He is known for Spinout (1966), Kissin' Cousins (1964) and Jailhouse Rock (1957). 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 ). [54] He phoned Presley's father once to suggest taking time off, but Vernon Presley told him they couldn't afford to stop touring due to Presley's constant and lavish spending of money. Much of the money went to Col. Tom Parker, the King's enigmatic, cigar . [34] He was upset about the possibility that would affect his career, but Parker was secretly overjoyed. 'Life with you was never dull' More on The Wanted On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke, and died the following morning in a Las Vegas hospital. [60] In 1993, interest in Presley's enduring legend, interest that is sometimes notable for its obsessiveness, provoked Parker to remark: "I don't think I exploited Elvis as much as he's being exploited today. Their instincts were proven right; the TV special proved an enormous hit, and the album that was released featuring performances from the special became a best-seller, but the comeback special was interrupted when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and music businessman. [48] Two weeks after the Las Vegas press conference Parker received a letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman. [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. In 1955, Parker and Memphis radio personality Bob Neal began promoting the young up-and-coming singer Elvis Presley. [53] Promoters in South America also made offers, as much as $2.5 million, and all of them were turned down by Parker; "Well, whenever I need $2.5 million I'll call you," he once said to them. After being discharged, Parker returned to carnival work, working as a carnie with Royal American Shows from 1931 to 1938. . 1. [15] RCA Victor, Hank Snow's current label, also showed an interest, but they were put off by the cost of the contract. 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. [52] After nearly two weeks of trading insults back and forth, Parker and Presley decided to continue to work together. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? Memorial ID. [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. The killing happened a few streets from where the Van Kuijk family lived, and Parker had been hired to make deliveries from this and other grocery stores in the area. Presley went on to star in "Love Me Tender," which spawned his eponymous hit single. . [18] When the contract expired, the Memphis radio personality Bob Neal stepped in and made a deal with Phillips to become Presley's manager. In 1935, while travelling with a circus, Parker met and married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. But behind the music, behind th. Tom Hanks describes the larger-than-life character he portrays in the new Baz Luhrmann film, "Elvis," which opens in theaters next Friday. 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. He was punished with solitary confinement, from which he emerged with a psychosis that led to him spending two months in a mental hospital,[4] and he was discharged from the Army because of his mental condition. Parker made his last public appearances in 1994. [53] Hulett's company had managed tours for Presley, and he had worked with artists such as Led Zeppelin. RCA was eager for Presley to record in West Germany, but Parker insisted that it would ruin his reputation as a regular soldier if he was able to go into a recording studio. He died on Aug. 16, 1977, of a heart attack. He wasn't a colonel and he wasn't even born in America. Between 1969 and 1972 alone, RCA released three albums of live material. [4] At age 17, he first displayed signs of wanting to run away to the United States to "make his fortune". . [53] They discussed the possibility of Presley's co-starring with Streisand in a remake of the film A Star Is Born. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. Instead, he found employment as a field agent with a local animal shelter, the Hillsborough County Humane Society. He had booked Presley into a four-week Las Vegas engagement, misjudging the reaction of the slightly older, more reserved audiences that Las Vegas attracted. . Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth : $1 Million. He was 87. [33], Presley had been showing signs of rebellion against Parker, and Parker believed that a stint in the Army would cure him of this. According to several people who knew Presley at the time, the talks with Hulett got so far along that it seemed almost inevitable the deal would be done. This deed on the part of Vernon and Gladys Presley marked a permanent separation of Elvis from his mother, and as Elvis was a classic "mama's boy". Colonel Tom Parker acted as Presley's promoter and, then manager and promoter, for most of his career. [4][5] Tual, once appointed as Lisa Marie's guardian ad litem, chose to investigate the entire period of Parker's management of Presley; his preliminary finding was that Parker's management deal of 50% was extortionate compared to the industry average of 1520%. [15] Over the next few years, he helped Arnold secure hit songs, television appearances, and live tours. And there certainly would've been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker.' And when he said that, I said, 'Oh . At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. [5] During a second, more detailed investigation, Tual discovered that all earnings were paid directly to the Trust instead of Parker. [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. [15] However, Parker remained involved in many of Arnold's live tours and demanded a buyout of $50,000 (US$506,405 in 2021 dollars[11]) to settle their contract. As a reward, Davis gave him the honorary rank of "colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia.[2][3]. [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. All net worths are calculated using data drawn from public sources. [19][20] Part of Parker's role was to secure a new recording contract with a bigger label. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. 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. Colonel Tom Parker was born as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909 in Breda, Netherlands as the seventh of eleven children of Adam and Maria. Presley was never one to stand up against Parker, but he knew that this TV show was his one chance at a true comeback, and with Binder backing him, Presley told Parker he was doing it "Binder's way". In the early days of their marriage, Marie and Parker worked together in the carnivals. [65] However, there is no definite proof that anything other than romance led to their marriage. While we work diligently to ensure that our numbers are as accurate as possible, unless otherwise indicated they are only estimates. [67] It is also recorded that Marie did not divorce her second husband until 1936, and her brother, Bitsy, recalled no ceremony of marriage between Parker and Marie. [60] Part of this role resulted in Parker keeping the same fourth-floor suite he occupied when Presley was alive. In 1968, Presley achieved renewed fame when he starred in the NBC television special "Elvis." [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. [8] This may have motivated Parker to avoid seeking a passport, as the Netherlands has an active extradition treaty with the United States, and he may have wanted to avoid criminal arrest by Dutch authorities. "[60], In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, was dedicated to him. Colonel Tom Parker's Lack of Money. 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. Elvis is signed exclusively to the Colonel. 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. [53], From 1974 onward, Presley's weight gain and prescription drug abuse became too much to be controlled. [65], Others, however, had doubts about whether they were legally married at all. [64] In 1993, in one of his last media appearances, Parker appeared in a television interview with Dutch TV director Jorrit van der Kooi where they spoke to each other in Dutch about the Netherlands and about Elvis Presley's life and career. "That didn't come out in this country until 1981." Guralnick, Peter (1994). 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. Allegedly $1 Million, more or less. [14] With the Society in need of funds, Parker set about using his promotional experience to raise money and awareness for the shelter. 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. Colonel Tom Parker net worth: Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch American talent manager who had a net worth of $1 million at the time of his death in 1997. In the 1950s, he helped Elvis Presley become a big star. Parker was consequently sent to solitary confinement. [16] NBC had originally wanted Presley for the role, but Parker had turned them down. Tom was born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in the Netherlands on June 26, 1909, but emigrated illegally to the United States when he was 20. [16] Sholes showed little interest in Sands, but promised that he would attempt to find songs Sands might be able to record. There were no witnesses and almost no evidence, except that the killer spread pepper on and around the body before fleeing in hopes that police dogs would not pick up the scent. Parker was able to receive more than half of the income from the enterprise, an unprecedented figure for a music manager. [53] Seeing it as a chance to finally be taken seriously as an actor, Presley agreed to take the role if the contracts could be worked out. Parker's main role during these tours was to plan the logistics and make sure tickets were sold. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. The claim of Parker's Dutch heritage was publicly confirmed when Parker unsuccessfully tried to avert a lawsuit brought against him in 1982 by asserting in open court that he was a Dutch citizen. According to Alanna Nash, who wrote The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley . [7] As a boy, he worked as a barker at carnivals in his hometown, learning many of the skills that he would require later while working in the entertainment industry. Colonel Tom Parker made more than $100 million in his lifetime, but when he died, he was reportedly worth less than $1 million. [56] Shortly afterward, he traveled to Memphis for Presley's funeral. [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. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. In 1980, a judge ordered an investigation into Parker's management practices, finding that Parker's management had been unethical. Parker had unknowingly backed himself into a financial corner. Between 1969 and his death on Aug. 16, 1977, Presley played over 600 shows at the Hilton. To garner Presley new publicity and to help tame his wild impulses, Parker had him marry Priscilla Beaulieu, who had been living with Presley for four years already. In 1973, Colonel Parker sold the master tapes for 700 of Presley's songs to RCA for $5.4 million. Lisa Marie inherited Elvis' whole estate on her 25th birthday on February 1, 1993. The contract, dated July 12, 1954, eight days after their first recording session, was signed by Presley and his parents. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. Mott passed away in late 1986 at the age of 78. [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? He was previously married to Loanne Miller and Marie Frances Mott. [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. He also assisted Jimmie Davis' campaign to become Governor of Louisiana. [16] Parker had intended to mold Sands into the next Roy Rogers, but Sands had no interest in such a plan. At the time, many people predicted that he would have a long and lucrative career . However, that was not the case since Elvis was still under contract to Bob Neal. "[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. 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. [33] [54], In July 1976, three of Presley's personal bodyguards and members of the "Memphis Mafia", Robert Gene "Red" West, his cousin Sonny West and David Hebler, were fired by Vernon Presley and decided to write a tell-all book about their life in his inner circle, Elvis: What Happened? [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. [41] The Cadillac tour proved to be somewhat more successful than the film itself. Tom Parker. He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in films. [37] Parker signed long-term contracts with the film studios,[39] possibly to guarantee work and income for both him and Presley. 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. [44] These live performances, as well as being financially satisfying, also allowed Parker to fulfill Presley's recording contract with RCA Victor. Later, Davis says "He remembered me, and he said 'I told you you were going to be a star.' [48], Aloha from Hawaii proved to be the last great moment in Presley's career. His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as the Netherlands, and his citizenship as American. He then re-enlisted at Fort Barrancas in Florida. Burial. Colonel Tom Parker was a music entrepreneur, well-known for being Elvis' manager. [26] With over 78 different possibilities, from charm bracelets to record players, Presley merchandise brought in $22 million by the end of 1956. However, the music scene had radically changed. [53] Streisand's production company, First Artists, offered Presley a salary of $500,000 ($2,517,934 in 2021 dollars[11]) and 10% of the profits. Elvis had just as many white influences and announced as early as seventh grade that he was going to sing at the Grand Ole Opry . [53] Despite this, however, the deal never materialized. [15], Parker and Neal worked together to promote Presley, using their own Hank Snow Tour to book him and tour him. and he died worth only US$1,000,000. On January 20, 1997, Parker's wife heard a crashing sound from the living room, and when she heard no response to her calls, she went in to find him slumped over in his chair after suffering a stroke. He became Presley's manager in 1955 just as . [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. The 30th Anniversary of the death of Elvis' father, Vernon Presley. The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash Aurum 19.99, pp394. Potomac, was going to be salvaged. 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? Soon, he secured Presley a record deal with RCA Victor. [15] Despite this, Phillips was not keen to let him go easily, advising Parker that he would require $40,000 (US$404,621 in 2021 dollars[11]) to secure the release of Presley's contract, a completely unheard-of sum at the time. After the Sinatra special, Parker decided that Presley's future lay in Hollywood. While Neal was originally the singer's official manager, Parker was the one most involved in running Presley's career. [10] Parker later said that at times they had had to live on as little as $1 a week (US$20 in 2021 dollars). [15] Although Neal remained Presley's official manager, Parker was becoming increasingly involved in the running of his career, and by the summer of 1955 he had become Presley's "special advisor". https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonel_Tom_Parker&oldid=1141644408, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 02:32. The show, titled "Welcome Home, Elvis", was Presley's first national television appearance since The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. [56] At the funeral, he persuaded Presley's father to sign over control of Presley's career in death to him. 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. When he was 15, Parker moved to Rotterdam, where he worked on boats. [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. Later in 1975, the government of Saudi Arabia offered Parker $5 million for Presley to perform there. Parker made several attempts to have it stopped, but failed to do so. "A couple times he set me up in the Elvis Presley suite on top of the Hilton, and I would go play Elvis for a week One night we were at the crap table together and he rubbed my head for luck. She said she was at home with him when he had his stroke. [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 later years, Parker's influence waned, but he continued in his management role until Presley's death in 1977. "No, he never would have done that," Nash says. Elvis Was Not Nearly As Rich As You Might Guess When He Died. "There would have been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker; there would have been no Colonel Tom Parker without Elvis. [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. [4] Priscilla and the Trust were prepared to let Parker continue to handle Presley's business affairs, and petitioned the court to that end. In early 1997, he passed away from a stroke in Las Vegas at the age of 87. [57], Parker set out to protect his future income. [37] Parker, not one to forget harsh criticism, stated that the fee would be $125,000 (equivalent to about $1,145,000 in 2021) for two songs, a total of eight minutes on screen; Sinatra himself was receiving a lower sum for the whole show,[38] but he agreed. to control the singer's merchandise. During the 1960s, after many years of ill health, Marie began to display signs of dementia. [4] A year later at 18, with enough money to sustain him for a short period, he entered America illegally by jumping ship from his employer's vessel. [29], Despite this setback, Presley was still going from strength to strength. It was also reported that he had up to $ 30 million in gambling debts several times in his life. [9] He began to build up a list of contacts that would prove valuable in later years. Both Priscilla and Jerry said he was a lovely man". [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. While the film shows Elvis firing his manager during a show after realising he's being deceived by the Colonel, this is not what happened in real life.
Highest Paid Soulcycle Instructor,
Jasper Mall Security Guard,
Chicago Suburbs With Low Property Taxes,
Commercial Space For Rent In Bergen County, Nj,
Articles W