[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. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too . [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. [15] Presley had been at Sun Records since the beginning of his career, but Sam Phillips, the owner of Presley's current label, was aware that to have any kind of a successful future Presley would need the backing of a much larger label. 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. He also influenced his decisions to join the military and marry Priscilla, among other . [61], As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. In January 1958 Presley received his draft notice from the United States Army. Returning to music, he began managing such singers as Eddy Arnold and Tommy Sands. [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. Presley had been living with Priscilla Beaulieu, ten years his junior, for the past four years, but it had not been public knowledge. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. The contract, dated July 12, 1954, eight days after their first recording session, was signed by Presley and his parents. [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. . Colonel Tom Parkerthe title was awarded to him by Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis in 1948 for political services renderedclaimed until 1982 to have been born in West Virginia. After all the money he took from Elvis???? 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. He cared about making sure that his boy didn't just have a million dollars worth of talent . [50] They hired private detectives to find out where the drugs were coming from and were successful in stopping any more from reaching Presley. [18] A one-year management contract with Presley provided Moore with a 10-percent commission, which Moore said he never took. [48] Two weeks after the Las Vegas press conference Parker received a letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman. That's $35 million (28m) today and considerably less than what they were actually worth. Presley's first manager was Scotty Moore, the guitarist in his band, who was encouraged by Sun Records owner Sam Phillips to become Presley's manager to protect Elvis from unscrupulous music promoters. [43] A breakfast reception was arranged, taking place after the media got their photographs of the couple. [41] With Priscilla's father dropping heavy hints, and fear that their relationship might become public beforehand, Parker persuaded Presley that he should make an "honest woman" of her in the very near future. The sale of the back catalog to RCA meant that after his death, Presley's estate would not receive any royalties for any Presley recordings made prior to 1973. [29] While Presley was a hit among the youth of America, the middle-aged audiences found him an oddity. Both Priscilla and Jerry said he was a lovely man". Parker's net worth when he died was $1 million. Following this, Neal chose not to renew his management contract with Presley, leaving Parker as the singer's sole manager. 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. However, he also continued to blow his fortune on his gambling addiction and he died heavily in debt. Picture: Getty Parker managed the Presley estate for the rest of his life, but he had also sold the rights to Presley's early recordings. [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. [48], Aloha from Hawaii proved to be the last great moment in Presley's career. 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. [43], It took the energetic 1968 television special Elvis, which the Singer Company sponsored, and a subsequent series of acclaimed recording sessions in Memphis, Tennessee, that included songs such as "Suspicious Minds" and "In the Ghetto", to restore Presley's musical reputation. 4. The 30th Anniversary of the revelation to Elvis' estate that Colonel Parker was still fleecing his client. Presley remembered the event as one of the worst moments of his career. Presley's star continued to rise as Parker signed a merchandising deal with Hank Saperstein to fully commoditize the young singer. At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. [14] In 1945, Parker became Arnold's full-time manager, signing a contract for 25% of his earnings. After a lifetime of earning well over $100 million managing Elvis, The Colonel's estate was barely worth $1 million upon his death. She said she was at home with him when he had his stroke. [15] As Presley was still a minor, his parents had to sign the contract with Parker on his behalf. [4] From about 1931 until 1938, he worked as a "carny" with Royal American Shows. [41] Frank Sinatra had married Mia Farrow in 1966, and it had produced enough publicity for Parker to sit up and take notice. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. The Colonel was involved in Elvis' music career from very early on. 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. At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. Colonel Tom Parker Salary Detail. By Alanna Nash. [72], His funeral was held at the Hilton Hotel and was attended by a handful of friends and former associates, including Eddy Arnold and Sam Phillips. Nearly as legendary as his famous client was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager. [52], In February 1975, during his engagement in Las Vegas, Presley, along with Parker, met with Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters. The next morning he died from complications of the stroke at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. Additional Crew: Spinout. 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]. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? [4] It was later revealed that Presley owned 22% of the company, Parker owned 56%, and the final 22% was made up of various business associates. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. [16] He suggested to Sholes that Sands could record material similar to Presley's style. Parker had unknowingly backed himself into a financial corner. [62], One of Parker's brothers, Adam "Ad" van Kuijk, visited Parker once in Los Angeles in April 1961. [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. 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. For his part, Parker himself died with a net worth of $1 million, or roughly $1.8 million in today's money (via Dollar Times ). 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%. Even Tom Hanks thought he was an odd choice to play Elvis Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker in . "That didn't come out in this country until 1981." Colonel Parker died of a stroke on January 22, 1997, aged 87. . Parker hoped that marriage would not only boost Presley's career but also possibly tame him. He also worked to maintain Presley's estate, which was estimated to have cost around $500,000 a year in upkeep. 2. [53] Parker turned the offer down, and Presley was overjoyed when they replied with another offer of $10 million. Parker began 1956 intending to bring his new star to the national stage. Loanne Parker, wife of Colonel Tom Parker, passed away earlier this week.Loanne had a strong connection to Las Vegas, Nevada - even though she was from southern Ohio - and she had an even stronger connection to Elvis. The two had become almost strangers, and false reports in the media suggested that Presley's contract was up for sale. Colonel Tom Parker was a music entrepreneur, well-known for being Elvis' manager. 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. When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. [9] He began to build up a list of contacts that would prove valuable in later years. Phillips told them to make a separate deal with Elvis. His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as . What was Colonel Tom Parker's net worth when he died? According to Priscilla, Elvis was happy to pay 50% to Parker to manage him.[73]. [69] In October 1990, Parker married Loanne Miller, his secretary since 1972. Answering Presley's desire to appear in films, Parker was able to secure him a seven-picture contract with Paramount Pictures. Tom Hanks describes the larger-than-life character he portrays in the new Baz Luhrmann film, "Elvis," which opens in theaters next Friday. [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. [8], In May 1929, Van Kuijk returned to the United States at age 19, finding work with carnivals due to his previous experience in the Netherlands. On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke, and died the following morning in a Las Vegas hospital. [14] The job not only offered him a secure wage, it also offered a rent-free apartment above the Humane Society in a remote part of West Tampa for him and his family. [4] Fans and biographers alike believe that one of the main reasons Parker signed Presley to a Vegas hotel in 1969 for his live comeback was to help cover losses he experienced in their casino. [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. He became Presley's manager in 1955 just as . No, Luhrmann has really framed this through a present-day lens. He had expressed interest in making films when he first met Parker, and now Parker was working to make that happen. In 1977, Elvis died of a heart attack at only 42. By 1984, with his gambling debts reportedly rising again, he was evicted. This proved very lucrative, especially when the single for Presley's first film, Love Me Tender, sold over one million copies in advance sales. [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. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. During this part of Presley's career, Parker and Presley agreed to a 50/50 "partnership", which, with Parker controlling merchandising and other non-music related items, resulted in Parker earning more than his client. Parker did not appear to care if the films were good or bad but only about the profits. Elvis Was Not Nearly As Rich As You Might Guess When He Died. Colonel Tom Parker died on January 21, 1997 at the age of 87. [5] During a second, more detailed investigation, Tual discovered that all earnings were paid directly to the Trust instead of Parker. I said 'Yeah'. Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. [53] They discussed the possibility of Presley's co-starring with Streisand in a remake of the film A Star Is Born. Little, Brown. He also became friendly with the estate again, attending special ceremonies and events in Memphis, invited by Priscilla. In 1973, Colonel Parker sold the master tapes for 700 of Presley's songs to RCA for $5.4 million. [44] He would usually fly ahead to the venues and prepare the way for Presley's entourage to follow so that he and Presley rarely saw each other, and, as time progressed, it became even more difficult for Parker to get in contact with Presley. The 30th Anniversary of the death of Elvis' father, Vernon Presley. 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. After Parker's death in 1997, the home was used as a law . [53] Yet, despite Presley's eagerness to do the shows, Parker again turned them down. His Dutch birthplace and immigrant status were not revealed for many years. While Presley was serving in West Germany, Parker was hard at work keeping Presley's name known to the public. [4] During the 1960s, with his wife's health deteriorating, and Presley's career struggling, Parker found an escape with gambling at Las Vegas casinos. He completed basic training at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]. [53], From 1974 onward, Presley's weight gain and prescription drug abuse became too much to be controlled. Nor did he ever suggest onstage that he knew of the colonel's immigration issues. [15], In 1948, Parker received the honorary rank of colonel in the Louisiana State Militia from Jimmie Davis, the governor of Louisiana and a former country singer, in return for work Parker did on Davis's election campaign. [58], Following Presley's death, Parker set up a licensing operation with Factors Etc. Elvis Presley was only 42 years old when he died on August 16, 1977 (via History). Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 02:32, 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? [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. After the Sinatra special, Parker decided that Presley's future lay in Hollywood. James L. Dickerson's book "Colonel Tom Parker: The . 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. He is also said to have had gambling debts of up to $30 million at different times. The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash Aurum 19.99, pp394. He wasn't a colonel and he wasn't even born in America. Elvis Presley & Colonel Parker. [4] Priscilla and the Trust were prepared to let Parker continue to handle Presley's business affairs, and petitioned the court to that end. Parker appeared at posthumous events honoring Presley, such as the 1993 issuing of a U.S. postage stamp with Presley's likeness. He then re-enlisted at Fort Barrancas in Florida. He said 'Did I really?' 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. Following an investigation in the early 80s, a judge ruled that Parker's management of Presley had been unethical. [33] [16] NBC had originally wanted Presley for the role, but Parker had turned them down. 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. I quit! [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. 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. However, the music scene had radically changed. Tom Parker was born on 26 June 1909 in Breda, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. [18] When the contract expired, the Memphis radio personality Bob Neal stepped in and made a deal with Phillips to become Presley's manager. Parker made several attempts to have it stopped, but failed to do so. When he was 15, Parker moved to Rotterdam, where he worked on boats. Despite earning over $100 million during his lifetime, at the time of his death Colonel Tom Parker was reportedly worth less than $1 million. [52] Angered by this outburst, Parker declared: "You can't fire me. So Where'd All The Money Go??? The first major artist with whom he worked was popular crooner Gene Austin. You're going to be a star.'"[71]. Presley's career stagnated while artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys dominated the charts. [16] Sholes showed little interest in Sands, but promised that he would attempt to find songs Sands might be able to record. [33] Parker had seen many acts come and go during his earlier years in management, and felt that it would be foolish to believe that Presley, despite being Parker's most successful act to date, would be any different. [26] With over 78 different possibilities, from charm bracelets to record players, Presley merchandise brought in $22 million by the end of 1956. His immigration status wasn't revealed for years. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. In early 1997, he passed away from a stroke in Las Vegas at the age of 87. ", "Photos: Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker", https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/a-new-light-on-colonel-tom-parker.shtml, "A Larger-Than-Life Look at a Larger-Than-Life Star", "Meet the Fifth (Jewish) Beatle Manager Brian Epstein", "The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the rock-a-billies", Tom Parker collection and interviews with co workers, ED Bonja Interview Elvis Photographer - the Elvis Information Network exclusive. He realized that by keeping RCA Victor, and more importantly the public, hungry for more Presley material, he would be able to negotiate a better contract when Presley returned from active service. [12] He was a successful promoter, but he wanted to move into management.[12]. [41], To make up for lack of earnings, Parker arranged for Presley's gold Cadillac to go on tour. Presley went on to star in 27 films during the decade, including "G.I. None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." [44] He offered RCA Records the opportunity to buy Presley's entire back catalog for $5.4 million. [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. He was 87. At the time of his death, Elvis was only worth . "Every entertainer should go to bed at night and pray he . [citation needed] After a cold reception during his first few shows,[30] Parker cut Presley's appearance to two weeks. Luhrmann hasn't really . 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. 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. Lisa Marie inherited Elvis' whole estate on her 25th birthday on February 1, 1993. And now I need to locate my wallet, because I noticed there was no ticket booth on the way in here, but I'm sure that the Colonel must have arranged for some toll on the way out. He arranged for a screen test with Paramount Pictures, and after impressing them with Presley's acting ability, Presley was signed to a seven-picture contract. [4] After a lifetime that saw him earn in excess of $100 million, Parker's estate was worth barely $1 million when he died. [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. He was mysterious and colorful, and, under his guidance, his one and only client -- Elvis -- reached unimaginable heights. He was previously married to Loanne Miller and Marie Frances Mott. [15], In early 1955, Parker became aware of a young singer, Elvis Presley. 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. Net Worth: $1 Million; Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) What happened to Tom Parker after Elvis died? "[24], With his first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel", in 1956,[25] Presley became a recording star. [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. However, it would be a quiet wedding. [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. 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.
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