Interview with Colonel Tom Parker - Elvis Presley's Manager
Nearly as legendary as his famous client was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager. He was mysterious and colorful, and, under his guidance, his one and only client -- Elvis -- reached unimaginable heights.
Colonel Tom Parker's involvement in the music industry began as a music promoter in the late 1940s, working with such country music stars as Minnie Pearl, Hank Snow, June Carter and Eddy Arnold, as well as film star Tom Mix. During this time he received the honorary title of 'Colonel' in 1948 from Jimmie Davis, the governor of Louisiana. His involvement with Elvis Presley began when he booked Presley as the opening act for Canadian singer Snow.On August 15, 1955 Elvis Presley was signed by 'Hank Snow Attractions', a management company jointly owned by singer Hank Snow and 'Colonel' Tom Parker. Shortly thereafter, 'Colonel' Parker took full control and recognizing the limitations of Sun Studios, negotiated a deal with RCA Victor Records who acquired Elvis' Sun contract for $35,000 on November 21, 1955.
Parker was a master promoter who wasted no time in furthering Presley's image.
Press link below to open video in a pop-up window.
 |
Interview with Colonel Tom Parker 1987 | (06:00) |
| Above - a rare interview from Colonel Tom Parker with ABC news Anchorman Ted Koppel. Original airing date : August 15th 1987. |
||
|
Interview with Colonel Tom Parker | (02:51) |
| Above - a second interview with Colonel Parker, this time at the launch of the Elvis stamp in the USA. | ||
Colonel Parker hard at work managing and looking after Elvis' Career
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. Col. Parker died of a stroke on January 22, 1997, aged 87.
To find out more about Colonel Parker, we recommend the excellent book, The Colonel by Alanna Nash.
- Interview with Alanna Nash, Author of the book, The Colonel
- Interview with Loanne Parker
- Andreas van Kuijk
- I Met The Colonel
- Parker's shadowy past news to Memphis Mafia
- Review : The Colonel Book
- Colonel Tom (Parker's Death Dark Shadow)
- Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's Manager, Dead at 87
Buy The Colonel - The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash
Buy Elvis The Colonel And Me DVD