Colonel Tom Parker was born as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909 in Breda, Netherlands as the seventh of eleven children of Adam and Maria. And the value of his estate at the time of his death in 1997? Alanna Nash's biography of Parker, The Colonel, claims he may have been trying to avoid passport scrutiny because he might have been a suspect in a murder in Breda. The 100th birthday of Colonel Parker. A carnival worker by background, Parker moved into music promotion in 1938, working with one of the first popular crooners, Gene Austin, and then country music singers Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, and Tommy Sands in his early career. But Col Thomas Andrew Parker - the all-American father figure - wasn't the first to discover Elvis. "[60], In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, was dedicated to him. [36] If Parker had had any doubts about his return, they were soon gone when he witnessed the turnout along the route. Loanne was born on July 11, 1935 in Covington, Ohio to Paul E. an [21] In return for a larger financial stake in the deal, Neal agreed not to renew his management contract with Presley after it expired in March 1956,[22] allowing Parker the opportunity to claim the job for himself. With Presley serving in West Germany, Parker did everything he could to keep the singer's name on everyone's lips, as he worried that Presley would fade in the public eye. Compare Colonel Tom Parker's Net Worth. [46] Originally planned as three performances, demand was so high that Parker decided to add a fourth performance, making Presley the first performer to sell out the venue four consecutive times. Col. Tom Parker, the former carnival barker who helped guide Elvis Presley to stardom, died Tuesday of complications from a . [59] Due to an ill-advised agreement between Parker and Presley that gave RCA sole ownership of all his recording royalties prior to 1973, the estate was relying heavily on the income from Factors Etc. He is known for Spinout (1966), Kissin' Cousins (1964) and Jailhouse Rock (1957). [60] In 1993, interest in Presley's enduring legend, interest that is sometimes notable for its obsessiveness, provoked Parker to remark: "I don't think I exploited Elvis as much as he's being exploited today. [53] They discussed the possibility of Presley's co-starring with Streisand in a remake of the film A Star Is Born. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. In the early days of their marriage, Marie and Parker worked together in the carnivals. After Presley showed signs of rebellion again in 1966 and because of his flagging career, Parker decided that it was time for a new approach: marriage. He had expressed interest in making films when he first met Parker, and now Parker was working to make that happen. Parker appeared to be in complete control during Presley's time away, but he was worried about the outside influence that . Colonel Tom Parker was astonished to hear that Elvis Presley was a white man. Net Worth: $1 Million; Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) What happened to Tom Parker after Elvis died? 1. In 1980, a judge ordered an investigation into Parker's management practices, finding that Parker's management had been unethical. 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. The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash Aurum 19.99, pp394. Parker made his last public appearances in 1994. For his part, Parker himself died with a net worth of $1 million, or roughly . In later years, Parker's influence waned, but he continued in his management role until Presley's death in 1977. [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. For all intents and purposes, this should have made Elvis Presley a very wealthy man, yet when he passed away in 1977, the King was down to his last $1million and prior to his death The Colonel . "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. [16], Eddy Arnold fired Parker in 1953 over Parker's growing involvement with the singer Hank Snow. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. [37] For the first few years Presley's films were somewhat successful, his albums topped the charts, and any singles that were released were mostly hits. The 32nd Anniversary of Elvis' final concert in Indianapolis. [12] Despite having sold over 86 million records since 1924 and earning over $17 million, Austin's career was at a low point. In January 1979, it was discovered that Presley had lost out on royalties for songs on which he had been listed as an author or composer because Parker had unwisely advised him not to sign up to ASCAP or its younger competitor, BMI. [41] The Cadillac tour proved to be somewhat more successful than the film itself. [5] However, Judge Joseph Evans, aware that Lisa Marie Presley was still a minor, appointed attorney Blanchard E. Tual to investigate Parker's management. Parker managed his career with an iron fist. It took a probate court to remove Parker and his 50% fee from future dealings. Parker encouraged Presley to make film musicals which became the focus of his career during his commercial decline in the 1960s until his 1968 comeback and return to touring. Meanwhile, his career began stagnating as the British Invasion took over the United States. Published Jan. 22, 1997 | Updated Sep. 30, 2005. Stories appeared in the press regularly about Presley, including that he would do a live CCTV broadcast when he returned and that he had signed a deal for a series of annual television spectaculars to be broadcast across the country. However, other friends and members of Presley's entourage have stood by the suggestion that Parker didn't want to admit there was such a problem because he didn't know how to deal with it, and he was also worried about any negative publicity it would create. He said 'Did I really?' No, he didn't. That's the kicker. [citation needed], For the remainder of Presley's life, Parker saw little of him. He first met the future star in 1955, when Elvis was already being managed by the guitarist in his band. He was mysterious and colorful, and, under his guidance, his one and only client -- Elvis -- reached unimaginable heights. After the special, Parker managed Presley's return to live performance, including a set of brief U.S. tours and many engagements in Las Vegas. [41] In Houston alone in one afternoon, 40,000 people paid to see it, with one woman offering to have sex with the tour manager if he would allow her to sit in it. A suit between Parker and the Presley estate was settled out of court in 1983. Instead, he found employment as a field agent with a local animal shelter, the Hillsborough County Humane Society. [37] Parker, not one to forget harsh criticism, stated that the fee would be $125,000 (equivalent to about $1,145,000 in 2021) for two songs, a total of eight minutes on screen; Sinatra himself was receiving a lower sum for the whole show,[38] but he agreed. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. [4] He enlisted in the United States Army a few months later, taking the name "Tom Parker" from the same name of the officer who interviewed him, to disguise the fact he was an illegal alien. [65] Unbeknown to Parker at the time, she had a second son from her first marriage, but had given him up for adoption at birth due to his disability (a club foot). [56] At the funeral, he persuaded Presley's father to sign over control of Presley's career in death to him. [53] Parker, who had always dealt with Presley's film contracts and viewed the offer as a starting bid to earning more money, instead asked for a salary $1 million ($5,035,869 in 2021 dollars[11]), 50% of the profits, plus another $100,000 ($503,587 in 2021 dollars[11]) for expenses, and spoke of needing to arrange details of a soundtrack deal. According to Presley's biographer Peter Guralnick, Presley and Parker "were really like, in a sense, a married couple, who started out with great love, loyalty, respect that lasted for a considerable period of time, and went through a number of stages until, towards the end of Presley's life, they should have walked away. The show, titled "Welcome Home, Elvis", was Presley's first national television appearance since The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. Parker then managed a series of highly successful tours for Presley. The 30th Anniversary of the revelation to Elvis' estate that Colonel Parker was still fleecing his client. As a reward, Davis gave him the honorary rank of "colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia.[2][3]. For two years he served in the 64th Coast Artillery at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. [48] The press were told that an audience of one billion was expected to tune in to see the "first entertainment special to be broadcast live around the world",[48] although Parker had not taken into account the fact that many countries, including parts of Europe and America, would not see the concert live due to the time of the broadcast. He would call his flamboyant manager, Col. Tom Parker, and ask Parker to book another tour (Presley's average concert gross in the mid-'70s was $130,000 a night) or schedule another recording . When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. He influenced Presley's personal life, including Presley's decisions to accept military service in 1958 and to marry Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967. Following the success of Presley's Las Vegas return, Parker signed a contract with the International Hotel to guarantee Presley would play a month-long engagement for $125,000 a week ($974,043 in 2021 dollars[11]), an unheard-of sum at the time. The 30th Anniversary of the death of Elvis' father, Vernon Presley. He said 'Well then there ain't no doubt about it. Parker held another press conference on September 4, 1972, in Las Vegas to confirm that the concert, now titled Aloha from Hawaii, would be broadcast on January 14, 1973. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. He had booked Presley into a four-week Las Vegas engagement, misjudging the reaction of the slightly older, more reserved audiences that Las Vegas attracted. 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. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and music businessman. Answer (1 of 2): In addition to what is noted in the other answer, he had legal disputes with the Presley estate but ultimately continued to earn money from Elvis's legacy. [4] He also noted that Parker's handling of Presley's business affairs during his lifetime, including the decision to sell off past royalties to RCA for $5.4 million in 1973, was unethical and poorly handled. Parker hoped that marriage would not only boost Presley's career but also possibly tame him. In the early 80s, an investigation was launched into Parker's management of Presley. Stick around for t. With Parker's help, Presley signed a recording contract with RCA Victor, leading to his commercial breakthrough in 1956 with his sixth single "Heartbreak Hotel" and propelling him to become one of the most popular and commercially successful entertainers in the world. [60], The disputes with the Presley estate did not terminate Parker's association with Presley. [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. He died on 21 January 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He facilitated Presley's rise to superstardom in the 50s, and also influenced his decisions to accept his military draft and to marry his wife Priscilla, among other things. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal was a shocking one. [43] A breakfast reception was arranged, taking place after the media got their photographs of the couple. [52], In February 1975, during his engagement in Las Vegas, Presley, along with Parker, met with Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters. [55] The book was published one year later on July 12, 1977, one month before Presley's death. 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. Elvis Presley shot to stardom as a rock 'n roll legend, a legacy that still continues almost 50 years after the King's death. She said she was at home with him when he had his stroke. . The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too . . In 1955, Parker and Memphis radio personality Bob Neal began promoting the young up-and-coming singer Elvis Presley. [50] This would be successful for a short time, but when Presley discovered the trick, he simply found himself other doctors. According to Biography, Presley's father let Colonel Tom Parker have the run of things for two more years, but after the elder Presley also died in 1979, things got complicated for the manager. when Elvis died, he was only worth $5 . Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and musical entrepreneur who had a net worth of $1 million at the time of his death in 1997. Allegedly $1 Million, more or less. [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. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as . [31] Parker made sure that the contract allowed Presley the freedom to make at least one film a year with another studio, and also managed to set up an office, with staff, at Paramount. However, after his re-enlistment, he went AWOL and was charged with desertion. Upon his return from the Army, Presley appeared on Frank Sinatra's television show. While the film shows Elvis firing his manager during a show after realising he's being deceived by the Colonel, this is not what happened in real life. [4], In 1935, Parker married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. [15] RCA made it clear it were unwilling to go above $25,000 for a practically unknown singer,[15] but Parker persuaded them that Presley was no ordinary unknown singer. [16], Regardless of the success that Parker and Presley had achieved, Parker was still struggling to believe that Presley's career would last longer than a year or two. [56] Other accounts suggest he slumped in his chair at his office, muttered, "Oh, dear God", and then quickly phoned Vernon Presley, where Parker advised Presley's father that his son's image needed to be protected. [18] According to Moore, Presley agreed to take 50 percent, with Moore and Black splitting the other 50 percent. [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. He died of complications from the stroke[72] the following morning at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. You're going to be a star.'"[71]. [50] However, it wasn't long before Presley was able to find other doctors to meet his demands. [14] With the Society in need of funds, Parker set about using his promotional experience to raise money and awareness for the shelter. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. When critics questioned this arrangement and that Parker was exploiting Presley for more money because of greed, Presley quipped "I could have signed with East Coast Entertainment where they take 70 percent! [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. [4] From about 1931 until 1938, he worked as a "carny" with Royal American Shows. [4] At age 17, he first displayed signs of wanting to run away to the United States to "make his fortune". He subsequently performed at three charity events, and then suspended his live performing until 1968. [53] Seeing it as a chance to finally be taken seriously as an actor, Presley agreed to take the role if the contracts could be worked out. However, the music scene had radically changed. But as time went on, as the Beatles began their dominance of the music charts and the worldwide phenomenon known as Beatlemania began, Presley became less significant. Their's was probably the most unique artist-manager relationship ever in show business, clearly one of the most successful. [33] [52], Although many around Presley were worried about his worsening drug dependency, Parker appeared to ignore the problem. In 1973, Colonel Parker sold the master tapes for 700 of Presley's songs to RCA for $5.4 million. When he was 15, Parker moved to Rotterdam, where he worked on boats. [12] Parker, with the task of promoting Austin, found the career transition smooth, using much of his "carny" experience to sell tickets and attract the crowds. Burial. [48] Two weeks after the Las Vegas press conference Parker received a letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. Presley went on to star in 27 films during the decade, including "G.I. Inc.[4] However, because Parker was still entitled to 50% of all Presley's income, and after taxes were taken off, the overall amount going towards the upkeep of the estate was less than $1 million a year.[4]. 2. He . In 1956, Presley was launched to superstardom with the release of his first single for RCA Victor, "Heartbreak Hotel." Nor did he ever suggest onstage that he knew of the colonel's immigration issues. [53] Yet, despite Presley's eagerness to do the shows, Parker again turned them down. The first major artist with whom he worked was popular crooner Gene Austin. Elvis Was Not Nearly As Rich As You Might Guess When He Died. [37] Parker signed long-term contracts with the film studios,[39] possibly to guarantee work and income for both him and Presley. Colonel Tom Parker was a music entrepreneur, well-known for being Elvis' manager. 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 yacht, the U.S.S. Parker believed that serving in the Army would help cure Presley of his increasing waywardness and convinced him to follow through with his draft as a normal citizen. Let's find out. To hide that he was an illegal immigrant, he adopted the name Tom Parker, which was the name of the officer who interviewed him. Answer (1 of 2): The gravy train for Col. Parker ended after Elvis died, and the executor that was appointed for Lisa Marie Presley's interests began to go over Parker's deals with Elvis, was appalled, and the estate threatened to take Parker to court, and paid him 2 million dollars to end his as. [52] After nearly two weeks of trading insults back and forth, Parker and Presley decided to continue to work together. Attorney Blanchard E. Tual concluded that Parker's deal of taking 50% of the singer's profits was extortionate, as the industry standard was closer to 15-20%. 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. Blues," "Wild in the Country," "Blue Hawaii," "Viva Las Vegas," "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," "Clambake," and "Change of Habit." On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke, and died the following morning in a Las Vegas hospital. Parker was the Tampa dogcatcher known as The Colonel, who managed Elvis Presley with a deal that controversially landed him 50% of the King of Rock and Roll's earnings. At the time of Presley's death in 1977, it was suspected that Parker owed the Las Vegas Hilton over $30 million ($134,151,565 in 2021 dollars[11]) in gambling losses. In 1980, a judge ordered an investigation into Parker's management practices and found that Parker's management had been unethical. Later in 1975, the government of Saudi Arabia offered Parker $5 million for Presley to perform there. "He fully believed the colonel's story that Parker hailed from Huntington, West Virginia; Elvis died not knowing the truth," she says. 'Life with you was never dull' More on The Wanted [4][5] Tual, once appointed as Lisa Marie's guardian ad litem, chose to investigate the entire period of Parker's management of Presley; his preliminary finding was that Parker's management deal of 50% was extortionate compared to the industry average of 1520%. Parker served two years in the 64th Coast Artillery (United States), at Fort Shafter, in Hawaii, and shortly afterwards re-enlisted at Fort Barrancas, Florida. [26] By the summer Presley had become one of the most famous new faces of the year, causing excitement among the new teenage audience and outrage among some older audiences and religious groups. [53] Despite this, however, the deal never materialized. [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. Much of the money went to Col. Tom Parker, the King's enigmatic, cigar . He suggested to Parker that, as Presley had recorded and was still performing the song "I'll Remember You" written by Kui Lee, the donations could go to the Kui Lee Cancer Fund that had been set up following the death of the songwriter in 1966. [15] Although Neal remained Presley's official manager, Parker was becoming increasingly involved in the running of his career, and by the summer of 1955 he had become Presley's "special advisor". [16] Parker had intended to mold Sands into the next Roy Rogers, but Sands had no interest in such a plan. [54], In July 1976, three of Presley's personal bodyguards and members of the "Memphis Mafia", Robert Gene "Red" West, his cousin Sonny West and David Hebler, were fired by Vernon Presley and decided to write a tell-all book about their life in his inner circle, Elvis: What Happened? [51] In her book, The Colonel, she writes: "in the days before the Betty Ford Clinic, the Colonel didn't know where to take him for discreet, effective help and loathed risking the loss of work if the truth got out". Having previously sold the rights to Presley's early recordings to RCA Records, he struggled to secure a steady income, and his financial situation worsened after he sustained significant gambling losses. In the 1950s, he helped Elvis Presley become a big star. Following this, Presley's career declined drastically as he became increasingly reliant on prescription drugs. [53] First Artists, not used to such huge demands, didn't put forward a counter-offer and decided instead to offer the role, along with the original salary offer, to Kris Kristofferson, who accepted. [46] Parker had also decided that it was time for Presley to return to New York, and had arranged for him to perform at Madison Square Garden in June. Even Tom Hanks thought he was an odd choice to play Elvis Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker in . In 1953 Parker bought a house in Madison, Tennessee, where Presley would visit and stay while recording. None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." He is portrayed by Tom . June 30, 2022. He completed basic training at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]. [56], In September 1978, shortly after the first anniversary of Presley's death, Parker arranged a fan festival, Always Elvis, where he, Vernon, and Presley's ex-wife Priscilla, dedicated a bronze statue of him in the lobby of the Las Vegas Hilton. Soon, he secured Presley a record deal with RCA Victor. p. 258. [16] Sholes showed little interest in Sands, but promised that he would attempt to find songs Sands might be able to record. The document that was signed on November 21 pertained to the record label transfer. [15] The rank was honorary, since Louisiana had no organized militia, but Parker used the title throughout his life, becoming known simply as "the Colonel" to many acquaintances. On January 20, 1997, Parker's wife heard a crashing sound from the living room, and when she heard no response to her calls, she went in to find him slumped over in his chair after suffering a stroke. "There would have been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker; there would have been no Colonel Tom Parker without Elvis. [29] While Presley was a hit among the youth of America, the middle-aged audiences found him an oddity. His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as the Netherlands, and his citizenship as American. Part biography, part murder mystery and perhaps the most thoroughly researched . James L. Dickerson's book "Colonel Tom Parker: The . After all the money he took from Elvis???? Parker enlisted in the US Army shortly after his return to America. [4] During his first visit there, he traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show, before returning briefly to the Netherlands. His Dutch birthplace and immigrant status were not revealed for many years. 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". [16] Soon after, Sands' song "Teen-Age Crush" reached number 2 on the pop charts, eventually selling 800,000 copies. [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. Colonel Tom Parker net worth: Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch American talent manager who had a net worth of $1 million at the time of his death in 1997. This led Parker to insist that films be made cheaply, on a strict schedule, and with as little hassle as possible. These four shows alone grossed $730,000 ($4,729,029 in 2021 dollars[11]). On March 26, 1956, after Presley's management contract with Neal expired, Presley signed a contract with Parker that made him his exclusive representative. Nearly as legendary as his famous client was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager. 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. 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]. The truth about his early years was revealed in 1960 when one of Parker's sisters, Nel Dankers-van Kuijk, living in the Netherlands, recognized him in photographs standing next to Presley.