Peter Guralnick, Talks About Colonel Tom Parker

Elvis Presley Home Colonel Tom Parker

Respected Elvis Presley biographer, Peter Guralnick, Talks About Colonel Tom Parker.

Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's Manager Logo

Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's Manager

As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. For a while he lied about his early years, claiming to have been born in Huntington, West Virginia and that he had run away at an early age to join a circus run by an uncle. The truth about his early years was revealed when his family in the Netherlands recognized him in photographs of him standing next to Elvis; it was confirmed when Parker tried to avert a lawsuit in 1982 by asserting that he was a Netherlands citizen.

He was actually born in Breda, Netherlands on June 28, 1909. Still carrying his baptism name, Andreas Cornelius van Kuijk fled his native land at about the age of 18, joined the United States Army, then changed his name to Tom Parker and became part of the circus world some time after leaving the Army. He also worked as a dogcatcher and a pet cemetery proprietor in Tampa, Florida, in the 1940s.

Colonel Parker died of a stroke on January 22, 1997, aged 87.

Elvis Presley Video Interview with Colonel Tom Parker : Elvis Presley's Manager : 1987
Elvis Presley Video Interview with Elvis Presleys Mananger : Colonel Tom Parker : 1993

Elvis Presley Photos Photos: Colonel Tom Parker's Birthday on the Set of the '68 Special

Elvis Presley Photos Photos : Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker

Quick Links

Articles about Elvis Presley A new light on Colonel Tom Parker

Articles about Elvis Presley Interview with Loanne Parker (About Elvis Presley and 'The Colonel')
Articles about Elvis Presley Interview with Loanne Parker, Colonel Tom Parkers Widow
Articles about Elvis Presley Andreas van Kuijk
Articles about Elvis Presley I Met The Colonel
Articles about Elvis Presley Parker's shadowy past news to Memphis Mafia
Elvis Presley Video Priscilla Presley & Jerry Schilling | Colonel Tom Parker
Articles about Elvis Presley Colonel Tom (Parker's Death Dark Shadow)
Articles about Elvis Presley Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's Manager, Dead at 87
Articles about Elvis Presley Interview with Alanna Nash (Author of the book, The Colonel)

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker
Elvis Presley Photos Colonel Tom Parker's Birthday on the Set of the '68 Special

-
Elvis Presley Video Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD

Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.

This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.

The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.