At that time Parker believed Elvis to be black. [44], During a closing night performance on September 3, 1973, following news that a Hilton staff member whom Presley was fond of had been fired, Presley attacked Hilton Hotels chairman Barron Hilton in a verbal rage on stage. He . [43], It took the energetic 1968 television special Elvis, which the Singer Company sponsored, and a subsequent series of acclaimed recording sessions in Memphis, Tennessee, that included songs such as "Suspicious Minds" and "In the Ghetto", to restore Presley's musical reputation. 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. Net Worth: $1 Million; Date of Birth: Jun 26, 1909 - Jan 21, 1997 (87 years old) What is Colonel Tom Parker worth? The first major artist with whom he worked was popular crooner Gene Austin. 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 . Parker appeared to be in complete control during Presley's time away, but he was worried about the outside influence that . 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. Colonel Tom Parker died at the age of 87 years. In the 60s, Mott started showing signs of dementia, causing Parker to distance himself from her and find refuge in gambling. On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke, and died the following morning in a Las Vegas hospital. He also reportedly had as much as $30 million worth of gambling debts at various times in his life. [50] Author Alanna Nash suggests that one of the reasons Parker didn't do more is because he may have just not known how to handle the situation. In 1977, Elvis died of a heart attack at only 42. [11][10], Parker first became involved in the music industry as a music promoter in 1938, working with the popular singer Gene Austin. 21 Jan 1997 (aged 87) Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, USA. 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. Colonel Tom Parker was best known for being the manager of Elvis Presley. He also assisted Jimmie Davis' campaign to become Governor of Louisiana. [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. [53] Yet, despite Presley's eagerness to do the shows, Parker again turned them down. Tom Parker. The two had become almost strangers, and false reports in the media suggested that Presley's contract was up for sale. I wanted to punch him in the face. Tom Parker was born on 26 June 1909 in Breda, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. [55] The book was published one year later on July 12, 1977, one month before Presley's death. Colonel Tom Parker's House. How Colonel Tom Parker built his net worth. [15] RCA Victor, Hank Snow's current label, also showed an interest, but they were put off by the cost of the contract. [45], By 1972, Parker had managed to increase Presley's weekly wage in Las Vegas to $150,000 ($971,718 in 2021 dollars[11]), and secured $50,000 a year ($323,906 in 2021 dollars[11]) for himself as a "consultant to the hotel chain". However, he also continued to blow his fortune on his gambling addiction and he died heavily in debt. [4] During his first visit there, he traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show, before returning briefly to the 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. I said, 'Yeah, you rubbed my head.' [19][20] Part of Parker's role was to secure a new recording contract with a bigger label. A symbiotic relationship," Hanks added. Col. Tom Parker dies. Colonel Tom Parker was best known as Elvis Presley 's manager. Nor did he ever suggest onstage that he knew of the colonel's immigration issues. Let's find out. He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in films. Mourners recall being surprised at his wearing a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, smoking his trademark cigar, and purposely avoiding the casket. Following an investigation in the early 80s, a judge ruled that Parker's management of Presley had been unethical. He was mysterious and colorful, and, under his guidance, his one and only client -- Elvis -- reached unimaginable heights. Published Jan. 22, 1997 | Updated Sep. 30, 2005. [15] However, Parker remained involved in many of Arnold's live tours and demanded a buyout of $50,000 (US$506,405 in 2021 dollars[11]) to settle their contract. In 1953 Parker bought a house in Madison, Tennessee, where Presley would visit and stay while recording. [65] Unbeknown to Parker at the time, she had a second son from her first marriage, but had given him up for adoption at birth due to his disability (a club foot). 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. After the Sinatra special, Parker decided that Presley's future lay in Hollywood. When he was 15, Parker moved to Rotterdam, where he worked on boats. Colonel Tom Parker acted as Presley's promoter and, then manager and promoter, for most of his career. Parker began 1956 intending to bring his new star to the national stage. [29], Despite this setback, Presley was still going from strength to strength. But Col Thomas Andrew Parker - the all-American father figure - wasn't the first to discover Elvis. [15] As Presley was still a minor, his parents had to sign the contract with Parker on his behalf. Elvis was given a spot in the Louisiana Hayride, a radio show, and Colonel Parker knew that this young lad could prove to be a dark horse. . [26] Presley said of Parker: "I don't think I would have ever been very big if it wasn't for him. 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. [55] Worried about the impact such details might have on his career, Presley, through his father, asked Parker to stop the publication. [65], Others, however, had doubts about whether they were legally married at all. 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. [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. [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. [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. 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. Later, in 1983, Parker admitted during an interview that after 1966, the income from Presley films and soundtracks was dramatically reduced. "That didn't come out in this country until 1981." The Colonel was involved in Elvis' music career from very early on. Little, Brown. Additional Crew: Spinout. "[60], In 1994, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California, was dedicated to him. He subsequently performed at three charity events, and then suspended his live performing until 1968. The pair worked together at carnivals early on before Parker's career in management took off. The next morning he died from complications of the stroke at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. In 1973, Colonel Parker sold the master tapes for 700 of Presley's songs to RCA for $5.4 million. Colonel Tom Parker died on January 21, 1997 at the age of 87. [15] The rank was honorary, since Louisiana had no organized militia, but Parker used the title throughout his life, becoming known simply as "the Colonel" to many acquaintances. [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. ", "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. [13] Within a year, he had the opportunity to become a legal citizen of the United States a new law allowed illegal aliens the chance to become citizens in return for their promise to fight for the country during World War II, if required. [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. A suit between Parker and the Presley estate was settled out of court in 1983. 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. What was his net worth in 2022? He also became friendly with the estate again, attending special ceremonies and events in Memphis, invited by Priscilla. Compare Colonel Tom Parker's Net Worth. There, he worked at carnivals. [53] Despite this, however, the deal never materialized. [44] At the time, Presley's back catalog was not considered very important and RCA initially calculated it at being worth much less, but in later years it would become one of the most valuable record catalogs in the music business. [12] He was a successful promoter, but he wanted to move into management.[12]. Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth : $1 Million. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. Parker did not appear to care if the films were good or bad but only about the profits. "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. 26 Jun 1909. By his final public appearances in 1994, Parker was suffering from a number of health problems such as gout and diabetes. [52], Although many around Presley were worried about his worsening drug dependency, Parker appeared to ignore the problem. What Tom Hanks Thinks Of His Tom Parker Role . What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? During this time, Parker also served as a field agent for the Hillsborough County Humane Society, helping to raise funds and awareness for its work. Subsequently, Parker managed the singer's successful return to live performing, with several dates set up in Las Vegas. . 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. 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' [52] Angered by this outburst, Parker declared: "You can't fire me. Just the opposite. Following this, Presley's career declined drastically as he became increasingly reliant on prescription drugs. Later, in 1990, Parker married his longtime secretary Loanne Miller. No, Elvis didn't fire the Colonel from the stage at Las Vegas in real life. [4][5] Parker's final years were spent living in Las Vegas, in increasingly poor health before his death in 1997. Stick around for t. He died on 21 January 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. [44] He offered RCA Records the opportunity to buy Presley's entire back catalog for $5.4 million. He died on Aug. 16, 1977, of a heart attack. [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. Having previously sold the rights to Presley's early recordings to RCA Records, he struggled to secure a steady income, and his financial situation worsened after he sustained significant gambling losses. The opposing counsel responded by presenting into evidence a copy of Parker's U.S. Army enlistment form which stated, through a legal loophole, that because Parker signed his enlistment papers under his alias "Thomas Andrew Parker" and once he took the oath by swearing allegiance to the United States of America, he unofficially renounced his Dutch citizenship, although it is claimed that he died a Dutch citizen. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. [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. [14] Parker decided against registering, possibly to prevent his previous Army record from becoming public. The show, titled "Welcome Home, Elvis", was Presley's first national television appearance since The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. [61], As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. [55] As with all the talk about Presley touring overseas, Parker never followed through with the deal. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! For two years he served in the 64th Coast Artillery at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. [68] From then on, he continued living in Las Vegas, mostly avoiding contact with the press. [15] However, RCA Victor producer Steve Sholes was convinced that Presley's style of music would be a huge hit with the right label, and he began talks with Parker. Parker had unknowingly backed himself into a financial corner. 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 ). He also influenced his decisions to join the military and marry Priscilla, among other . [60] However, he did occasionally bother them by criticizing some decisions. He is also said to have had gambling debts of up to $30 million at different times. 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. Their instincts were proven right; the TV special proved an enormous hit, and the album that was released featuring performances from the special became a best-seller, but the comeback special was interrupted when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968. What was Colonel Tom Parker worth when he died? 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. . Colonel Tom Parker passed away on January 21, 1997 at 87 years old.Colonel Tom Parker Net Worth. [72], His funeral was held at the Hilton Hotel and was attended by a handful of friends and former associates, including Eddy Arnold and Sam Phillips. Luhrmann hasn't really . . Colonel Tom Parker Net in death: Despite earning more than $ 100 million during his lifetime, at the time of his death Colonel Tom Parker was worth less than $ 1 million. Soon, he secured Presley a record deal with RCA Victor. [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. [52] Parker was furious, and he stormed into Presley's dressing room after the show to confront him. He became Presley's manager in 1955 just as . "[42] Parker used the argument that Presley was his only client and he was thus earning only one fee.[42]. [4] It is believed that Parker lost at least $1 million a year from gambling. [50] Presley's main doctor, George C. Nichopoulos, would often replace Presley's medication with placebos in an attempt to wean him off the drugs. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. [33] He had arranged for Presley to record five singles before his induction,[35] guaranteeing RCA Victor enough material to release over a two-year period. [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. Parker made several attempts to have it stopped, but failed to do so.