I am the man who gave the world Elvis Presley. Also known as. : Parkers wily ways protected the young star and helped create a mystique. [chuckles; stands up in front of Elvis] Is the portrayal of the 68 comeback special accurate, with Parker trying desperately to keep it a Christmas special, and resisting the rock n roll throwback elements that everyone loved, because he was kowtowing to a deeply upset TV network? 'Elvis' Fact or Fiction: Colonel Tom Parker Biographer on What's Real But Baz wanted to make him seem more other. Or as Baz told me in an interview, I thought it was very important that Tom present the audience with a strangeness, a sort of What is going on with this guy?. : Previously a carnival worker, Parker moved into music promotion in 1938, where he worked with popular crooners Gene Austin, and then country singers Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, and Tommy Sands. His records were played almost exclusively on country stations. [the Colonel has arrived backstage in a hurry]. Jimmie later went to Graceland in 1958 to talk to him about how he had given up drinking and doing pills on the road and had turned his life over to Jesus. But once Elvis was onstage, controlling the music, he did what he wanted. Colonel Tom Parker Yes and no. I get it. : Oh, you're beautiful. Some historians have had doubts as to whether they were legally married at all. Colonel Parker enters]. You're like a like a father to me. Aged 15, Van Kuijk moved to Rotterdam, and two years later he began wanting to run away to the United States to "make his fortune". : Well, we took the Hollywood phonies for every nickel they had and now it is time to pack up our tents and move on to even greener pastures. I would say it was in his spiritual DNA, as he grew up with Black playmates and heard that music all around him. YOU'RE FIRED! Parker had heard about Presley through his associate Oscar Davis and had seen his show on the Louisiana Hayride on January 15, 1955, but they didnt meet. Colonel knew what Elvis was doing and going to do. up to the suite after the shows. Mysterious Early Life Colonel Tom Parker was born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909, in Breda, Netherlands. Parker discovered the then-unknown Elvis Presley in 1955. Elvis Presley | Colonel Tom Parker We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. [to Jerry] Nash met him three times as she researched her book, entitled The Colonel. She also traced his family roots. Since the day he was born, she had feared losing her second son. For those of you who are wondering who this fella here is, I am the legendary Colonel Tom Parker. The Colonel is a complicated character, and while he always took too much of Presleys money, he made some very sound decisions for him. My guess is that, if Elvis had been Black, he wouldnt have been as interested, because it would have been harder to take him to a larger audience, especially in the segregated South, which was Parkers stronghold from his days on the carnival circuit. Elvis bombed during his first Las Vegas appearance in 1956 but The Colonel knew they would return. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Colonel Tom Parker was a musical entrepreneur who was the manager of Elvis Presley. But then Colonel cheated Hank out of half of Elvis and that was that. : [Still crying, Elvis embraces Colonel Parker]. : Elvis bombed during his first Las Vegas appearance in 1956 but The Colonel knew they would return. Colonel Tom Parker No, Luhrmann has really framed this through a present-day lens. If youre looking for fun activities to keep children occupied, invest in a few outdoor games. He was the seventh of 11 children. But I could see in that girl's eyes, he was a taste of forbidden fruit. Old timers who came to the Elvis shows on opening night would remember The Colonel walked in through the lobby of the International, and later the Hilton, with a change apron on, selling Elvis albums out from under his arm.. and B.B. Yes. It it needs a voice right now to help it heal. Yeah. It got so bad The Colonel wouldnt even leave his room, theyd take a roulette wheel up to his room.. To the world, he was born Thomas Andrew Parker in Huntingdon, West Virginia. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. First of all, when Colonel Parker enlisted in the U.S. Army, he declared himself a Dutch citizen, with parents born in Holland. I'm sorry, sir. He had become very sick with diabetes, gout, and other health problems, and barely left his house. June 24, 2022 Michael Ochs Archives/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Viewers who are more familiar with Elvis Presley's music than his life story might be surprised by the prominence Colonel. Hank Snow The Black-white divide didnt mean much to the Presleys. Now you go and you stand by your papa. Elvis would never have been so crass as to have fired Colonel from the stage. And Las Vegas. Vernon needed something to do, and he was always willing to take money under the table, and Parker saw how malleable he was, and would have suggested Vernon be the so-called business manager. She could have eaten him alive! Security, security, security! Anything else to say about the Parker characterization? And he continued to go see Black performers, such as Jackie Wilson, throughout his life. He brought about 100,000 people into that town twice a year. When Parker began to take part officially in Elvis' career, Elvis was just a country-western singer. Parker was supposed to have had a close working relationship with Hank Snow, but when he finally signed Elvis to a contract, Parker did not include Snow in the deal. But the joke was on Elvis: A swarm of screaming girls chased him all the way to his car and literally ripped most of his clothes off his body. But that gets telescoped in the movie. : You comfort him. Eddy Arnold, whom Parker had built into a household name, had fired him as his manager over failing to honor their exclusive contract, though Parker continued to book him. He wanted Elvis to go not to Special Services, where the army was happy to put him, but to serve his time as any other soldier. The Colonel was now looking for the next big thing. Did the Colonel live out his later years being sickly in casinos, as portrayed in the movies framing device? Backstage, he and King had a photo made. Published Jul 4, 2022 Baz Luhrmann's biopic sees Tom Hanks play Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parkeran eccentric prankster that calls himself "The Snowman." Here's why. Though he claimed he was born in Huntington, West Virginia, his actual identity was uncovered when relatives spotted him in a photo with Presley. So, I'm caught in a trap / I can't get out / 'Cause Colonel's got some big debts, baby! Tragedy, but it has nothing to do with us. But this is Lurhmann telling us Elvis didnt steal Black music, as he has been accused of doing, but performed it in homage. Within months, Parker had won Elvis a recording contract with RCA Victor. "I Hate Elvis". While he was younger, he traveled in carnivals and also served some time in the US Army before starting work as a music promoter in the 1950s which is when he met Elvis. And appliance salesman. Elvis Presley Elvis: Colonel Tom Parker Really Was That Bad | Den of Geek No matter what happens, you stay with me through thick and thin, okay? Colonel Tom Parker : Even Vernon. [begins babbling nonsensically, grabs another microphone from a band member]. Cartoonish. Colonel Tom Parker [gently] Parker's wily ways protected the young star and helped create a mystique. He also helped Jimmie Davis's campaign to become Governor of Louisiana. He needs your help. Parker initially signed on as "special adviser," and his duties were to "assist in any way possible the buildup of Elvis Presley as an artist." Parker would reportedly hire people to pull the arms of slot machines for him, and while parker gambled his client was deteriorating. By the 1950s, when he first saw the explosive talent of a young Elvis Presley, the machiavellian manager had given himself a new name and military rank. [Parker and Elvis look up in surprise and find that written on a button Gladys is holding]. Are you ready to fly? I am you. By the 1950s, when he first saw the explosive talent of a young Elvis Presley, the machiavellian manager had given himself a new name and military rank. Remember, he entered a talent contest as a child singing Old Shep warbling about dead dogs is about as country as it gets. We have to say something. We are two odd, lonely children reaching for eternity. Elvis kind of liked Jimmie. : It's just business. Snow had a big ego and resented the fact that Elvis quickly became the draw on his shows, not Snow. hologram show: "I'd pay. : That's right, even your own daddy has looked after himself before he's looked after you. Marco della Cava USA TODAY 0:04 2:04 Spoiler alert! In that moment, I watched that skinny boy transform into a superhero.