[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. In the early days of their marriage, Marie and Parker worked together in the carnivals. 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. He was one of the most influential voices in the industry. [50] However, it wasn't long before Presley was able to find other doctors to meet his demands. 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". [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. [26] Presley said of Parker: "I don't think I would have ever been very big if it wasn't for him. [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. [18] When the contract expired, the Memphis radio personality Bob Neal stepped in and made a deal with Phillips to become Presley's manager. None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." p. 258. 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. Presley went on to star in 27 films during the decade, including "G.I. 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. No, Elvis didn't fire the Colonel from the stage at Las Vegas in real life. Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. 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 . Additional Crew: Spinout. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. The show, titled "Welcome Home, Elvis", was Presley's first national television appearance since The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. Due to his years of excessive spending and being bilked by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' estate was . Colonel Tom Parker was best known as Elvis Presley's manager. [53] Parker turned the offer down, and Presley was overjoyed when they replied with another offer of $10 million. And there certainly would've been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker.' And when he said that, I said, 'Oh . [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. "He fully believed the colonel's story that Parker hailed from Huntington, West Virginia; Elvis died not knowing the truth," she says. [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. [14] With the Society in need of funds, Parker set about using his promotional experience to raise money and awareness for the shelter. [65], Others, however, had doubts about whether they were legally married at all. After the special, Parker managed Presley's return to live performance, including a set of brief U.S. tours and many engagements in Las Vegas. [32], In 1957, Parker finally managed to give Tommy Sands his big break by arranging for him to audition for and star in The Singin' Idol, a drama for NBC that was loosely based on the life and career of Presley. However, that was not the case since Elvis was still under contract to Bob Neal. Parker enlisted in the US Army shortly after his return to America. However, he also continued to blow his fortune on his gambling addiction and he died heavily in debt. [60], The disputes with the Presley estate did not terminate Parker's association with Presley. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. Parker's main role during these tours was to plan the logistics and make sure tickets were sold. [11][10], Parker first became involved in the music industry as a music promoter in 1938, working with the popular singer Gene Austin. The Wanted singer Tom Parker has died from a brain tumour at the age of 33. The 30th Anniversary of the death of Elvis' father, Vernon Presley. [43] A breakfast reception was arranged, taking place after the media got their photographs of the couple. How Elvis Presley Died Nearly Broke Then Became One Of The Richest Dead Celebrities Of All Time. It was also reported that he had up to $ 30 million in gambling debts several times in his life. Col. Tom Parker dies. 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. [49] Seeing the chance to publicize Presley's charitable nature once again, Parker eagerly agreed. 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]. [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. Tom Parker was born on 26 June 1909 in Breda, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. However, it would be a quiet wedding. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and music businessman. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. [15] RCA Victor, Hank Snow's current label, also showed an interest, but they were put off by the cost of the contract. . [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. I said, 'Yeah, you rubbed my head.' [61], As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. Later, in 1983, Parker admitted during an interview that after 1966, the income from Presley films and soundtracks was dramatically reduced. [33] If Presley could show the world that he the same as any other young man, Parker told him, then more people would accept him and his music. [4], On August 14, 1981, Judge Evans ordered Elvis Presley Enterprises to sue Parker for mismanagement. [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". How Colonel Tom Parker built his net worth. 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. [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. [12] Parker, with the task of promoting Austin, found the career transition smooth, using much of his "carny" experience to sell tickets and attract the crowds. [44] However, Presley had asked him to raise funds to pay for his upcoming divorce settlement, and Priscilla divorced Elvis in 1973. [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. In 1953 Parker bought a house in Madison, Tennessee, where Presley would visit and stay while recording. [48] The press were told that an audience of one billion was expected to tune in to see the "first entertainment special to be broadcast live around the world",[48] although Parker had not taken into account the fact that many countries, including parts of Europe and America, would not see the concert live due to the time of the broadcast. Returning to music, he began managing such singers as Eddy Arnold and Tommy Sands. [21] In return for a larger financial stake in the deal, Neal agreed not to renew his management contract with Presley after it expired in March 1956,[22] allowing Parker the opportunity to claim the job for himself. He was best known for being the manager of Elvis Presley. [15] Parker and Snow eventually formed Hank Snow Enterprises and Jamboree Attractions, a successful promotional outfit for up-and-coming country singers. Parker made his last public appearances in 1994. 21 Jan 1997 (aged 87) Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, USA. Parker's net worth when he died was $1 million. Tom Parker. Snow attended the signing, thinking that Elvis had signed a management contract with Jamboree Attractions, which he owned with Parker. Family of Utah law student, 25, say they found out from NEWS REPORTS that he'd been shot dead by cops 'after becoming non-compliant during traffic stop because his BMW didn't have license plate' [52], Although many around Presley were worried about his worsening drug dependency, Parker appeared to ignore the problem. In 1973, Parker had one of his greatest coups with Presley's "Aloha from Hawaii" concert, which was broadcast worldwide from Hawaii. [53] According to Parker himself, he did privately attempt to talk to his client a number of times about the matter, but allegedly every time Parker casually told Presley to quit or at least tone it down with the pill popping and binge eating, Presley would respond by telling Parker to stay out of his personal business. [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. Blues," "Wild in the Country," "Blue Hawaii," "Viva Las Vegas," "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," "Clambake," and "Change of Habit." Held at a Hilton Hotel, his funeral was attended by the likes of Sun Records boss Sam Phillips and Parker's former client . [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. [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. The King of Rock 'n' Roll's only daughter inherited his iconic Graceland estate and was once married to Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage - but now she's reportedly US$16 million in debt [50] This would be successful for a short time, but when Presley discovered the trick, he simply found himself other doctors. During the week-long visit, Parker was informed by Adam van Kuijk that their mother had died three years earlier in 1958, never knowing what happened to her son after he left the Netherlands for good in 1929. [56], In September 1978, shortly after the first anniversary of Presley's death, Parker arranged a fan festival, Always Elvis, where he, Vernon, and Presley's ex-wife Priscilla, dedicated a bronze statue of him in the lobby of the Las Vegas Hilton. 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. "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. While Presley was serving in West Germany, Parker was hard at work keeping Presley's name known to the public. Net Worth: $1 Million. He also became friendly with the estate again, attending special ceremonies and events in Memphis, invited by Priscilla. [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. 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. His Dutch birthplace and immigrant status were not revealed for many years. [10] Parker later said that at times they had had to live on as little as $1 a week (US$20 in 2021 dollars). 3. This led Parker to insist that films be made cheaply, on a strict schedule, and with as little hassle as possible. The 32nd Anniversary of Elvis' final concert in Indianapolis. [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. In addition to its considerable value, the estate of Elvis . Parker appeared at posthumous events honoring Presley, such as the 1993 issuing of a U.S. postage stamp with Presley's likeness. Parker decided that Las Vegas was the perfect place to do it,[41] and on May 1, 1967, the couple were married in a ceremony that lasted only eight minutes and had a handful of guests. Memorial ID. The 100th birthday of Colonel Parker. [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. In early 1997, he passed away from a stroke in Las Vegas at the age of 87. What was Colonel Tom Parker's net worth when he died? [12] Despite having sold over 86 million records since 1924 and earning over $17 million, Austin's career was at a low point. . Tom discovered Elvis in 1955 when he was 20, but their partnership wasn't . He subsequently performed at three charity events, and then suspended his live performing until 1968. Cremated. Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth : $1 Million. [39] When Presley complained to him that he wanted better scripts, Parker reminded him of his lavish lifestyle and that risking $1 million a year for doing practically no work was dangerous. [16] Soon after, Sands' song "Teen-Age Crush" reached number 2 on the pop charts, eventually selling 800,000 copies. In 1935, while travelling with a circus, Parker met and married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. [4] During his first visit there, he traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show, before returning briefly to the Netherlands. [33] [4] Although Parker had served honorably for a time, he went AWOL this time and was charged with desertion. "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. He died on 21 January 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. [12] He was a successful promoter, but he wanted to move into management.[12]. Asked by a journalist what he would do now, Parker responded: "Why, I'll just go right on managing him! I quit! What was his net worth in 2022? Little, Brown. In 1980, a judge ordered an investigation into Parker's management practices, finding that Parker's management had been unethical. Colonel Tom Parker died at the age of 87 years. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal was a shocking one. By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. For his part, Parker himself died with a net worth of $1 million, or roughly . 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". 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. [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. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. [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. Tom Parker had a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death. [55] As with all the talk about Presley touring overseas, Parker never followed through with the deal. [26] With over 78 different possibilities, from charm bracelets to record players, Presley merchandise brought in $22 million by the end of 1956. But Col Thomas Andrew Parker - the all-American father figure - wasn't the first to discover Elvis. "[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. [55] The book was published one year later on July 12, 1977, one month before Presley's death. Elvis Was Not Nearly As Rich As You Might Guess When He Died. A large part of Tom's net worth he made from his Salary as a Colonel. [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". After Presley passed away, Parker established a licensing deal with Factors Etc. But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. 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. 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 . His mother was giving him a pep talk to calm his nerves. Parker was consequently sent to solitary confinement. He first met the future star in 1955, when Elvis was already being managed by the guitarist in his band. [52], In February 1975, during his engagement in Las Vegas, Presley, along with Parker, met with Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters. [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. [4] By this time, with the IRS demanding almost $15 million in taxes, the estate was facing bankruptcy. [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. [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. [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. Colonel Tom Parker was born in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands in June 1909 and passed away in January 1997. 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%. [16], Eddy Arnold fired Parker in 1953 over Parker's growing involvement with the singer Hank Snow. What Tom Hanks Thinks Of His Tom Parker Role . [14] In 1945, Parker became Arnold's full-time manager, signing a contract for 25% of his earnings. Stick around for t. [59] Experts in the field at the time estimated that it had potentially cost Presley millions of dollars[59] and worse for Parker, it had also potentially cost him those millions of dollars. 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. [29], Despite this setback, Presley was still going from strength to strength. The singer was raking in cash hand over fist from these engagements, but he found them artistically . The majority of Elvis's reported net worth at the time of his death was comprised of royalties from record sales, publishing, film and concert tickets. [17] In the beginning, Presley, Moore, and the bassist Bill Black were a trio, the Blue Moon Boys. [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. To hide that he was an illegal immigrant, he adopted the name Tom Parker, which was the name of the officer who interviewed him. Into his late 80s, Colonel Tom Parker began to struggle with various illnesses including diabetes and gout. "That didn't come out in this country until 1981." The 30th Anniversary of the revelation to Elvis' estate that Colonel Parker was still fleecing his client. Following an investigation in the early 80s, a judge ruled that Parker's management of Presley had been unethical. "[24], With his first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel", in 1956,[25] Presley became a recording star. [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. Colonel Parker died of a stroke on January 22, 1997, aged 87. . He also influenced his decisions to join the military and marry Priscilla, among other . [4], "Colonel Tom Parker rubbed my head in Vegas", Eddie Murphy stated in 1989. [16] In the drama, the role of Sands was portrayed as a "twisted psychopath". In 1968, Presley achieved renewed fame when he starred in the NBC television special "Elvis." 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. Answering Presley's desire to appear in films, Parker was able to secure him a seven-picture contract with Paramount Pictures. 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. He also worked to maintain Presley's estate, which was estimated to have cost around $500,000 a year in upkeep. Even Tom Hanks thought he was an odd choice to play Elvis Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker in . [56] At the funeral, he persuaded Presley's father to sign over control of Presley's career in death to him. ", "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. and he died worth only US$1,000,000. [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. Elvis was given a spot in the Louisiana Hayride, a radio show, and Colonel Parker knew that this young lad could prove to be a dark horse. He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in films.