what was colonel tom parker worth when he died what was colonel tom parker worth when he died

[51] In her book, The Colonel, she writes: "in the days before the Betty Ford Clinic, the Colonel didn't know where to take him for discreet, effective help and loathed risking the loss of work if the truth got out". [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. Held at a Hilton Hotel, his funeral was attended by the likes of Sun Records boss Sam Phillips and Parker's former client . According to Presley's friend, Jerry Schilling, Presley was excited about the opportunity to take on a new challenge. [55] According to Presley's friend, Larry Geller, Parker secretly wanted the book to be published, hoping that it would help Presley realize the severity of his situation and persuade him to do something about it. [49] Sherman had read in news accounts that there was to be no charge for admittance to the concerts, a donation to charity being required instead. Elvis is signed exclusively to the Colonel. In 1953 Parker bought a house in Madison, Tennessee, where Presley would visit and stay while recording. [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. 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. Following this, Neal chose not to renew his management contract with Presley, leaving Parker as the singer's sole manager. The King supposedly earned $100 million during his limelighted lifetime, which ended 10 years ago today. However, the music scene had radically changed. [56] Shortly afterward, he traveled to Memphis for Presley's funeral. [41] Selling it to RCA for $24,000 ($200,443 in 2021 dollars[11]), it was used to promote Presley's latest film, Frankie & Johnny. [56] At the funeral, he persuaded Presley's father to sign over control of Presley's career in death to him. When he was 15, Parker moved to Rotterdam, where he worked on boats. After all the money he took from Elvis???? Col. Tom Parker, the former carnival barker who helped guide Elvis Presley to stardom, died Tuesday of complications from a . [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. [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. After Parker's death in 1997, the home was used as a law . 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%. He feels exploited and fires Parker on the stage during his Las Vegas show. 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. [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. [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. Lisa Marie inherited Elvis' whole estate on her 25th birthday on February 1, 1993. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. What Tom Hanks Thinks Of His Tom Parker Role . Soon, he secured Presley a record deal with RCA Victor. [68] From then on, he continued living in Las Vegas, mostly avoiding contact with the press. He said 'Did I really?' . [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". "[60], In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, was dedicated to him. [44] He offered RCA Records the opportunity to buy Presley's entire back catalog for $5.4 million. 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? [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]. Breda, Breda Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. and he died worth only US$1,000,000. [16] Critics were very positive in their reviews of both the drama and Sands, leading to Capitol Records signing Sands within a week. 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. 26 Jun 1909. Published Jan. 22, 1997 | Updated Sep. 30, 2005. [4], In 1935, Parker married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. [37] He envisioned him as an entertainment machine, pumping out three films and soundtracks a year, until the end of the decade. [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. Although the films were profitable, Presley complained about the quality of the scripts. In the 1950s, he helped Elvis Presley become a big star. [61], As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. 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. Presley's star continued to rise as Parker signed a merchandising deal with Hank Saperstein to fully commoditize the young singer. Colonel Tom Parker was born in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands in June 1909 and passed away in January 1997. Subsequently, Parker managed the singer's successful return to live performing, with several dates set up in Las Vegas. "[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. Colonel Tom Parker was Elvis Presley's manager for more than 20 years, and was with him when he died on August 16, 1977. . Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) Place of Birth: Breda, Netherlands. Mourners recall being surprised at his wearing a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, smoking his trademark cigar, and purposely avoiding the casket. He left the estate to his father, Vernon Presley, and Lisa Marie. He is also said to have had gambling debts of up to $30 million at different times. A carnival worker by background, Parker moved into music promotion in 1938, working with one of the first popular crooners, Gene Austin, and then country music singers Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, and Tommy Sands in his early career. [50] As well as being their employer and paying their wages, he was also their main source of access to drugs for themselves. Potomac, was going to be salvaged. 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 . His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as the Netherlands, and his citizenship as American. Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. [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. 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". The 100th birthday of Colonel Parker. He also became friendly with the estate again, attending special ceremonies and events in Memphis, invited by Priscilla. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. A suit between Parker and the Presley estate was settled out of court in 1983. 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. In the 60s, Mott started showing signs of dementia, causing Parker to distance himself from her and find refuge in gambling. He married his secretary in 1990 (she'd worked for him since 1972). Colonel Tom Parkerthe title was awarded to him by Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis in 1948 for political services renderedclaimed until 1982 to have been born in West Virginia. [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%. 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. In 1980, a judge ordered an investigation into Parker's management practices, finding that Parker's management had been unethical. Much of the money went to Col. Tom Parker, the King's enigmatic, cigar . Just the opposite. [26] He had even come up with the idea to market "I Hate Elvis" badges. [60], The disputes with the Presley estate did not terminate Parker's association with Presley. Presley went on to star in "Love Me Tender," which spawned his eponymous hit single. However, that was not the case since Elvis was still under contract to Bob Neal. As a reward, Davis gave him the honorary rank of "colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia.[2][3]. Elvis Presley & Colonel Parker. [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. Nearly as legendary as his famous client was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager. [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. [33] Snow attended the signing, thinking that Elvis had signed a management contract with Jamboree Attractions, which he owned with Parker. Elvis Presley shot to stardom as a rock 'n roll legend, a legacy that still continues almost 50 years after the King's death. Cremated. 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. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? 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. [41], To make up for lack of earnings, Parker arranged for Presley's gold Cadillac to go on tour. 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. Colonel Tom Parker's House. Although Parker infrequently saw Presley over the ensuing years, he remained his manager until Presley's passing in 1977. Colonel Tom Parker was best known for being the manager of Elvis Presley. In the early 80s, an investigation was launched into Parker's management of Presley. [16], Eddy Arnold fired Parker in 1953 over Parker's growing involvement with the singer Hank Snow. [15] Over the next few years, he helped Arnold secure hit songs, television appearances, and live tours. [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. [58], Following Presley's death, Parker set up a licensing operation with Factors Etc. He was one of the most influential voices in the industry. 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. 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. 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 . But Col Thomas Andrew Parker - the all-American father figure - wasn't the first to discover Elvis. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. Parker did not appear to care if the films were good or bad but only about the profits. In reality, Nash told USA Today that Presley would "never do that." Presley apparently never knew that Parker wasn't . By Alanna Nash. [4] Priscilla and the Trust were prepared to let Parker continue to handle Presley's business affairs, and petitioned the court to that end. 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. His immigration status wasn't revealed for years. [14] With the Society in need of funds, Parker set about using his promotional experience to raise money and awareness for the shelter. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. [26] With over 78 different possibilities, from charm bracelets to record players, Presley merchandise brought in $22 million by the end of 1956. He died on Aug. 16, 1977, of a heart attack. All net worths are calculated using data drawn from public sources. In addition to its considerable value, the estate of Elvis . [44] The tours were so popular and financially successful that they determined Presley's workload for the remainder of his life and career. [15], In early 1955, Parker became aware of a young singer, Elvis Presley. Between 1969 and 1972 alone, RCA released three albums of live material. 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. He first met the future star in 1955, when Elvis was already being managed by the guitarist in his band. That's $35 million (28m) today and considerably less than what they were actually worth. In January 1958 Presley received his draft notice from the United States Army. This led Parker to insist that films be made cheaply, on a strict schedule, and with as little hassle as possible. Death. After Presley passed away, Parker established a licensing deal with Factors Etc. [12] He was a successful promoter, but he wanted to move into management.[12]. [69] In October 1990, Parker married Loanne Miller, his secretary since 1972. Parker then managed a series of highly successful tours for Presley. [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. When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. The first major artist with whom he worked was popular crooner Gene Austin. [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? "[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. He was subsequently in "Loving You," "Jailhouse Rock," and "King Creole." [4] He enlisted in the United States Army a few months later, taking the name "Tom Parker" from the same name of the officer who interviewed him, to disguise the fact he was an illegal alien. He also reportedly had as much as $30 million worth of gambling debts at various times in his life. [48], Aloha from Hawaii proved to be the last great moment in Presley's career. The 30th Anniversary of the death of Elvis' father, Vernon Presley. But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. Net Worth: $1 Million. [4] After a lifetime that saw him earn in excess of $100 million, Parker's estate was worth barely $1 million when he died. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? [52] After nearly two weeks of trading insults back and forth, Parker and Presley decided to continue to work together. Parker continued to manage the Presley estate, but he had sold the rights to Elvis's early recordings, which would have ensured a steady income. 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. 1. Col. Tom Parker, 87, a onetime carnival pitchman who shrewdly guided singer-actor Elvis Presley's career for 22 years, died here Jan. 21 after a stroke. He also lost a big chunk of Elvis's own money. [14] Parker decided against registering, possibly to prevent his previous Army record from becoming public. [26] Presley said of Parker: "I don't think I would have ever been very big if it wasn't for him. Parker made several attempts to have it stopped, but failed to do so. 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]. . Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. [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. [29], Despite this setback, Presley was still going from strength to strength. He is portrayed by Tom . [41] Frank Sinatra had married Mia Farrow in 1966, and it had produced enough publicity for Parker to sit up and take notice. [37] He allowed him to perform three live shows in 1961, all charity events, two in Memphis and one in Hawaii. 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 Tom Parker was born on 26 June 1909 in Breda, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. [67] According to interviews given by Parker to the Associated Press many years later, he and Marie were married in Tampa, Florida, during the winter of 1932,[67] but the Florida Office of Vital Statistics had no record of such a marriage any time between 1927 and 1946. In later years, Parker's influence waned, but he continued in his management role until Presley's death in 1977. Later, Davis says "He remembered me, and he said 'I told you you were going to be a star.' [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. The show, titled "Welcome Home, Elvis", was Presley's first national television appearance since The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. Elvis Was Not Nearly As Rich As You Might Guess When He Died. The 32nd Anniversary of Elvis' final concert in Indianapolis. [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". The next morning he died from complications of the stroke at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. [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. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. 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.