Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutch-American talent manager and musical entrepreneur who had a net worth of $1 million at the time of his death in 1997. [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. [43] A breakfast reception was arranged, taking place after the media got their photographs of the couple. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. The pair worked together at carnivals early on before Parker's career in management took off. [72] By this point, he was stricken with diabetes, gout, and other health problems such that he could barely leave his own house. June 30, 2022. He died on Aug. 16, 1977, of a heart attack. 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". At the time, many people predicted that he would have a long and lucrative 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. to control the singer's merchandise. [67] Author Alanna Nash has suggested that the couple may have simply placed their hands on a Bible and given themselves a "carny wedding".[67]. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. Their's was probably the most unique artist-manager relationship ever in show business, clearly one of the most successful. Hanks said, "I was anticipating hearing horror stories about this venal, cheap crook. [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. [46] Parker had also decided that it was time for Presley to return to New York, and had arranged for him to perform at Madison Square Garden in June. . 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. Tom Parker. [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. p. 258. 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. [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. [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. According to Alanna Nash, who wrote The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley . Tom discovered Elvis in 1955 when he was 20, but their partnership wasn't . Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. [6] He was the son of Maria Elisabeth (Ponsie) and Adam van Kuijk. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. [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. Parker had unknowingly backed himself into a financial corner. [57], Parker set out to protect his future income. [23] Later, when Hank Snow asked Parker about the status of their contract with Presley, Parker told him: "You don't have any contract with Elvis Presley. [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. Returning to music, he began managing such singers as Eddy Arnold and Tommy Sands. 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. [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. Just the opposite. Parker's net worth was estimated to be $50 million as of 1977. He completed basic training at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]. "[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. He also worked to maintain Presley's estate, which was estimated to have cost around $500,000 a year in upkeep. Additional Crew: Spinout. However, other friends and members of Presley's entourage have stood by the suggestion that Parker didn't want to admit there was such a problem because he didn't know how to deal with it, and he was also worried about any negative publicity it would create. "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. Elvis Presley & Colonel Parker. Stick around for t. [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. [54] Vernon also threatened to find a new manager if Parker wouldn't continue to tour Presley. Parker's main role during these tours was to plan the logistics and make sure tickets were sold. [14] With the Society in need of funds, Parker set about using his promotional experience to raise money and awareness for the shelter. 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%. At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. At the time of his death in 1997, he was worth $1 million. 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. [49] The album was released simultaneously around the world, and went to number 1 on the US charts, the first Presley album to do so since the Roustabout soundtrack, in 1964. Parker did not appear to care if the films were good or bad but only about the profits. [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. By 1984, with his gambling debts reportedly rising again, he was evicted. After a heated argument between the two, Presley told Parker he was fired. ELVIS PRESLEY's ex-wife Priscilla Presley vehemently defended The King's manager Colonel Tom Parker to Elvis movie's Tom Hanks, shutting down rumours he was 'an evil puppet master like Rasputin'. [48], Aloha from Hawaii proved to be the last great moment in Presley's career. But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. You're going to be a star.'"[71]. Parker enlisted in the US Army shortly after his return to America. 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. [53] Parker, who had always dealt with Presley's film contracts and viewed the offer as a starting bid to earning more money, instead asked for a salary $1 million ($5,035,869 in 2021 dollars[11]), 50% of the profits, plus another $100,000 ($503,587 in 2021 dollars[11]) for expenses, and spoke of needing to arrange details of a soundtrack deal. In 1953 Parker bought a house in Madison, Tennessee, where Presley would visit and stay while recording. Many Parker biographers, including Dirk Vellenga and Alanna Nash, have stated that Parker's gambling habit began to get out of control in the mid-1960s. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. A few actors have tackled Parker on screen, most notably Beau Bridges in 1993s "Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story" and Randy Quaid in the 2005 miniseries "Elvis." In the 1950s, he helped Elvis Presley become a big star. [53] Hulett's company had managed tours for Presley, and he had worked with artists such as Led Zeppelin. Colonel Tom Parker died at the age of 87 years. [68] Parker began to distance himself emotionally from her, heartbroken by her slow mental deterioration from the woman he once knew. Breda, Breda Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. The Wanted singer Tom Parker has died from a brain tumour at the age of 33. Colonel Tom Parker was Elvis Presley's manager for more than 20 years, and was with him when he died on August 16, 1977. . The world's music and pop culture changed forever when the greatest performer of them all joined . [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. [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. Burial. Stories appeared in the press regularly about Presley, including that he would do a live CCTV broadcast when he returned and that he had signed a deal for a series of annual television spectaculars to be broadcast across the country. "[27][28], Parker signed a deal with Beverly Hills film merchandiser Hank Saperstein for nearly $40,000 to turn Presley into a brand name. Answer (1 of 2): In addition to what is noted in the other answer, he had legal disputes with the Presley estate but ultimately continued to earn money from Elvis's legacy. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) Place of Birth: Breda, Netherlands. Blues," "Wild in the Country," "Blue Hawaii," "Viva Las Vegas," "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," "Clambake," and "Change of Habit." At the time of Elvis' death, he was worth just $5 million, a relatively-modest amount considering his enormous level of success and fame. 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. Colonel Tom Parker made more than $100 million in his lifetime, but when he died, he was reportedly worth less than $1 million. Parker was able to receive more than half of the income from the enterprise, an unprecedented figure for a music manager. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? [52] Angered by this outburst, Parker declared: "You can't fire me. Following this, he entered the music industry as a music promoter. Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. [16] Remembering his previous experience with Sands, Sholes dismissed Sands as a viable replacement for Presley.[16]. Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. What was his net worth in 2022? Later, in 1983, Parker admitted during an interview that after 1966, the income from Presley films and soundtracks was dramatically reduced. 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. 4. . [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. 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. [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. [18] A one-year management contract with Presley provided Moore with a 10-percent commission, which Moore said he never took. After Parker's death in 1997, the home was used as a law . His films still made money and his albums still sold well, but the profits were falling. Net Worth: $1 Million; Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) What is Colonel Tom Parker worth? [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". [citation needed] After a cold reception during his first few shows,[30] Parker cut Presley's appearance to two weeks. [35] He sent Presley's friends to keep him company, arranged for business associates to watch over him while they were working in Europe, and kept in regular contact with him. [16] He arranged live appearances and became something of a father figure to the then-15-year-old Sands. 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. Mott passed away in late 1986 at the age of 78. [55] Although Parker publicly denied these claims, he had been in talks with Peter Grant, the manager of Led Zeppelin, about the possibility of him overseeing a European tour for Presley. [29] While Presley was a hit among the youth of America, the middle-aged audiences found him an oddity. [29], Despite this setback, Presley was still going from strength to strength. The document that was signed on November 21 pertained to the record label transfer. By the time Elvis died, the "Can't Help Falling In Love" singer's estate was in poor condition with only about $5 million. [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. Parker hoped that marriage would not only boost Presley's career but also possibly tame him. Picture: Getty Parker managed the Presley estate for the rest of his life, but he had also sold the rights to Presley's early recordings. Nor did he ever suggest onstage that he knew of the colonel's immigration issues. Although the films were profitable, Presley complained about the quality of the scripts. For his part, Parker himself died with a net worth of $1 million, or roughly . By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. [4], In The Colonel, her 2003 biography of Parker, Alanna Nash wrote that Parker may have been a suspect or a person of interest in an unsolved murder case in Breda. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too . [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. He became Presley's manager in 1955 just as . [4] Fans and biographers alike believe that one of the main reasons Parker signed Presley to a Vegas hotel in 1969 for his live comeback was to help cover losses he experienced in their casino. [15], A young singer, Tommy Sands, caught Parker's eye in 1952, and Parker immediately set about promoting him. How Colonel Tom Parker built his net worth. Presley's career stagnated while artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys dominated the charts. [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. For all intents and purposes, this should have made Elvis Presley a very wealthy man, yet when he passed away in 1977, the King was down to his last $1million and prior to his death The Colonel . He left the estate to his father, Vernon Presley, and Lisa Marie. [5] Parker countersued. 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. By this time, Parker was aware that Presley needed a rest from touring and the chance to deal with his prescription drug addictions. Net Worth: $1 Million; Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) What happened to Tom Parker after Elvis died? Into his late 80s, Colonel Tom Parker began to struggle with various illnesses including diabetes and gout. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. Parker then returned to the Netherlands before going back to the US when he was 19, again illegally. 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. Tom Hanks describes the larger-than-life character he portrays in the new Baz Luhrmann film, "Elvis," which opens in theaters next Friday. [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. [50] In later years, several of Presley's inner circle would tell of how difficult it was to persuade Presley to quit the drugs. [5] The case against Parker was settled out of court in 1983, with the estate paying him $2 million ($5,441,363 in 2021 dollars[11])[5] in exchange for all Presley audio recordings or visual images that he owned[4] and the termination of his involvement in any Presley related earnings for five years. [53] First Artists, not used to such huge demands, didn't put forward a counter-offer and decided instead to offer the role, along with the original salary offer, to Kris Kristofferson, who accepted. Frank Sinatra, who had declared Presley a rock and roll disgrace in the 1950s, was keen to have him appear on his show. [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". 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. 26 Jun 1909. Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's manager from 1955 to his death in 1977, earned an estimated $50 million from the singer's estate. Part biography, part murder mystery and perhaps the most thoroughly researched . Tom Parker had a net worth of $8 million at the time of his death. There, he worked at carnivals. [52], Although many around Presley were worried about his worsening drug dependency, Parker appeared to ignore the problem. A symbiotic relationship," Hanks added. Despite the shady financial dealings Parker maintained with Presley, his net worth when he died was much less than that of Elvis, who died with a net worth of $5 million - around $20 million when adjusted for inflation. "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. Parker believed that serving in the Army would help cure Presley of his increasing waywardness and convinced him to follow through with his draft as a normal citizen. He then re-enlisted at Fort Barrancas in Florida. He facilitated Presley's rise to superstardom in the 50s, and also influenced his decisions to accept his military draft and to marry his wife Priscilla, among other things. [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. 21 Jan 1997 (aged 87) Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, USA. He married his secretary in 1990 (she'd worked for him since 1972). Nearly as legendary as his famous client was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager. Phillips told them to make a separate deal with Elvis. He wasn't a colonel and he wasn't even born in America. [46], On July 8, 1972, inspired by the visit of President Richard Nixon to China a few months earlier,[47] Parker announced that there would be a worldwide satellite broadcast from Hawaii to allow the whole world the chance to see a Presley concert, "since it is impossible for us to play in every major city". He was 87. [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. He arranged for a screen test with Paramount Pictures, and after impressing them with Presley's acting ability, Presley was signed to a seven-picture contract. 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. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. But he had less than $750,000 in his savings account when he died, and his estate was valued at less than $10 million. [55] Worried about the impact such details might have on his career, Presley, through his father, asked Parker to stop the publication. [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. Alanna Nash's biography of Parker, The Colonel, claims he may have been trying to avoid passport scrutiny because he might have been a suspect in a murder in Breda. He said 'Did I really?' He suggested to Parker that, as Presley had recorded and was still performing the song "I'll Remember You" written by Kui Lee, the donations could go to the Kui Lee Cancer Fund that had been set up following the death of the songwriter in 1966. However, the music scene had radically changed. "Every entertainer should go to bed at night and pray he . No, Elvis didn't fire the Colonel from the stage at Las Vegas in real life. Despite earning over $100 million during his lifetime, at the time of his death Colonel Tom Parker was reportedly worth less than $1 million. 'Life with you was never dull' More on The Wanted when Elvis died, he was only worth $5 . 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. 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. [4] After a lifetime that saw him earn in excess of $100 million, Parker's estate was worth barely $1 million when he died. [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. 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? [60] However, he did occasionally bother them by criticizing some decisions. 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.
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