopic. His first wife, Marie, died in 1980. The following discusses plot points from the new "Elvis" movie and the real life of Elvis Presley. In February of 1957, historian Michael T. Bertrand writes, Edward R. Murrow invited Elvis to appear on his prestigious evening news program. Elvis was infuriated, but he realized that he didnt have an out. Here's Who Inherited Most Of Elvis Presley's Estate And - TheThings All rights Reserved. Who was Colonel Tom Parker? The story of Elvis Presley's - Gold I was expecting to hear stories about the distrust she had for Colonel Tom Parker over these many years, he told Colbert. 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. One inescapable conclusion from even a cursory examination of the way Colonel Tom Parker handled Elvis Presley's career is that the Colonel robbed his client blind over the course of two and a half decades. He was tired of the shiny lights, of the big stage, and most of all, of playing the host to all those parasites who had made him hollow from the inside. Spoiler alert! He allegedly took a 50% commission on his earnings and exploited him to support his gambling and betting addiction. ': Tom Hanks changed his mind about his favorite Elvis song, The colonel was delighted that Elvis was causing riots and grabbing headlines for being overly suggestive, she says. His mother was giving him a pep talk to calm his nerves. Stop reading if you haven't seen it yet and don't want to know. He was a scoundrel in his way.. Related: Elvis True Story: Who Was Orion? He made a mockery out of the life of the best-selling solo recording artist of all time. A more likely story is that he immigrated to the United States around the age of 20 and traveled with circuses, settling down in Tampa, Fla., and marrying Marie Mott in 1935. Is He Dead Or Alive? Baz Luhrmann's musical biopic Elvis explores the eponymous singer's career, leading up to his tragic death, and one of the characters that has caused a fair amount of controversy is Elvis and the Colonel, Tom Parker. The epic biopic "Elvis" covers a lot of ground - 42 years, to be precise - from the iconic singer's birth until his death in 1977. Held at a Hilton Hotel, his funeral was attended by the likes of Sun Records boss Sam Phillips and Parker's former client . A rough-spoken, imposing, cigar-chomping businessman, Mr. Parker rarely gave interviews and was known for fabricating his background. Possibly because he was a murderer. 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. Colonel Tom Parker - Elvis, House & Death As writerAlanna Nashnotes, a reporter in Parker's home country of the Netherlands received an anonymous letter stating that he "murdered the wife of a greengrocer on the Bochstraat in Breda." Most managers earn between 10 and 15 percent of what their clients make but from the very beginning, Parker soaked his only client for more. (Despite his unofficial title, he was never a colonel: Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis granted him an honorary colonelcy in 1948, and Parker clung to it for life.). The Life Of Colonel Tom Parker: Elvis Presley's Manager Hanks has portrayed real-life people in a number of films, from Jim Lovell in Apollo 13 to Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood to Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger in Sully - and many more. The Washington Postreportsthat he spent several months recuperating at Walter Reed Army Hospital and was officially diagnosed as being in a "Constitutional Psychopathic State" and released from the armed forces that year. He attended Elvis funeral dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, avoiding any display of emotion. That alone would have raised the burgeoning pop stars profile, but Parker didnt stop there: As the CBC describes, he set up a deal with a movie merchandiser to produce dozens of Elvis-themed products, many of which were aimed at teenage girls. Presley, however, was confident in the song, and Heartbreak Hotel was soon at the top of the Billboard Charts. When was Elvis Presley's funeral and who attended? The manager also gave himself good deals, taking commissions as high as 50 percent. Elvis died at the age of 42, in the year 1977. Elvis Presley Enterprises was created, and Vernon Presley was made the business manager. Theres no one, including his father, who could have pulled that off., By the time Elvis was trying to get help for his addictions, his ex-wife was no longer in his life on a daily basis. When Did Colonel Tom Parker Die? Here Is Everything About Elvis Presley There were questions as to the citizenship of Tom Parker. 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. He came on stage, and it felt like he would faint because of anxiety and stage fright. The connection isn't nearly as directas the film implies, which presents Elvis residency at the International Hotel as a way for Elvis' managerto settle his sizable gambling debts at the hotel's casino. Even his birthplace was in dispute: He said West Virginia, but most reference books said the Netherlands. So she did the only sensible thing she could do: She sued Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, in order to sever him from the estate and gain full control and she won. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. He sold programs and counted tickets at his shows. Yet many of Presley's fans resented Mr. Parker, accusing him of urging the singer to embrace shlock instead of substance, of charging the singer exorbitant commissions and of keeping Presley from touring outside of the United States. Col. Parker was credited with getting Presley a $35,000 recording contract with RCA Victor in the mid-1950s when Sam Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis decided to sell Presley's contract. After Elvis' death in 1977, the Elvis Presley manager continued on as if The King were still alive. Presleys first single with RCA was Heartbreak Hotel an instant classic that RCA disliked at first due to its lyrics, which told the story of a lonely mans death by suicide. Mr. Parker began his management career with the singer Eddy Arnold, establishing a reputation as an all-consuming patriarch by moving in with the singer and his family in Nashville. He fully believed the colonels story that Parker hailed from Huntington, West Virginia; Elvis died not knowing the truth," she says. No, he never would have done that, Nash says. He said that publishers would tell him "we want dirt" and that "I'd tell them I'm not a dirt farmer.". Tom used to work in the carnival, and he knew that there were certain tricks that left the audience baffled. In spite of this fact, he served as a private in the U.S. Army in the early 1930s, and in 1932 was briefly incarcerated for desertion after leaving his unit without permission for leave. AsBiographymakes clear, Parker was actually born in the city of Breda in the Netherlands, making him Dutch. He promptly orchestrated Presley's departure from Sun, the small label where he had started recording, and arranged for him to sign a contract with RCA Records. He became Presley's manager in 1955. Col. Parker was somewhat of a mysterious figure who preferred to stay out of the public eye. Over the course of their long relationship, he exerted a remarkable level of control over the star, who put up with him until his death in 1977. In an interview (via Entertainment Weekly), Hanks broke down why he took the part, "Baz said, 'There would've been no Colonel Tom Parker without Elvis. He was 87. Its a story about power, about control, about greed, and most of all, about freedom, for which our protagonist longed till his last breath. The very next morning, Tom died in a renowned hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada due to stroke-related complications. "I had the luxury of essentially recreating somebody who no one really knew. Did Colonel Tom Parker Really Kill Elvis Presley? | Ben Vaughn Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, butlight showers make brief return, Woman called 911 before being shot in double murder-suicide, HPD says, Nick Lachey confuses Netflix viewers with relationships comments while presenting Perfect Match. How could an idol of the masses consider Mahalia Jackson and B.B King as his inspiration? Tom Hanks was also intrigued by the fact that the wider public knew very little about the Elvis manager, claiming this was another reason he took on the role. When Elvis returned home from the Army, The Colonel focused on more films, TV appearances, and albums, saturating the airwaves with Elvis. AsSmithsonian Magazinepoints out, the Alien Registration Act of 1940 basically offered amnesty to all illegal aliens, so becoming a naturalized citizen would have been pretty easy. But it certainly would explain Parker's hurried exit from his home country and his fevered secrecy and worry over his true identity. Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth 2023, Bio & Cause of Death Nash notes that Parker (played in the film by Tom Hanks) was an inveterate gambler dating back to his early years in the carnival business, often decamping for Hot Springs, Arkansas, orPalm Springs, California,to satisfy his needs. He was quickly arrested and spent a few months in military prison. As the manager of the biggest musical star in the world, he could afford to bluster, often bragging about being in charge of Presley's career and earning the lion's share of the income. In 1948, he wangled the honorary colonel's title from Louisiana's Governor, Jimmie Davis, and henceforth asked to be addressed as ''Colonel.'' Elvis wiggled and shook his whole body like somebody had plugged his high-voltage wire into a socket. Col. Parker was 300 pounds, enjoyed smoking Cuban cigars and was said to have been lacking in social graces -- he wore walking shorts, a colorful shirt and a baseball cap to Presley's funeral. The Presley estate sued Parker for fraud in 1981, specifically over the deals he had with RCA in addition to his contract with Presley which, needless to say, amounted to a conflict of interest. Thank you.". His mother, Gladys Presley, had a premonition of sorts. As Smithsonian Magazine reports, van Kuijk, who was born in the Netherlands, created an elaborate fake past for himself. Elvis arrived for the start of two weeks of rehearsals on June 3, 1968, and Kennedy was shot on June 5, dying the next morning, June 6, she says. Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of JoBlo.com, he has over a decade of writing and reporting about the entertainment industry and has covered everything from Comic Con to CinemaCon to Star Wars Celebration, as well as covering numerous set visits and junkets all over the world. Tom Parker's Cause of Death. How did Colonel Tom Parker die? Despite the court controversy, Parker continued to appear at Elvis-themed events, from anniversaries to special events, etc. . Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley. However, Parker claimed that his issue with overseas performances was over security issues, as well as poor venues not suitable for the star's stature. Austin Butler as Elvis and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker do the bulk of the heavy lifting. Sayen Ending Explained: Does Sayen Protect Her Community And Prove Her Innocence? With Elvis in Las Vegas, Parker ran up enormous debts with the casinos and was focused on keeping Presley working constantly so he could cover his debts. He didnt have time for his family, and the problem of drug abuse was ruining his life. Frequently photographed with Presley, Parker became a celebrity in his own right, usually pictured chomping on a cigar. Fact checking the new 'Elvis' movie: Did he really fire Colonel Tom Eventually, Parker began to manage musicians. Colonel Tom Parker Cause of Death, How did Colonel Tom Parker Die And even if there were difficulties, by the 1960s, Parker was rich and famous and probably had the connections to get any problems smoothed out. There was an encounter in December1956, when King was the headliner on the all-black WDIA Goodwill Revue.