Colonel Tom Parker
The Dutch-born carnival promoter who managed Elvis Presley and took a 25% cut (later 50% after 1967).
Colonel Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; on June 26, 1909 – January 21, 1997) was a Dutch talent manager and concert promoter, best known as the manager of Elvis Presley. Parker was born in the Netherlands and entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. With a background working in carnivals, Parker moved into music promotion in 1938, working with one of the first popular crooners, Gene Austin, and country music singers Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, and Tommy Sands. He also assisted Jimmie Davis' campaign to become governor of Louisiana, for which he was awarded the honorary rank of "colonel" in the Louisiana State Guard. Parker encountered Presley in 1955 and by 1956 had become his manager. With Parker's help, Presley signed a recording contract with RCA Victor, which led to a commercial breakthrough in 1956 with his sixth single "Heartbreak Hotel" and a career as one of the most commercially successful entertainers in the world. Parker initially received 25% of the income from the enterprise, later increasing to 50% after 1967, an unprecedented figure for a music manager.
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk
- Born
- 26 June 1909
- Birthplace
- Breda, Netherlands
- Died
- 21 January 1997
- Place of death
- Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
- Citizenship
- Netherlands
- Occupation
- Talent manager, concert promoter
- Years active
- 1938–1984
Lore & Background
Parker was born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909, in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands, the seventh of 11 children. His father, a former military man, worked as a deliveryman and died when Parker was 16. The boy ran away from home 17 times. After his father's death, Parker moved to Rotterdam and lived with an aunt and uncle. At 17, he expressed a desire to run away to the United States to "make his fortune," and he entered the U.S. illegally. Biographies usually mention 1927 as the year of his first attempt to emigrate. In May 1929, aged nearly 20, Parker returned to the U.S. to stay. He found work with carnivals and traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show. A few months later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army using a false identity to disguise his illegal entry. His new name, Tom Parker, is said to have been taken from the officer who interviewed him during enrollment. He served two years in the 64th Coast Artillery at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and reenlisted at Fort Barrancas, Florida. He went AWOL in Florida and was charged with desertion, punished with solitary confinement, and spent two months in a mental hospital, leading to his discharge. In 1935, he married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. During the Great Depression, they lived on as little as $1 a week.
Reader's Guide
With Parker's help, Presley signed a recording contract with RCA Victor, which led to a commercial breakthrough in 1956 with his sixth single "Heartbreak Hotel." Parker received more than half of the income from the enterprise, an unprecedented figure for a music manager. He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals and media appearances and is said to have influenced Presley's personal life, including his decision to accept military service in 1958 and his marriage to Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967. Parker encouraged Presley to make musical films, and they became the focus of his career during his commercial decline in the 1960s until his 1968 comeback and return to touring. Parker's influence waned in later years, but he continued in his management role until Presley died in 1977. The colonel was then met with several lawsuits from the Presley family accusing him of mismanagement, fraud, and exploitation whilst taking 50% commission on Elvis's earnings. Parker managed the Presley estate for the rest of his life. Having previously sold the rights to Presley's early recordings to RCA, he struggled to secure a steady income, and his financial situation worsened after he sustained significant gambling losses. Parker's final years were spent living in Las Vegas, in declining health, until his death in 1997.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Colonel Tom Parker?
Born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in the Netherlands, he illegally entered the U.S. and reinvented himself as an American carnival promoter before becoming Elvis Presley's lifelong manager.
What role did Parker play in Elvis's career?
As Elvis's personal manager and the driving force behind Elvis Presley Enterprises, Parker controlled all business decisions and negotiated contracts that secured his own massive financial gain.
How much of Elvis's money did Parker take?
Through a unique management agreement, Parker claimed more than half of Presley's earnings from records, movies, and concerts throughout their partnership.
What happened to Tom Parker after Elvis died?
Following Elvis's death in 1977, Parker continued to manage the estate for several years until legal battles with Elvis's heirs eventually stripped him of his control over the legacy.
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