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According to The Washington Post, Parker turned down offers for Presley to star in several films that went on to be huge hits and establish their stars as legitimate actors. There was a petition to bar Elvis Presley from doing television shows. 10 Days Of A Good Man Ending, Explained: Did Sadik Find Tevfik And The Mastermind Behind His Disappearance? His beliefs were unwavering, and he was loyal only to financial gains. Doctors told Tom Parker that he had stage 4 . On July 26th, 1977, the King of rock and roll performed for the last time before finally resting on peace. Parker was a svengali who exerted an extreme amount of control over his charges career, and took enormous 25 to 50% in commission. Robert Kennedy, too, met his fateful end in 1968. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. She says in her book Elvis and Me that she would occasionally hear that he had checked into the hospital, and that she would then call to see if he was all right, Nash says. On January 20, 1997, Parker's wife heard a crashing sound from the living room, and found him slumped over in his chair after having a stroke. But neither Elvis nor Steve Binder saw it like that. Adds Nash:Priscilla was not as involved with Elvis after their divorce as she would now have people believe.. Presleys first single with RCA was Heartbreak Hotel an instant classic that RCA disliked at first due to its lyrics, which told the story of a lonely mans death by suicide. The man had immigrated illegally to the United States of America, and that is why he didnt want to travel abroad, as it would expose his real identity. So why was he so worried about his true identity as Andreas van Kuijk coming out? However, as he always does, Hanks shone as Tom Parker in Elvis, and the Colonel proved to the world that he could play a complex villain. Colonel Parker lay on the hospital bed, overlooking the International Hotel of Las Vegas, and all over the media, there was news that he was responsible for the death of Elvis Presley. (Despite his unofficial title, he was never a colonel: Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis granted him an honorary colonelcy in 1948, and Parker clung to it for life.). After Elvis' death in 1977, however, Parker's hold on Presley's money finally began to slip. Colleagues said Mr. Parker's carnival experience made him an excellent judge of character and a fearless negotiator who was able to extract unprecedented sums for Presley's appearances and interviews, building the singer into a commercial empire that was worth $35 million by 1964. In another one book, Elvis by the Presleys, Priscilla Presley says many asked her why she didnt initiate an intervention. Read more to discover the real story behind the man who made Elvis. Colonel Parker had never witnessed such an electrifying presence of any artist in his life till then. Col. Tom Parker, the former carnival barker who helped guide Elvis Presley to stardom, died Tuesday of complications from a stroke in Las Vegas. He was a carny and Elvis was his cash cow, nothing more. He made another appearance in 1993, when the Presley postage stamp was issued. Never one to miss an opportunity to make money off of his prized client, Colonel Tom Parker jumped on Elvis' death as a marketing cash grab. Answer (1 of 4): The show must go on. The immigrant Colonel Tom Parker, manager of musician Elvis Presley, pictured smoking a cigar, circa 1955. As theLos Angeles Timesreports, when Priscilla Presley, Elvis' ex-wife, sat down to go over the estate in 1979, she was shocked to discover it was a failing enterprise revenues had fallen to just $1 million that year and were expected to fall to less than $500,000. Tom Parker had made him an entity that only swore allegiance to the market. Elvis Presley had his own struggles, particularly in his later years, as his lavish spending, addiction issues, divorce, and declining health took a toll on The King. The film is an ode to the King of Rock n Roll. Mr. Parker devoted his life to Presley. To settle litigation with RCA, he sold his Presley master recordings to the company for $2 million. Tom Parker Is Dead at 87; Controlled Presley's Career, https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/22/arts/tom-parker-is-dead-at-87-controlled-presley-s-career.html. "They probably first crossed paths at Sun Studio, but only briefly.". Col. Parker got 25 percent of Presley's total income at times and 50 percent at other times -- percentages that some in the Presley circle considered too high. Gulmohar Ending, Explained: Did Arun Come Back Home? Born: 26-Jun-1909 Birthplace: Breda, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands Died: 21-Jan-1997 Location of death: Las Vegas, NV Cause of death: unspecified Remains: Cremated, Palm Desert Memorial, Las Vegas, NV. The Talent manager Colonel Tom Parker died at the age of 87 years. But as the L.A. Times wrote in its obituary of Parker, his life slowed down and shrank after Presleys death. And for every dollar Elvis earned, Tom Parker took a piece. Sun Records, a label owned by Sam Philips, had signed this brooding musician. He had a matter-of-fact method of speaking and didn't suffer fools lightly. The manager also gave himself good deals, taking commissions as high as 50 percent. Even in times of war, the Army has some strict standards about the physical condition of its soldiers, so Parker's brilliant plan to avoid the draft involved gaining weight. Most managers earn between 10 and 15 percent of what their clients make but from the very beginning, Parker soaked his only client for more. Elvis went to Germany, and the punishment came as a blessing in disguise. Theres no one, including his father, who could have pulled that off., By the time Elvis was trying to get help for his addictions, his ex-wife was no longer in his life on a daily basis. AKA Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk. Tom Parker entered into a 5-year contract and, for the subsequent years, kept Elvis under the impression that his safety would be compromised in a foreign country. In 1955, Parker began advising Elvis Presley, who at that time was signed with a small recording label, Sun Records. The 'Creed III' Star Lied About Being On Raya, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. but was then declared dead from cardiac arrest at 3:30pm. He was 87. Jimmie Davis of Louisiana. Martin Luther King had been shot dead in his hometown, Memphis, Tennessee. The assassination put Elvis into an emotional spiral.. Held at a Hilton Hotel, his funeral was attended by the likes of Sun Records boss Sam Phillips and Parker's former client . Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, butlight showers make brief return, Woman called 911 before being shot in double murder-suicide, HPD says, Nick Lachey confuses Netflix viewers with relationships comments while presenting Perfect Match. ", 'Where has this been hiding? Parker always stood by his arguments in which he said that he did what was best for the singer. He claimed to have been born in Huntington, West Virginia. Among his many early jobs, he spent time as a dog catcher in Tampa, and he founded a pet cemetery. No matter what Colonel Parker says, his actions did qualify as a betrayal. King, who worked as a DJ in Memphis at the time,would certainly have been aware of Elvis, and vice versa, but they would not have been hanging out and catching acts such as Little Richard as the movie portrays,says Nash. Elvis Presley was huge. Parker found ways to market Elvis through merchandise, TV appearances, and films, always working in some kind of cross-promotion to make more money off the endeavor. Parker was eventually sued by the Elvis estate over mismanagement, which found his dealings over the years to be unethical and extortionate. Elvis could have played the lead in West Side Story, for example, or the role that made Jon Voight a star in Midnight Cowboy. Where normal manager fees were in the 10- to 15- percent range, Presley agreed to a 25-percent fee when he signed with Parker in the 1950s and signed a new agreement in the 1960s that raised his fee to an incredible 50 percent. However, Hanks, who has six prior nominations and won twice, was snubbed for his role as Colonel Tom Parker. But Parker's first experience with the Army had ended with desertion and a his being diagnosed as a psychopath, and this had left him with little apparent desire to repeat the experience, especially if it involved leaving the country and being shot at. Its a must-watch for every Presley fan, and even if you are not, give it a watch to witness the insane stardom that the man enjoyed in that era and the effect he had on the socio-political environment of the country. If Parker hadn't been so paranoid about Presley being outside of his direct control, The King would have earned a lot more money. Almost foreshadowing the route he was to take with Presley, Mr. Parker landed Mr. Arnold roles in several Hollywood movies and booked him in Las Vegas. But we identified six moments in Elvis that made us scratch our heads. On top of that, Parker found venue upon venue for Elvis to perform in, be it recording studios, Hollywood films, TV specials, and even satellite broadcasts, immersing the artist into the cultural zeitgeist while keeping him landlocked in North America. He had toured with carnivals, worked with elephants and. But Parker was also a very scared man who sacrificed millions in potential earnings because, as writerAlanna Nashreports, he didn't have a passport and was afraid to let Presley tour overseas without him. He was a heavier-set man with balding hair and frequently wore a fedora and a suit of some type, sometimes made of gaudy designs to help promote something. Col. Tom Parker, the strict, unorthodox and controversial manager who orchestrated Elvis Presley's career from 1955 until the singer's death in 1977, died yesterday at Valley Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev. The new contract also allowed Parker to charge additional fees for services he provided, eating away at the money that should have gone to Elvis instead. Col. Parker stayed in the position until "the King of Rock 'n' Roll" died Aug. 16, 1977. Anyone can read what you share. Frequently photographed with Presley, Parker became a celebrity in his own right, usually pictured chomping on a cigar. He allegedly took a 50% commission on his earnings and exploited him to support his gambling and betting addiction. There, The New York Times obituary reports, he pursued other eclectic pursuits including working as the citys dog catcher and setting up a pet cemetery. He was also offered the Kris Kristofferson role in the 1976 version of A Star is Born. Elvis and the Colonel were associated throughout the musician's entire career, including music, movies, and TV specials. AsBillboardnotes, the physical and mental strain drove him to abuse several prescription medications. His second stint in the Army didn't go so well:Smithsonian Magazinereportsthat he walked off his post and was officially declared "absent without leave" (AWOL) in 1932. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The reasons for this are a source of controversy, as it was believed that Parker's status as an illegal immigrant (the theme of the Netflix series Stateless) would prohibit him from traveling as he didn't have a passport, nor could he get one due to his status. Yet no one ever thought to investigate the Colonel's past. His mother was giving him a pep talk to calm his nerves. Into his late 80s, Colonel Tom Parker began to struggle with various illnesses including diabetes and gout. They didnt know whether to be happy or not after witnessing those tricks. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley. He sold programs and counted tickets at his shows. Still, Presley called Mr. Parker and his first wife, Marie, ''the finest people in the world.''. The narrative does not have anything new to offer and follows the same pattern that biopics generally tend to follow. He idolized B.B. In 1956, Elvis also starred in a hit movie, Love Me Tender. Parker became known as a shrewd, showy, and manipulative businessman who was able to work out lucrative deals at minimal overhead while making sure his pockets were lined healthily along the way. At some point, he made his way to the United States Smithsonian speculates that he entered through the Canadian border and resided in America for the rest of his life as an undocumented immigrant. The preliminary autopsy findings indicated that the cause of death was . He attended Elvis funeral dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, avoiding any display of emotion. Elvis' manager was obsessed with money and reveled in the sheer amount of it he could extract from his only client's enormous success. Elvis had reached the state of exhaustion. He was ruthless and heartless. Times, He was usually in good spirits, talking about the carnival days, the Eddy Arnold days, the Elvis days. When [Presleys family and associates have] done all they can with him, then they start picking on me I dont think I exploited Elvis as much as hes being exploited today.. King, his music, and his style. After Presley died of a diseased heart, the courts ruled that Col. Parker had no legal rights or interest to the Presley estate. He didnt have time for his family, and the problem of drug abuse was ruining his life. As a young man, he worked at carnivals and fairs, founding the Great Parker Pony Circus and Colonel Tom Parker and His Dancing Chickens. Everybody loves Tom Hanks but they may not love Tom Parker, the predatory music manager he plays in Elvis. They assumed that there was a black man behind that voice because it sounded like R&B flavors had been sprinkled over country music. Parker also controlled Presleys public image, engineering the kinds of movies in which he appeared and dictating his press appearances. Elvis is a 2022 Biopic Musical film directed by Baz Luhrmann. Snow eventually led Parker to Elvis Presley. The Masked Lookalike Explained. Parker returned to the carnival (one not-too-dissimilar to the 1950s carnival in American Horror Story thanks to the setting), where he made his living for a time before getting involved in music promotion, working with the likes of Gene Austin, Minnie Pearl, Eddy Arnold, and Hank Snow. It's true he was an illegal immigrant living under an assumed name and therefore had a legitimate reason to worry about any involvement with law enforcement, but asSmithsonian Magazinepoints out,he could have cleared up his immigration status fairly easily. And, in fact, there is an unsolved murder in Bochstraat that fits the timeline of Parker's movements: In 1929, a woman named Anna van den Enden was beaten to death behind her husband's grocery store. The Presley estate sued Parker for fraud in 1981, specifically over the deals he had with RCA in addition to his contract with Presley which, needless to say, amounted to a conflict of interest. Parker, ever the carny, knew what brought people in the big tent.. But it was not so. The life of Elvis Presley exactly fits the stereotype of an artist. Stop reading if you haven't seen it yet and don't want to know. That year, the small, struggling label sold Presleys contract to RCA Victor for $35,000. Most rich people seek ways to lower their tax burden, but despite his greed, Parker never made any move to get creative with his taxes. Elvis: The Controversy Behind Colonel Tom Parker Explained, Elvis Cast Guide: What The Characters Look Like In Real Life, illegal immigrant (the theme of the Netflix series, Elvis True Story: Who Was Orion? Everybody wanted a piece of Elvis Presley, and Tom Parker knew that this dopey-eyed singer would help him earn a fortune. Parker quickly set to work promoting Presley, arranging tour dates and television appearances (including Presleys famous performances on The Ed Sullivan Show), and by the end of 1956, he and Presley had signed a contract making Parker the musicians sole and exclusive adviser, personal representative and manager.. Col. Parker was 300 pounds, enjoyed smoking Cuban cigars and was said to have been lacking in social graces -- he wore walking shorts, a colorful shirt and a baseball cap to Presley's funeral. Austin Butler as Elvis and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker do the bulk of the heavy lifting. Since he'd never been naturalized as a U.S. citizen, either, he wasn't a subject of either country. Astrological Sign: Cancer Nacionalities Dutch Death Year: 1997. Despite his unpopularity with Presleys relatives at this time, he refused to write a tell-all book about his years with the singer. The rumor floated around town that Milton Prell, Shoofeys old boss at the Sahara, had brokered the (Elvis) deal for the colonel, getting money from the mob to put the deal together,"Nash says. The hold that Parker had over Presley did not extend to Presleys family. Colonel Tom Parker, as played by Tom Hanks in Elvis, was the controversial manager of singer Elvis Presley (played by Austin Butler) with a mysterious past who had a key role in both The King's success and downfall. He claimed to have been born in Huntington, West Virginia. 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. Colonel Tom Parker signed Elvis to these terrible films for a simple reason: AsThe Conversationpoints out, they made buckets of money $2.2 billion in domestic gross alone. While it sometimes borders on cartoonish parody, with Hanks seemingly becoming a supervillain of sorts, it fits the overall style and narrative of Director Baz Luhrmann's movie. More: Does Elvis Have An After Credits Scene? He then did the unthinkable, convincing Elvis' father, Vernon, to sign over control of Elvis' movie and singing "career" to him. One inescapable conclusion from even a cursory examination of the way Colonel Tom Parker handled Elvis Presley's career is that the Colonel robbed his client blind over the course of two and a half decades. However, she adds, there was an incident a few years before his deathwhen Elvis explodedat Hilton owner Barron Hilton. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal was certainly a different type of role for the actor, who is known for taking on characters like the sunny Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The theory was never tested. For answers, we enlistedexpert Alanna Nash, the author of several Elvis books (including The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of ColonelTom Parker and Elvis Presley and Baby, Lets Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him). The cause of death was not immediately known, but it was later revealed that he had been suffering from a number of health problems in recent years, including Alzheimer's disease. Elvis had gone to the home of an employee he liked, whose wife was dying from cancer, and Hilton terminated the employee because of a rule banning any contact between employees and hotel talent. AsSmithsonian Magazinereports,Parker had apparently had all he could take of Army life and took steps to avoid serving his adopted country. He had become a salesman, who sold anything and everything. He discovered Presley through the recommendation of Oscar Davis, who worked for Mr. Parker. Parker entered the country illegally and never took any steps to correct his status despite the fact that it would have been relatively easy to do so. In 1948, he wangled the honorary colonel's title from Louisiana's Governor, Jimmie Davis, and henceforth asked to be addressed as ''Colonel.'' He arranged everything from Presley's career-making appearances on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' to his profitable but bland Hollywood films. 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. He was given the honorary title of "Colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia from Governor Jimmie Davis as thanks for the work he did on his political campaign. Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' long time manager was also there. His mother, Gladys Presley, had a premonition of sorts. He was quickly arrested and spent a few months in military prison. None of this was true. The next morning he . Colonel Tom Parker was astonished to hear that Elvis Presley was a white man. Just how true are they? Hidden behind those shiny clothes, those lewd gyrations and jerky movements, was a kid who wanted to make his family financially secure and, most of all, his mother happy. AsThe Washington Postreports, the judge in the suit was so shocked by what he saw that he said Parker was "guilty of self-dealing and overreaching" and barred him from any involvement with the estate going forward. But Parker, even later in life, was unrepentant: In The Daily News of Los Angeles obituary, hes quoted as saying, I sleep very good at night. Col. Parker also arranged Presley's early television appearances, including three on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1956 and 1957 that helped catapult the young singer to national stardom. In August 1987, he held a rare news conference as the 10th anniversary of Presley's death approached. All in all, the manager was known for some appalling behavior towards his star client, and Elvis tries its best to portray that accurately. It was no less than blasphemy. He was ready to sacrifice his own prodigy for the sake of it. Parker sent Elvis all over the United States, but he would never let him out of North America, leaving Canada as the only other nation to host The King in his long career. Colonel Tom Parker had swagger. Reportedly, Hanks was approached by movie director Baz Luhrmann, and after a short conversation, the actor was hooked. With Elvis in Las Vegas, Parker ran up enormous debts with the casinos and was focused on keeping Presley working constantly so he could cover his debts. In 1967, Parker pushed Elvis to marry Priscilla Beaulieu, hoping that it would help change the tide of his career. Although Parker successfully landed Arnold performances in Las Vegas and acting roles in movies, Arnold evidently found his management style claustrophobic, because he fired him in 1953. After Elvis' death in 1977, the Elvis Presley manager continued on as if The King were still alive. Court records show that Parker represented Elvis in return for an unheard-of 50 percent of . He rode him till he died and even in death he attempt. "I had the luxury of essentially recreating somebody who no one really knew. Colonel Tom Parker. At that point in time, a fresh voice had emerged out of nowhere in the market. That night at the Louisiana Hayride, he saw each and every member of the audience soaked in that kind of dilemma. But Parker insisted that Presley be paid for his appearance, and when Murrow refused, the show was canceled. The Talent manager Colonel Tom Parker died at the age of 87 years. Elvis picked up an impressive seven Oscar nominations. Austin Butler won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, beating out favorite Brendan Fraser (The Whale), and he picked up a nomination for the same award at the Oscars. He was 87 years old. But what he didnt know was that he was about to enter a swamp, and there was no way out of it. Managing the world's biggest musical act isn't the most difficult job: Elvis Presley was one of the most in-demand artists in the world, and the offers literally came to Colonel Tom Parker no matter what he did. He said he had turned down numerous book offers, some worth seven figures, because publishers were looking for the seamy side of Presley's life. The Legend Versus Cirkus: The Key To Making A So Bad That Its Good Movie, Explained. He fully believed the colonels story that Parker hailed from Huntington, West Virginia; Elvis died not knowing the truth," she says. He booked Presley as an opening act on a Hank Snow tour and began trying to persuade Presley, his parents and his manager, Bob Neal, to let him provide professional guidance. According to Norman Taurog, a film director who worked with Presley, the powers that be at MGM and Colonel Parker always wanted [Presley] in lighter films surrounded by pretty girls so those were the films he made. He organized a satellite concert, the credit for which he proudly took, as it was watched by more than 1.5 billion people. The other five nominations were for technical (Editing, Sound, Cinematography) and design (Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling). That's standard. In 1953, Mr. Arnold fired him, and Mr. Parker went on to start his own promotion company and to manage the singer Hank Snow. Elvis and the Colonel worked to change his overall image in the wake of the backlash from his critics, who frequently deemed him offensive. In that act, he placed live chickens on a hot plate covered with sawdust, and the chickens "danced" to music. I am Elena, the curator of all the biography, Net worth content that you will be reading on this blog. When Tom made an offer to partner with Elvis, the first thought that came to the singers mind was that it could be the end of all his struggles. I believe in the kind of cinema that not necessarily makes you laugh or cry but moves something inside you. 'I couldn't be an imposter': How Austin Butler vanished into the role of Elvis Presley. In 1958, Parker encouraged Elvis to voluntarily enlist in the Army (part of Elvis' true story) after he received a draft notice and serve a two-year stint as a regular soldier, showing the world that he was just like any average American. Tom Parker was a man who always had a trick up his sleeve and never did anything without a purpose. The epic biopic "Elvis" covers a lot of ground - 42 years, to be precise - from the iconic singer's birth until his death in 1977. Elvis Presley Enterprises was created, and Vernon Presley was made the business manager. Tom knew that Elvis was the golden goose and Hank was a story of the past. While proving to be a frequent challenge for Parker, Elvis and the Colonel stuck together. Rarenotes that despite being a superstar, Elvis Presley only toured outside the U.S. three times all in 1957, and all in Canada. I think I didn't hear you very well. Colonel Parker.jpg 260 348; 21 KB. He gained weight and looked awful, sweating through his rhinestone jumpsuits. He said that publishers would tell him "we want dirt" and that "I'd tell them I'm not a dirt farmer.". As theLos Angeles Timespoints out, his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, knew that Elvis' brand was so powerful that he could earn millions at any moment simply by booking a tour, recording an album, or appearing in a film. Presley, however, was confident in the song, and Heartbreak Hotel was soon at the top of the Billboard Charts. ': Tom Hanks changed his mind about his favorite Elvis song, The colonel was delighted that Elvis was causing riots and grabbing headlines for being overly suggestive, she says. Business as usual. However, there were some interesting omissions from the award announcements. Its a story about power, about control, about greed, and most of all, about freedom, for which our protagonist longed till his last breath. . He couldnt break the association he had with Parker, but eventually, his body couldnt take the physical exhaustion and the mental fatigue. Baz Luhrmann's musical biopic Elvis explores the eponymous singer's career, leading up to his tragic death, and one of the characters that has caused a fair amount of controversy is Elvis and the Colonel, Tom Parker. Smithsonian reports that Parker even restricted Presley from touring internationally due to his own undocumented status, forfeiting a potentially enormous payout. Col. Parker was somewhat of a mysterious figure who preferred to stay out of the public eye. He did not give 2 shits about Elvis. A deeper look into Parkers biography reveals more of his genius and his exploitation of Presley. But could he also be blamed for his extramarital affairs, his reckless spending, his careless attitude, his addictions, and the debauchery he engaged in, that took him farther away from himself and made him alienate the very people who loved him unconditionally? There were questions as to the citizenship of Tom Parker. As a veteran even a veteran with a stain on his record Parker would have been an ideal choice for the draft. Some people, though, didnt appreciate his wiggly gyrations and considered them obscene and against public morality. He was 87. Nash says Powell told her that he and Presleywere out in a field in the woods in Germany, and he just looked like every other pimple-faced (soldier), doing what other soldiers were doing and trying to get along. Priscilla left Elvis in 1973, as she felt that the only time he was alive was when he was performing on stage. Jerry Schilling, one of the managers in Presleys Memphis Mafia, didnt understand why Tom Parker was not letting him perform abroad. The two argued into the night until Elvis, in his 30th-floor suite, fired Parker, who immediately replied that he quit and, as the movie depicts, retired to his offices to draw up a bill for what he claimed Elvis owed him. But he was still having trouble getting young people to watch his shows. Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, aka Colonel Tom Parker, put a lot of effort into hiding his true identity and his past. And she said, No. Yet Parker soaked Elvis for an enormous amount of money. See the article in its original context from. There is still money to be made even more so that he is dead. desertion and a his being diagnosed as a psychopath. Yet many of Presley's fans resented Mr. Parker, accusing him of urging the singer to embrace shlock instead of substance, of charging the singer exorbitant commissions and of keeping Presley from touring outside of the United States.