Colonel Tom Parker

"Colonel " Thomas Andrew Parker ( born June 26, 1909 in Breda, The Netherlands as Andreas Cornelius van Kujik, † 21 January 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada) was an American music manager, who was best known as the manager of Elvis Presley.

Career start

Parker immigrated illegally to the United States in 1929 and served first four years in the army. However, he denied for decades its Dutch origin and claimed in Huntington, West Virginia, to be born. His business in the music industry, he started as a manager in the late 1940s. He represented country music stars such as Minnie Pearl, Slim Whitman, Hank Snow and Eddy Arnold and movie stars like Tom Mix. 1948 awarded him the governor of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis the honorary title of "Colonel " because he had carried out a successful campaign for him.

Manager of Elvis Presley

Parker got Elvis Presley via its record label Sun Records know; their collaboration began when Parker booked him for "Canadian Singer Show". On August 18, 1955, Parker Presley's official manager, and in November of that year he convinced RCA Records, Presley from Sun for $ 35,000 ransom ( plus another $ 5,000 for unpaid royalties ). 1969 Parker met his second wife Loanne Miller, whom he married in 1990, however.

Tom Parker took over the business part of Elvis ' singing and acting career, however, was at no time involved in artistic matters. He received a manager 's fee of 25%. 1967, at the low point of the career of the Stars and shortly before his big comeback stage, it was agreed between Presley and his manager, a contract amendment, both of which made ​​a greater extent than previously to business partners. The contract addendum dated January 2, 1967 still provided for a 25-percent commission manager for Parker to all contractual royalties from album sales and movie contracts on all profits over these guarantees, he was involved but from now on with 50 %. Parker managed Presley until his death on 16 August 1977.

After Presley's death

After that, Parker worked as a personal advisor of Barron Hilton. Governor Bob Miller declared June 25, 1994 " Colonel Tom Parker Day" in Nevada.

Parker died on January 21, 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 87 years at a stroke.

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