He first met the future star in 1955, when Elvis was already being managed by the guitarist in his band. 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. 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 ). [23] Later, when Hank Snow asked Parker about the status of their contract with Presley, Parker told him: "You don't have any contract with Elvis Presley. Despite earning over $100 million during his lifetime, at the time of his death Colonel Tom Parker was reportedly worth less than $1 million. After all the money he took from Elvis???? [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. [52] After nearly two weeks of trading insults back and forth, Parker and Presley decided to continue to work together. Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) Place of Birth: Breda, Netherlands. [26] Parker, with his 25% share of profits, found ways to make money from his artist that other managers before him had never thought of. To further boost his profile, Parker arranged for him to appear on such popular television programs as "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Milton Berle Show." Guralnick, Peter (1994). He also lost a large portion of Elvis' personal wealth. When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. The document that was signed on November 21 pertained to the record label transfer. He cared about making sure that his boy didn't just have a million dollars worth of talent . Breda, Breda Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Death. Published Jan. 22, 1997 | Updated Sep. 30, 2005. Adam van Kuijk died from emphysema in 1992, never seeing or visiting Parker again.[63]. The world's music and pop culture changed forever when the greatest performer of them all joined . [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. [15] Parker and Snow eventually formed Hank Snow Enterprises and Jamboree Attractions, a successful promotional outfit for up-and-coming country singers. Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. In 1968, Presley achieved renewed fame when he starred in the NBC television special "Elvis." [35] He was reportedly afraid that Presley would realize that there were other managers available prepared to sign contracts that did not require as much as 25% of his earnings. Answering Presley's desire to appear in films, Parker was able to secure him a seven-picture contract with Paramount Pictures. [4], Parker had worked as a "consultant" for Hilton Hotels since Presley's death,[60] with some believing he was working to pay off debts owed to the casino from his gambling during Presley's performances there. Colonel Tom Parker was a music entrepreneur, well-known for being Elvis' manager. [50] They hired private detectives to find out where the drugs were coming from and were successful in stopping any more from reaching Presley. Following an investigation in the early 80s, a judge ruled that Parker's management of Presley had been unethical. [4] Although Parker had served honorably for a time, he went AWOL this time and was charged with desertion. [16] Sholes showed little interest in Sands, but promised that he would attempt to find songs Sands might be able to record. Nash said of Elvis' late manager: "The Colonel is a complicated character, and while he always took too much of Presley's money, he made some very sound decisions for him. He had expressed interest in making films when he first met Parker, and now Parker was working to make that happen. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. [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. He then re-enlisted at Fort Barrancas in Florida. As a reward, Davis gave him the honorary rank of "colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia.[2][3]. Elvis Presley shot to stardom as a rock 'n roll legend, a legacy that still continues almost 50 years after the King's death. LOANNE PARKER Loanne Miller Parker, long-time resident of Las Vegas and widow of Elvis Presley manager Colonel Tom Parker, Dies at 84. [10] Parker later said that at times they had had to live on as little as $1 a week (US$20 in 2021 dollars). [44] However, Presley had asked him to raise funds to pay for his upcoming divorce settlement, and Priscilla divorced Elvis in 1973. Following this, he entered the music industry as a music promoter. [4], On August 14, 1981, Judge Evans ordered Elvis Presley Enterprises to sue Parker for mismanagement. For a time, Parker lied about his childhood, claiming to have been born in Huntington, West Virginia, in the early 1900s to explain his Dutch accent as being a Southern accent, and to have run away from home at an early age to join a circus owned by an uncle before serving in the U.S. Army prior to his involvement with being a music manager. [35] Parker had declined to travel to Europe, denying that he spoke any language other than English. And there certainly would've been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker.' And when he said that, I said, 'Oh . [40] These deals were sometimes so harsh on the studios that it led producer Hal Wallis to state: "I'd rather try and close a deal with the Devil. In 1977, Elvis died of a heart attack at only 42. "[40], Presley had to do no more than provide RCA Victor with three albums a year,[37] and his film soundtracks did that for him. 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. He was subsequently in "Loving You," "Jailhouse Rock," and "King Creole." Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. How Elvis Presley Died Nearly Broke Then Became One Of The Richest Dead Celebrities Of All Time. He's a very smart man. [16] Soon after, Sands' song "Teen-Age Crush" reached number 2 on the pop charts, eventually selling 800,000 copies. In 1969, she was an employee of the International Hotel when Elvis made his record-breaking performances there. The singer was raking in cash hand over fist from these engagements, but he found them artistically . The 30th Anniversary of the death of Elvis' father, Vernon Presley. Hanks said, "I was anticipating hearing horror stories about this venal, cheap crook. [33] He had arranged for Presley to record five singles before his induction,[35] guaranteeing RCA Victor enough material to release over a two-year period. [36] If Parker had had any doubts about his return, they were soon gone when he witnessed the turnout along the route. [5] The case against Parker was settled out of court in 1983, with the estate paying him $2 million ($5,441,363 in 2021 dollars[11])[5] in exchange for all Presley audio recordings or visual images that he owned[4] and the termination of his involvement in any Presley related earnings for five years. Parker then managed a series of highly successful tours for Presley. "[60], In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, was dedicated to him. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. [48], Aloha from Hawaii proved to be the last great moment in Presley's career. [65] Marie was one of six children,[65] had been married twice before, and had a son from her first marriage. That's $35 million (28m) today and considerably less than what they were actually worth. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and music businessman. [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. At the time, many people predicted that he would have a long and lucrative career . [15] Around the same time, realizing the deal for Presley might fall through due to the cost of the contract, Parker attempted to sell Tommy Sands to RCA. "[56] Almost immediately, before even visiting Graceland, Parker traveled to New York City to meet with merchandising associates and executives with RCA Records, instructing them to prepare for a huge demand in Presley products. It took a probate court to remove Parker and his 50% fee from future dealings. By Alanna Nash. [67] As Parker's management career began to take off, Marie became more of a housewife, although she would occasionally travel with him to various parts of the country. Compare Colonel Tom Parker's Net Worth. [53] Parker turned the offer down, and Presley was overjoyed when they replied with another offer of $10 million. [41] Frank Sinatra had married Mia Farrow in 1966, and it had produced enough publicity for Parker to sit up and take notice. Presley remembered the event as one of the worst moments of his career. [72] Priscilla Presley attended the funeral to represent the Elvis Presley Estate and gave a eulogy that, to many in the room, summed up Parker: "Elvis and the Colonel made history together, and the world is richer, better and far more interesting because of their collaboration. He also lost a big chunk of Elvis's own money. when Elvis died, he was only worth $5 . [50] This would be successful for a short time, but when Presley discovered the trick, he simply found himself other doctors. Colonel Tom Parker acted as Presley's promoter and, then manager and promoter, for most of his career. During this time, Parker secured him long-term deals with film studios. [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. 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. Col. Tom Parker dies. [18] Neal was struggling at the time to accommodate his new client's success, and in February 1955, following a meeting with Parker, Presley agreed to let Parker take some control of future bookings and promotions. [44] At the time, Presley's back catalog was not considered very important and RCA initially calculated it at being worth much less, but in later years it would become one of the most valuable record catalogs in the music business. Parker managed his career with an iron fist. In November, Parker and Snow persuaded RCA to buy Presley out from Sun for $40,000, and on November 21, Presley's contract was officially transferred from Sun Records to RCA Victor. For two years he served in the 64th Coast Artillery at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. Burial. 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. According to Priscilla, Elvis was happy to pay 50% to Parker to manage him.[73]. 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. [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. [44] He offered RCA Records the opportunity to buy Presley's entire back catalog for $5.4 million. [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. But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. In later years, Parker's influence waned, but he continued in his management role until Presley's death in 1977. Presley's star continued to rise as Parker signed a merchandising deal with Hank Saperstein to fully commoditize the young singer. Held at a Hilton Hotel, his funeral was attended by the likes of Sun Records boss Sam Phillips and Parker's former client . What Tom Hanks Thinks Of His Tom Parker Role . By the time Elvis died, the "Can't Help Falling In Love" singer's estate was in poor condition with only about $5 million. In the 1950s, he helped Elvis Presley become a big star. 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. [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. [65], Others, however, had doubts about whether they were legally married at all. But behind the music, behind th. [52] In Las Vegas, he was starting to appear drugged on stage, slurring his words and forgetting song lyrics. [66] Some suggested that Parker married Marie to disguise his illegal status in the United States;[65] a marriage to a U.S. citizen with a child could help him bury his past in a "ready-made family". Their's was probably the most unique artist-manager relationship ever in show business, clearly one of the most successful. He also became friendly with the estate again, attending special ceremonies and events in Memphis, invited by Priscilla. It was producer Steve Binder who put forward the idea of Presley singing his old hits and even the staged section with his old band, Scotty Moore and D. J. Fontana, the latter inspired by a post-rehearsal informal jam in Presley's dressing room. Specifically: The services for Tom Parker were held at Palm Mortuary Downtown location, but his cremains were taken to Memphis, TN and the mortuary has no record of the exact location. "[52], Parker accepted that their working relationship was over, Parker telling them over the phone that Dr. Nick's services are no longer required, and demanded that Presley pay him $2 million to end their contract; money Parker claimed he was owed. He said 'Did I really?' [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. Presley had been living with Priscilla Beaulieu, ten years his junior, for the past four years, but it had not been public knowledge. He is also said to have had gambling debts of up to $30 million at different times. On March 26, 1956, after Presley's management contract with Neal expired, Presley signed a contract with Parker that made him his exclusive representative. [6] He was the son of Maria Elisabeth (Ponsie) and Adam van Kuijk. [15] Over the next few years, he helped Arnold secure hit songs, television appearances, and live tours. [citation needed], After the success of Presley's return to live performing in Las Vegas, Parker decided it was time to take him back out on tour for the first time in 13 years. [44], During a closing night performance on September 3, 1973, following news that a Hilton staff member whom Presley was fond of had been fired, Presley attacked Hilton Hotels chairman Barron Hilton in a verbal rage on stage. Frank Sinatra, who had declared Presley a rock and roll disgrace in the 1950s, was keen to have him appear on his show. [16] In the drama, the role of Sands was portrayed as a "twisted psychopath". 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. 1. "He fully believed the colonel's story that Parker hailed from Huntington, West Virginia; Elvis died not knowing the truth," she says. [68] From then on, he continued living in Las Vegas, mostly avoiding contact with the press. Parker enlisted in the US Army shortly after his return to America. [53], From 1974 onward, Presley's weight gain and prescription drug abuse became too much to be controlled. Parker was able to receive more than half of the income from the enterprise, an unprecedented figure for a music manager. [16] Critics were very positive in their reviews of both the drama and Sands, leading to Capitol Records signing Sands within a week. Mott passed away in late 1986 at the age of 78. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. [53] Despite this, however, the deal never materialized. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and music businessman. 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. This led Parker to insist that films be made cheaply, on a strict schedule, and with as little hassle as possible. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. 3. Austin had spent much of his fortune on partying, cars, mansions, and women, and his popularity had been eclipsed by other singers, such as Bing Crosby. In January 1958 Presley received his draft notice from the United States Army. This was, with hindsight, a mistake on his part; if he had negotiated each deal separately based on the profits of the previous film, he could have received more money. After being discharged, Parker returned to carnival work, working as a carnie with Royal American Shows from 1931 to 1938. [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. For his part, Parker himself died with a net worth of $1 million, or roughly . [45], By 1972, Parker had managed to increase Presley's weekly wage in Las Vegas to $150,000 ($971,718 in 2021 dollars[11]), and secured $50,000 a year ($323,906 in 2021 dollars[11]) for himself as a "consultant to the hotel chain". With 1956 coming to a close, Parker had made Presley one of the most well-known, well-paid entertainers in the world. "Last Train to Memphis". Colonel Tom Parker was best known for being the manager of Elvis Presley. [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. [55] The book was published one year later on July 12, 1977, one month before Presley's death. During this time, Parker also served as a field agent for the Hillsborough County Humane Society, helping to raise funds and awareness for its work. While working in the circus in 1935, Parker wed Marie Francis Mott. He became Presley's manager in 1955 just as . They struggled to survive during the Great Depression, working short cons and traveling across the country in search of work. I said 'Yeah'. [14] In 1945, Parker became Arnold's full-time manager, signing a contract for 25% of his earnings. By 1984, with his gambling debts reportedly rising again, he was evicted. Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash Aurum 19.99, pp394. Parker appeared to be in complete control during Presley's time away, but he was worried about the outside influence that Presley might encounter in West Germany. Colonel Tom Parker was astonished to hear that Elvis Presley was a white man. Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. [52] Parker was furious, and he stormed into Presley's dressing room after the show to confront him. [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. [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. [39], For the remainder of the 1960s, Presley made films that relied heavily on exotic locations and mundane songs, and he was tied into contracts that he could not escape. In 1935, while travelling with a circus, Parker met and married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. The premises had been ransacked in search of money. [53] Parker later claimed that Presley had asked him to make the contract so demanding so that they would not offer him the part, although many of Presley's friends have contradicted Parker's statement because they had said Presley was furious at losing the role.[53]. Presley's acting career was originally intended to be a serious one, but after seeing a chance to cross-promote singles and albums with the films, Parker persuaded Presley to sing in his films. Parker began 1956 intending to bring his new star to the national stage. "That didn't come out in this country until 1981." At the time of Elvis' death, he was worth just $5 million, a relatively-modest amount considering his enormous level of success and fame. Parker was consequently sent to solitary confinement. 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. 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. The contract, dated July 12, 1954, eight days after their first recording session, was signed by Presley and his parents. His Dutch birthplace and immigrant status were not revealed for many years. [56] Shortly afterward, he traveled to Memphis for Presley's funeral. Col. Tom Parker, the former carnival barker who helped guide Elvis Presley to stardom, died Tuesday of complications from a . 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]. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. [54] Vernon also threatened to find a new manager if Parker wouldn't continue to tour Presley. 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. He died of complications from the stroke[72] the following morning at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87.
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