Colonel Parker was a very complicated person, and his . "[40], Presley had to do no more than provide RCA Victor with three albums a year,[37] and his film soundtracks did that for him. [1], Parker was born as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909, in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands,[4] and was the seventh of eleven children. The show, titled "Welcome Home, Elvis", was Presley's first national television appearance since The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. However, it soon became obvious that Elvis had staying power, with the right guidance. [48] Two weeks after the Las Vegas press conference Parker received a letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman. [18] Neal was struggling at the time to accommodate his new client's success, and in February 1955, following a meeting with Parker, Presley agreed to let Parker take some control of future bookings and promotions. So clearly the rock star never worked up the will to actually go through with the firing. [16] NBC had originally wanted Presley for the role, but Parker had turned them down. He had expressed interest in making films when he first met Parker, and now Parker was working to make that happen. Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. During the week-long visit, Parker was informed by Adam van Kuijk that their mother had died three years earlier in 1958, never knowing what happened to her son after he left the Netherlands for good in 1929. The Elvis Presley manager did a lot of controversial things during his time in show business, and the Baz Luhrmann movie reveals just how much of a monster he really was. [44] However, Presley had asked him to raise funds to pay for his upcoming divorce settlement, and Priscilla divorced Elvis in 1973. QUICK FACTS Birth Year: 1909 Birth date: June 26, 1909 Birth City: Breda Birth. In particular, Hanks was looking forward to taking part in a fresh look at the story, as the tale of Elvis is well-known enough to garner fatigue. [65] Marie was one of six children,[65] had been married twice before, and had a son from her first marriage. [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. [15] Around the same time, realizing the deal for Presley might fall through due to the cost of the contract, Parker attempted to sell Tommy Sands to RCA. Parker was still worried that Presley would return to nothing, that the public would have found a new star to fawn over by then, and that his golden goose would be reduced to nothing more than a "has-been".[35]. Parker's Net Worth When He Died Was $1 Million. But this guy is like eighty years old too old to be taught the limits of racism He probably doesn't realize how horrible a thing that was to do. Andreas Cornelius Van Kuijk ("Colonel Tom Parker"), manager and promoter: born Breda, Holland 26 June 1909; twice married; died Las Vegas 21 January 1997. He quickly became the singer's sole representative, and within months he had won Elvis a recording contract with RCA Victor.. While it is believed that he made over $100 million dollars during his time with Elvis, he was rumored to only be worth a million dollars when he died, and at one point, had gambling debts in excess of $ Continue Reading Related questions [39] Throughout the 1960s Parker would continually renegotiate Presley's film contracts, often paying little attention to the scripts or the concerns of his client. Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's . He died of complications from the stroke[72] the following morning at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. [65] However, there is no definite proof that anything other than romance led to their marriage. Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. [50] Author Alanna Nash suggests that one of the reasons Parker didn't do more is because he may have just not known how to handle the situation. 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. Tom Parker died in 1997. Also to die at a similar age of either heart or lung problems were Elvis' mother Gladys and three of her brothers. Instead, Parker sent demonstration recordings to record producer Steve Sholes at RCA Victor. . [44] He offered RCA Records the opportunity to buy Presley's entire back catalog for $5.4 million. What's amazing is this, after Elvis' death, Parker is said to have owed $30 million in gambling debts to the Las Vegas Hilton. Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 January 21, 1997),[1] commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager. Parker was a svengali who exerted an extreme amount of control over his charge's career, and took enormous 25 to 50% in commission. 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. In May 1973, in an attempt to deal with Presley's growing dependence on prescription drugs, Presley's father, Vernon, and Parker attempted to cut off his supply. [17] In the beginning, Presley, Moore, and the bassist Bill Black were a trio, the Blue Moon Boys. With 1956 coming to a close, Parker had made Presley one of the most well-known, well-paid entertainers in the world. Later, Davis says "He remembered me, and he said 'I told you you were going to be a star.' He's a very smart man. [citation needed], When Presley died on August 16, 1977, one day before he was due to go out on tour, some accounts suggest Parker acted as if nothing had happened. It's a surprisingly relatable trait for someone . [64] In 1993, in one of his last media appearances, Parker appeared in a television interview with Dutch TV director Jorrit van der Kooi where they spoke to each other in Dutch about the Netherlands and about Elvis Presley's life and career. [1][4], At age 15, Van Kuijk moved to Rotterdam, gaining employment on boats in the port town. 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. Colonel Tom is credited as being the man who made Elvis Presley a star. Thats insane! [52] In Las Vegas, he was starting to appear drugged on stage, slurring his words and forgetting song lyrics. Both Priscilla and Jerry said he was a lovely man". [67] Author Alanna Nash has suggested that the couple may have simply placed their hands on a Bible and given themselves a "carny wedding".[67]. [4] Although Parker had served honorably for a time, he went AWOL this time and was charged with desertion. The premises had been ransacked in search of money. However, there were some interesting omissions from the award announcements. [16] In the drama, the role of Sands was portrayed as a "twisted psychopath". "[56] Almost immediately, before even visiting Graceland, Parker traveled to New York City to meet with merchandising associates and executives with RCA Records, instructing them to prepare for a huge demand in Presley products. Later, in 1983, Parker admitted during an interview that after 1966, the income from Presley films and soundtracks was dramatically reduced. A gambling, circus- and cigar-loving illegal immigrant: that's who created the buzz behind the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley.Colonel Tom Parker was the one person you'd see at . Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Tom Parker Is Dead at 87; Controlled Presley's Career", "Colonel Parker Managed Elvis' Career, but Was He a Killer on the Lam? 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. Imagine owing anyone $146.6 million dollars. [15] RCA Victor, Hank Snow's current label, also showed an interest, but they were put off by the cost of the contract. Tual also said a 1973 agreement selling RCA 700 master recordings for $5 million made no sense for the. Parker's main role during these tours was to plan the logistics and make sure tickets were sold. The Colonel (Tom Hanks) first sees Elvis (Austin Butler) backstage at the Louisiana Hayride. [48], Aloha from Hawaii proved to be the last great moment in Presley's career. I said no." Yet, in the end, standing up to the Colonel proved to be an expert . [14], Through the fundraising, Parker headed to Tennessee to find acts to perform at his charity events,[14] among them stars such as Minnie Pearl and Eddy Arnold. There were no witnesses and almost no evidence, except that the killer spread pepper on and around the body before fleeing in hopes that police dogs would not pick up the scent. [33] Presley had wanted to join Special Services, allowing him the opportunity to perform while at the same time getting an easier ride than other soldiers. [15] Over the next few years, he helped Arnold secure hit songs, television appearances, and live tours. [50] Presley's main doctor, George C. Nichopoulos, would often replace Presley's medication with placebos in an attempt to wean him off the drugs. Presley was never one to stand up against Parker, but he knew that this TV show was his one chance at a true comeback, and with Binder backing him, Presley told Parker he was doing it "Binder's way". [33] Parker, on the other hand, was fully aware that any special treatment given to Presley would instantly be used against him in the media and by those who disliked his style of music. Presley's career stagnated while artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys dominated the charts. Parker was also afraid that any attempt to block Presley from being drafted would result in a more detailed look into his own service record. The contract, dated July 12, 1954, eight days after their first recording session, was signed by Presley and his parents. 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