These four shows alone grossed $730,000 ($4,729,029 in 2021 dollars[11]). Returning to music, he began managing such singers as Eddy Arnold and Tommy Sands. [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. [15], Parker and Neal worked together to promote Presley, using their own Hank Snow Tour to book him and tour him. [12] He was a successful promoter, but he wanted to move into management.[12]. Austin offered Parker the opportunity to move to Nashville, Tennessee, where music was becoming a big business, but for reasons unknown Parker turned him down. He was mysterious and colorful, and, under his guidance, his one and only client -- Elvis -- reached unimaginable heights. [16], Regardless of the success that Parker and Presley had achieved, Parker was still struggling to believe that Presley's career would last longer than a year or two. [4], On August 14, 1981, Judge Evans ordered Elvis Presley Enterprises to sue Parker for mismanagement. Parker appeared to be in complete control during Presley's time away, but he was worried about the outside influence that . This proved very lucrative, especially when the single for Presley's first film, Love Me Tender, sold over one million copies in advance sales. As a reward, Davis gave him the honorary rank of "colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia.[2][3]. 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. [citation needed], For the remainder of Presley's life, Parker saw little of him. 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. [4] Although Parker had served honorably for a time, he went AWOL this time and was charged with desertion. to control the singer's merchandise. [41], On January 2, 1967, Parker re-negotiated his managerial/agent contract with Presley, persuading him to increase Parker's share from 25% to 50% on certain transactions. His Dutch birthplace and immigrant status were not revealed for many years. 2. He influenced Presley's personal life, including Presley's decisions to accept military service in 1958 and to marry Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967. 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. Loanne was born on July 11, 1935 in Covington, Ohio to Paul E. an Published Jan. 22, 1997 | Updated Sep. 30, 2005. Tom discovered Elvis in 1955 when he was 20, but their partnership wasn't . Parker hoped that marriage would not only boost Presley's career but also possibly tame him. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. Colonel Tom Parker was a music entrepreneur, well-known for being Elvis' manager. [52], In February 1975, during his engagement in Las Vegas, Presley, along with Parker, met with Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters. 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 . Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 - January 21, 1997), commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager.. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. 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. He said 'Well then there ain't no doubt about it. [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. It was also reported that he had up to $ 30 million in gambling debts several times in his life. 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. 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. Parker, 33, died in March, surrounded by his family and bandmates, 17 months after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Net Worth: $1 Million; Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) What is Colonel Tom Parker worth? [15] Both Mercury Records and Columbia Records showed interest, although their initial offers were nowhere near the $40,000 requirement. [12] Despite having sold over 86 million records since 1924 and earning over $17 million, Austin's career was at a low point. Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. [15], In early 1955, Parker became aware of a young singer, Elvis Presley. 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. Meanwhile, his gambling habit increasingly eroded the huge fortune he had built up, and he died worth only US$1,000,000. [58], Following Presley's death, Parker set up a licensing operation with Factors Etc. But as time went on, as the Beatles began their dominance of the music charts and the worldwide phenomenon known as Beatlemania began, Presley became less significant. Instead, Parker sent demonstration recordings to record producer Steve Sholes at RCA Victor. "[27][28], Parker signed a deal with Beverly Hills film merchandiser Hank Saperstein for nearly $40,000 to turn Presley into a brand name. [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. [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". You tell everybody the Colonel touched your head." Parker's main role during these tours was to plan the logistics and make sure tickets were sold. In reality, Nash told USA Today that Presley would "never do that." Presley apparently never knew that Parker wasn't . 'Life with you was never dull' More on The Wanted [18] According to Moore, Presley agreed to take 50 percent, with Moore and Black splitting the other 50 percent. He completed basic training at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]. Meanwhile, his career began stagnating as the British Invasion took over the United States. . Colonel Tom Parker used to earn a good amount of money while he was working for US army. Later, in 1983, Parker admitted during an interview that after 1966, the income from Presley films and soundtracks was dramatically reduced. Stick around for t. [53] Yet, despite Presley's eagerness to do the shows, Parker again turned them down. His origins were steeped in mystery. [4] During his first visit there, he traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show, before returning briefly to the Netherlands. 4. [55] As with all the talk about Presley touring overseas, Parker never followed through with the deal. ", "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. [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. [62], One of Parker's brothers, Adam "Ad" van Kuijk, visited Parker once in Los Angeles in April 1961. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? But the Colonel quickly got to work, starting as Elvis' advisor before they signed a contract giving him sole rights . Col. Tom Parker dies. Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) Place of Birth: Breda, Netherlands. Parker was consequently sent to solitary confinement. In 1994, following the marriage of Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson, Parker stated that Presley would not have approved. The talks had included details about European tours, and buying out Presley's contract would not have been a problem for Hulett and his company. "[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. [65] However, there is no definite proof that anything other than romance led to their marriage. In the 1950s, he helped Elvis Presley become a big star. And the value of his estate at the time of his death in 1997? Presley went on to star in "Love Me Tender," which spawned his eponymous hit single. That number is down significantly from an estimated $100 million . 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. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too . He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in films. [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. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal was a shocking one. His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as . [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. In 1977, Elvis died of a heart attack at only 42. Asked by a journalist what he would do now, Parker responded: "Why, I'll just go right on managing him! Phillips told them to make a separate deal with Elvis. [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. Due to his years of excessive spending and being bilked by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' estate was . [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. In 1980, a judge ordered an investigation into Parker's management practices, finding that Parker's management had been unethical. The singer was raking in cash hand over fist from these engagements, but he found them artistically . [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. 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. At the time of his death, Elvis was only worth . Hanks said, "I was anticipating hearing horror stories about this venal, cheap crook. Tom Hanks describes the larger-than-life character he portrays in the new Baz Luhrmann film, "Elvis," which opens in theaters next Friday. "[72] She reiterated her positive opinion to Tom Hanks in 2022 when the actor prepared to play Parker for Elvis (2022). 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. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and music businessman. Presley's career stagnated while artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys dominated the charts. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. At that time Parker believed Elvis to be black. Cremated. [26] By the summer Presley had become one of the most famous new faces of the year, causing excitement among the new teenage audience and outrage among some older audiences and religious groups. [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]. [34] He was upset about the possibility that would affect his career, but Parker was secretly overjoyed. He also worked to maintain Presley's estate, which was estimated to have cost around $500,000 a year in upkeep. "No, he never would have done that," Nash says. [16] He arranged live appearances and became something of a father figure to the then-15-year-old Sands. Nearly as legendary as his famous client was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! [citation needed], When Presley died on August 16, 1977, one day before he was due to go out on tour, some accounts suggest Parker acted as if nothing had happened. 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. [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. [48] (During Presley's career, except for a few concerts in Canada in 1957, he never performed outside the United States.) [56] Shortly afterward, he traveled to Memphis for Presley's funeral. 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. Tom Parker had a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death. 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' The King supposedly earned $100 million during his limelighted lifetime, which ended 10 years ago today. [57], Parker set out to protect his future income. 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. Elvis Presley was only 42 years old when he died on August 16, 1977 (via History). He realized that by keeping RCA Victor, and more importantly the public, hungry for more Presley material, he would be able to negotiate a better contract when Presley returned from active service. During the interview, Parker said that he was not aware that another one of his sisters, Adriana van Kuijk, had died in the Netherlands a few years before. But this guy is like eighty years old too old to be taught the limits of racism He probably doesn't realize how horrible a thing that was to do. I said 'Yeah'. Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 January 21, 1997),[1] commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager. Col. Tom Parker, the former carnival barker who helped guide Elvis Presley to stardom, died Tuesday of complications from a . The first major artist with whom he worked was popular crooner Gene Austin. [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. 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. Elvis Was Not Nearly As Rich As You Might Guess When He Died. . As per reports, Colonel Tom Parker's Cause of Death was revealed that he died of stroke . [43] A breakfast reception was arranged, taking place after the media got their photographs of the couple. [37] For the first few years Presley's films were somewhat successful, his albums topped the charts, and any singles that were released were mostly hits. He first met the future star in 1955, when Elvis was already being managed by the guitarist in his band. [60] Part of this role resulted in Parker keeping the same fourth-floor suite he occupied when Presley was alive. [4] It is believed that Parker lost at least $1 million a year from gambling. [4] From about 1931 until 1938, he worked as a "carny" with Royal American Shows. In 1980, a judge ordered an investigation into Parker's management practices and found that Parker's management had been unethical. In 1956, Presley was launched to superstardom with the release of his first single for RCA Victor, "Heartbreak Hotel." On March 26, 1956, after Presley's management contract with Neal expired, Presley signed a contract with Parker that made him his exclusive representative. Colonel Parker died of a stroke on January 22, 1997, aged 87. . Elvis Presley with manager Colonel Tom Parker as he is discharged from the Army in 1960. . By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. A few years after that, he illegally entered the United States by jumping ship from the boat of his employer. Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and music businessman. Elvis Presley shot to stardom as a rock 'n roll legend, a legacy that still continues almost 50 years after the King's death. [26] With over 78 different possibilities, from charm bracelets to record players, Presley merchandise brought in $22 million by the end of 1956. Following this, Presley's career declined drastically as he became increasingly reliant on prescription drugs. Presley had a singing style different from the current trend, and Parker was immediately interested in the future of this musical style. 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]. and he died worth only US$1,000,000. "[60], In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, was dedicated to him. According to Biography, Presley's father let Colonel Tom Parker have the run of things for two more years, but after the elder Presley also died in 1979, things got complicated for the manager. [55] Worried about the impact such details might have on his career, Presley, through his father, asked Parker to stop the publication. 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. In 1973, Parker had one of his greatest coups with Presley's "Aloha from Hawaii" concert, which was broadcast worldwide from Hawaii. Let's find out. [4] After a lifetime that saw him earn in excess of $100 million, Parker's estate was worth barely $1 million when he died. Lisa Marie inherited Elvis' whole estate on her 25th birthday on February 1, 1993. [68] From then on, he continued living in Las Vegas, mostly avoiding contact with the press. [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. At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. I wanted to punch him in the face. Profession: Elvis' manager. Later, in 1990, Parker married his longtime secretary Loanne Miller. While Neal was originally the singer's official manager, Parker was the one most involved in running Presley's career. [4] During the 1960s, with his wife's health deteriorating, and Presley's career struggling, Parker found an escape with gambling at Las Vegas casinos. [16] Remembering his previous experience with Sands, Sholes dismissed Sands as a viable replacement for Presley.[16]. She said she was at home with him when he had his stroke. Inc.[4] However, because Parker was still entitled to 50% of all Presley's income, and after taxes were taken off, the overall amount going towards the upkeep of the estate was less than $1 million a year.[4]. His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as the Netherlands, and his citizenship as American. None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." Between 1969 and 1972 alone, RCA released three albums of live material. In May 1973, in an attempt to deal with Presley's growing dependence on prescription drugs, Presley's father, Vernon, and Parker attempted to cut off his supply. [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. 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. [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 early 1997, he passed away from a stroke in Las Vegas at the age of 87. To hide that he was an illegal immigrant, he adopted the name Tom Parker, which was the name of the officer who interviewed him. [9] He began to build up a list of contacts that would prove valuable in later years. [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. [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. [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. [15] RCA made it clear it were unwilling to go above $25,000 for a practically unknown singer,[15] but Parker persuaded them that Presley was no ordinary unknown singer. When critics questioned this arrangement and that Parker was exploiting Presley for more money because of greed, Presley quipped "I could have signed with East Coast Entertainment where they take 70 percent! [29] Some viewed him as a clown-like figure, wiggling his hips for screams, while others found him vulgar and more suitable for late-night gentleman's clubs. 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. [37] He allowed him to perform three live shows in 1961, all charity events, two in Memphis and one in Hawaii. "He fully believed the colonel's story that Parker hailed from Huntington, West Virginia; Elvis died not knowing the truth," she says. Colonel Tom Parker's home (former), 409 Park Ridge Avenue, Temple Terrace, Fl. In later years, Parker's influence waned, but he continued in his management role until Presley's death in 1977. He then re-enlisted at Fort Barrancas in Florida. When he came out, he suffered from a psychosis that led to a brief stay at a mental ward, causing him to be discharged from the Army. He was subsequently in "Loving You," "Jailhouse Rock," and "King Creole." 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. Memorial ID. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. [14] Parker served in the peacetime army as a precondition for taking advantage of that stipulation, but he never subsequently applied to become a citizen. 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 ). . The contract, dated July 12, 1954, eight days after their first recording session, was signed by Presley and his parents. 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 . [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.