Elvis Presley: RARE look at songs in King's record collection - VIDEO, Elvis Presley expert on TRAGIC truth about friendship with Tom Jones, Elvis Presley and Colonel Parker had a complex relationship over the years, Elvis Presley's manager Colonel Parker is widely reported to have taken a 50 per cent cut of his earnings. When youre surrounded by Yes men that tell you how good you are, all of a sudden reality escapes, he added. After seeing the final recording, Parker accepted that Binders plan had been the right one, but for years he refused to admit it in public. So I saw a different sort of Colonel Parker from how many people possibly believed he behaved. All rights reserved. That harmed his public image and his music. Released as a 3-CD 5" digi-pak, this set features three 1974 concerts recorded via soundboard at The Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas on January 28, 29 Midnight and February 1 . You never saw it coming. Other beneficiaries of Elvis Presleys estate include certain family members and employees. Either way, what had been meant as the robbery of an empty store had gone wrong, and, in a sudden burst of fear and temper, the Colonel had lashed out and killed a woman without meaning to. Though rumors and allegations of Colonel Parker taking advantage of Elvis money have been circulating for years, no evidence has been found to suggest that he stole any money from the King of Rock n Roll. 2 million from his investments, bringing the grand total to over $28 million. Answer (1 of 4): The show must go on. For the most part, these details did not emerge until the 1980s, years after Presleys death and well into the Colonels semi-retirement (he eventually died in 1997). Circa 1985. How much money did Colonel Parker make off Elvis? The musical interference was worse than any of Parkers usurious paperwork. My mother-in-law said to me, if anything comes to light about this Parker, tell them that his name is Van Kuijk and that he murdered the wife of a greengrocer on the Bochstraat. 2 million in modern currency. By the 1960s, Parker could have placed a phone call directly to Lyndon Johnson to smooth out any problems with his naturalization. Simultaneously, Parker had decided for many years to cut costs for his client by preventing Elvis from embarking on concert tours or mass contact with his fans. When the band faced death threats after the 1966 bigger than Jesus controversy, his first reaction was to cancel their American tour and take it out of his own money. It's unclear how. 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Supposing Parker had that $100 million in 1977 when Elvis died, he'd have had a $270 million net worth when he died two decades later, per Dollar Times. In general, fans of the icon think that Colonel Parker never let Elvis fully shine. Elvis Presley immediately began his career as a great rock star and Parker soon realized that Elviss personal charisma and stage dominance led him to a new mass media, television. But when they did they seemed to explain why, throughout his life, Parker had taken such enormous care to keep his past hiddenwhy he had settled a lawsuit with Elvis record company when it became clear that he would have to face cross-examination under oath, and why, far from resorting to the sort of tax-avoidance schemes that managers typically offered to their clients, he had always let the IRS calculate his taxes. Did Colonel Parker ruin Elvis career? Mike Dash is a contributing writer in history for Smithsonian.com. He and I got into some violent, violent fights.. press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, Elvis tone down the sexual innuendo in his cover, How the Elvis 68 Comeback Special Happened Despite Colonel Parker, Elvis Presleys 68 Comeback Special Revealed a Past Sin, The Beatles and India Doc Captures More Than One Spiritual Journey, The Beatles: A Hard Days Night is Still The Greatest Jukebox Movie Ever Made, Shazam! While it is believed that he made over $100 million dollars during his time with Elvis, he was rumored to only be worth a million dollars when he died, and at one point, had gambling debts in excess of $ Continue Reading More answers below Jon Kluczkowski Read, dozens of books on Elvis, and Van Kujik. Did Elvis make a lot of money in his movies? He made about $200 million during his professional career and was said to be the highest-paid performer of the 20th century. Elvis Presleys daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited his entire estate. She and her mother, Priscilla Presley, jointly inherited their fathers estate when he passed away in 1977 and continue to share ownership of the property today. The concert was held in January 1973 under the name of Aloha from Hawaii and was the last great musical success for Elvis Presley, although the main drawback of the television special was the time difference between Hawaii and the cities on the east coast of the USA. He was 87. 3. These could be called animal cruelty shows. Elvis Presley died suddenly at Graceland on August 16, 1977, and Parker tried to continue managing his estate, although he failed due to legal conflicts with the administrators of the artists estate and against Priscilla Presley, ex-wife of the singer and mother of Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter and heiress of Elvis. No. Advertising Notice Originally a 13. Tom Hanks plays the bad guy in Baz Luhrmanns Elvis, but what the real historical Colonel Tom Parker did to Presley was heinous. Elvis Presley himself chose to give Colonel Parker a large portion of his earnings. Gentlemen, it began. Certainly, in 1957, Elvis had given a concert in Canada (his only appearance abroad), but this was possible because Parker did not need to present an American passport there. Walking down the hall, the Colonel hits up the Singer rep for a free machine for Priscilla: Mrs. A "colonel" in honorary terms only, he was a shrewd, showman-like figure who learned how to sell an act by working for carnivals; he often referred to Presley as "my attraction." He understood. In California, between Barstow and Bakersfield, there were billboards every hundred yards, See the Thing! Elvis: Thats The Way It Is is re-released in cinemas August 13 and celebrates 85 years of the King and 50 years since the films original release. Anna van den Enden, a 23-year-old newlywed, had been battered to death in the living quarters behind her storea greengrocers on the Bochstraat. Kleins reputation has been overshadowed as the man who drove the Rolling Stones into exile, and broke up the Beatles, but he didnt curb the musical enthusiasm. In 2018, it was estimated that his estate is worth $400 million. No, the Colonel did not steal Elvis money. Ill Let the Chips Fall Where They May: The Life and Confessions of Mob Chef David Ruggerio. How often should I get my ears professionally cleaned. He went with Parker to meet Elvis mother, Gladys (Helen Thomson in the movie), to get her approval of the contract, which was presented as including Snows Jamboree Attractions. Graceland is the former home of Elvis Presley, located in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the success I always wanted.. Alanna Nash has written four books about Elvis, including The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley. Hed just snap. Is it better to be in the eye of a hurricane? Parker noted that Elvis presence in various films was a sure source of income for many years, until the public began to react unfavorably. There are some extraordinary, tabloidy, melodramatic stories about why and how he left Holland. On August 18, 1955, Parker signed a contract with Elvis Presley to be his official representative and manager, a date in which Presley was a promising singer of the new rhythm called rock and roll, but without being a real musical star. Parker routinely did this during his days with the carnivals. In many cases, he stopped Elvis from touring and even kept him from working in blockbuster films. feather in the cap of his only client: Elvis Presley. You live in this bubble and youre almost frightened to escape from it because you think things will go wrong. Indeed, Parker's brief military career had ended in ignominy. Before Smithsonian.com, Dash authored the award-winning blog A Blast From the Past. Loanne, wheres that picture?. Business as usual. The Elvis Presley Fan Club president said it was easy for people to claim Colonel Parker had taken 50 per cent of Elvis earnings, as it was easy to say he had his arm up Elvis back to make him perform. But as Beyer would soon realize, Finchs past wasnt what she claimedand Beyers own difficult history was up for the taking. A four-footed one?, I should say not. Managerial fees are usually in the 15 percent range. To achieve this, Parker spread news about Elviss activities, messages to his fans, superficial stories (such as the one about the haircut the artist had to undergo in his garrison), or totally false advertisements (such as the offer for Elvis to have his own television show upon his return). After Elvis death, an investigation concluded that Parkers management deal of 50% was extortionate compared to the usual average of 1520%, as well as that Parkers handling of Presleys business affairs during his lifetime was unethical and mishandled. In those fits of rage, he was a very dangerous man, and he certainly appeared capable of killing. Elvis abandoned the presentations to dedicate himself to acting. Dineke Dekkers. Parker suffered a stroke on Jan. 20, 1997 and died the next morning at a hospital in Las Vegas. In 1982, Priscilla inherited Graceland as part of the settlement with Elvis estate. Elvis in a movie still, circa 1957 Photo by Michael Ochs . He entered America illegally by jumping ship and traveling with a tent show before returning to the Netherlands. Due to the current situation with the coronavirus outbreak, its not yet known when tickets will go on sale. Because of this fact, Parker convinced Elvis that a concert abroad would be risky for personal safety reasons, and that outside the US he would not find suitable settings for a star of his fame. He has a Ph.D. and speaks five languages. People forget that! He missed them, but didnt want to foist his troubles off on them. When in January 1960 Elvis finished his military service and returned from Germany, Parker had prepared a special television program on ABC to welcome him; the show was entitled Welcome Home Elvis and featured the participation of Frank Sinatra, with Parker seeing to it that Sinatra was paid much less than Elvis, in retaliation for Sinatras earlier views against rock and roll. Sure, he was out of touch with the times by then, and didnt see the Phoenix-like potential of what the special could do for his attraction, as he called Elvis. Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley had a prenuptial agreement in place when they got married in 1967. Parkers shows brought in big crowds, but he got screwed by management when it came time to pay out. The author with the real Colonel Tom Parker, in 1992. Very handsome, I lied. The result was a show titled Elvis, taped at the NBC studios. By reorganizing and extending Elviss tours, he not only made the singer more money but was able to keep the king of rock and roll an integral part of American culture. Elvis had paid $55,000 for the thing, but the Colonel, snowman to the core, apparently had only had one side of the old yacht paintedthe side that faced the dock. Gladys didnt trust Parker but agreed to advise Elvis to sign because she thought he was also signing with Snow. He sat there so engrossed that he never moved, though God knows how many times hed seen it. Mike Dash Nor had he ever been naturalized as an American. Although border-crossing formalities were minimal then, the Colonel did not accompany him. That's amazing for anyone let alone a smoker and someone who was borderline obese. He was a carny to the last, even if for one second, unlike with FDRs old Potomac, he had presented the side he never wanted to show. It is a deal that severed the Presley estate from the . He had a catalog of over 600 songs and released over 100 albums throughout his career. The Foundation is funded by royalties from Elviss music and proceeds from licensing agreements. 5 million, which would be almost $45. At first, all Vellengas inquiries turned up was old tales from the Van Kuijk family, who still remembered how their Dries had been the family storyteller and liked to dress as a dandy. Thats why he does not want to be known. In 1968, he was asked in an interview if it was true that he took fifty percent of everything Elvis earned. By 1966 it seemed clear that Parkers business scheme, based on exploiting Elviss presence in Hollywood, was coming to an end. Express. Far from being born in West Virginia, Tom Parker was in fact a native of the city of Breda, in the southern part of the Netherlands. One sign of Parkers influence was to convince Elvis to accept the military service to which he was enrolled in January 1958 by the United States Army, alleging that it would be in Presleys career to show himself as an ordinary man and avoid special treatment. But, even so, he was always anxious to ensure that attention never settled for very long on two vexed questions: exactly who he was and where he came from. Colonel Tom Parker was Elvis Presley's manager for more than 20 years, and was with him when he died on August 16, 1977. It works when he issues a rejoinder to Hank Snow, who objects to Elviss wiggling, but his funniest line is almost lost in the hustle and bustle of the filming of Elviss 68 comeback special, sponsored by the Singer sewing machine company. The carnies job is to bring people to the glittering lights on the outside of town, promise them something theyve never experienced before, and then almost giving it to them, at a cost, Hanks told The New York Post. Parker signed a contract with RCA Records to buy Presley the recording rights to his songs for $40,000 (which included $5,000 going directly to Elvis as a premium), a considerable sum at the time. Off to the side as always, his manager, "the bigbellied, strawhatted, cigarcarrying" Colonel Tom Parker, watched over him. To gambling, potentially, as Parker is known to have $30 million in gambling debt when he died, as Celebrity Net Worth goes on report. Although it took years for the story to leak out, the mystery of the Colonels origins had actually been solved as early as the spring of 1960, in the unlikely surrounds of a hairdressers salon in the Dutch town of Eindhoven. After Elviss death in 1977, the Presley family continued to own and live in the mansion. Was he a cheap crook that played fast and loose? This murder has never been solved. Colonel Tom Parker Didn't Make Elvis Go To The Army to Give Him a More Wholesome Image In the film, Luhrmann suggests Colonel Parker persuaded Elvis to go into the U.S. Army in. There a woman by the name of Nel Dankers-van Kuijk flicked through a copy of Rosita, a Belgian womens magazine. With the passage of the Music Modernization Act, the independent administrator, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), was created and given access to Gracelands Elvis Presley Enterprises and Sony/ATV Musics music library to oversee mechanical licensing. Elvis accepted the idea and married Priscilla Beaulieu in the spring of 1967. Asked what the King was really like away from the cameras and stage lights, he said: I would imagine he lived for the stage and got very little in his personal life. Theyre one of Hollywoods brightest starsand most troubled actors. He was ruthless and heartless. He did give a bill to Elvis and his father and business manager, Vernon Presley, for money he had spent or advanced . He sold the rights to Presleys early recordings, gave away the rights to the master recordings, lost royalties after he negotiated Elvis seven-year contract with RCA Records in 1973, and squandered his own fortune to a gambling habit. Parker went on to manage the crooner Gene Austin and country singer Hank Snow (David Wenham in the new movie), the latter of whom made some very important introductions for the young Elvis. He had a tail on him, and long hair, and when he would growl, it was really frightening., If that grim scenario sounds familiar, the Colonel was also a huge fan of Nightmare Alley, the 1947 drama recently remade by Guillermo del Toro. Ever adept at extracting as much money as possible from his star, Parker had licenced out the rocker's name and image to 18 companies, with 30 products on sale by September 1956. Following his death in 1977, Elvis estate has grown significantly due to the continuous production of official merchandise and the use of his music in various media. 2 million, or $79. His accent, on display in a rare interview with Ted Koppel in the 80s, sounded more like a slight speech impediment mixed with the insulation of a rural upbringing. There, in Parkers hometown, a journalist named Dirk Vellenga got a tipit was Do you know that Tom Parker comes from Breda? His expertise varies from Alfred Hitchcock movies to Bleach, as he has explored a lot of fictional Universes and authors. The film has it wrong: Parker likely didnt blanch when Elviss hips summoned the vice squad. I will say that he had an amazing ability to compartmentalize events and feelings in his mind. The fascination Colonel had with that picture was unbelievable, Raphael remembered. But its said to have happened at the Pan-Pacific show. Had anyone taken the trouble to inquire, however, they would have discovered that there was no record of the birth of any Thomas Parker in Huntingdon. Lisa Marie is said to take a very hands on and active role in the management of Elvis Presley Enterprises, and to visit Graceland often. Interestingly, my paychecks from MGM said "Elvis Exploitation" on themodd terminology. The shock of hearing Colonel Parker say his Dutch name, something he had ferociously protected from the world for 65 years, made me mute. The television performance was an immediate success: it not only garnered acclaim from music critics but returned Elviss name to mass popularity, even winning him new fans. So to sum it up, rights owners to Elvis Presley songs include Sony/ATV Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Hill and Range, and Gladys Music, with Sony/ATV Music having exclusive rights to most of them. The trust ushered in a period of renovations and improvements to the home, turning the estate into a major tourist attraction. The couple ultimately separated in 1972, with Priscilla being granted a full divorce in 1973. As Parker confesses at the beginning of the movie, There are some whod make me out to be the villain of this here story. And it can be said that the Colonel was the antagonist of Elvis true life as well. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-leader-4','ezslot_12',156,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-leader-4-0');According to Celebrity Net Worth, Lisa Marie Presley is estimated to be worth around $300 million. Probably he had known the woman; perhaps he had even desired herand then been angered by her recent marriage. Presleys breakthrough single Heartbreak Hotel was released as a single on Jan. 27, 1956. Parker then worked hard to get Elvis appearances on Milton Berles television show and then The Ed Sullivan Show, while simultaneously contracting with merchandising manufacturers to use the Elvis name identically to a trademark. In total, Elvis performed in 31 feature films throughout his career. Yes, Elvis Presley made a considerable amount of money from his career in films. He would donate the rusting hulk to charity and put a P.R. Just present the side you want to show. From the middle of 1973, Elvis began to gain weight rapidly, and began his addiction to tranquilizing drugs, to the point that they prevented his live performances where he was sometimes unable to sing or mumbled the lyrics of his songs. Shes not going to steal it, Colonel, Loanne laughed. He had toured with carnivals, worked with elephants and managed a palm-reading booth before finding his feet in the early 1950s as a music promoter. February 24, 2012 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. You can unsubscribe at any time. They had the bride and groom in one car, and the bridesmaids in the next one. He so identified with that lifestyle that he sought the company of concessionaires, midway operators, and sideshow performers long after his carnival days were over. In the 1980s, Vernon Presley, Elviss father, along with his daughter, Priscilla, who had been married to Elvis from 1967 until 1973, were living in the home. The only song I suggested was Are You Lonesome Tonight? I got Elvis the most money ever for an entertainer in Las Vegas. The Hawaiian show, like the 1968 special, was seen by 50 million viewers in the US and a total of more than a billion in the rest of the world. The Colonel always was a mystery. We had problems going above storms because we could only go so high. Absolutely considering he was overweight and smoked. The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley. His merchandising alone grossed over $22 million by the end of 1957. Arthur S. Poe is a writer based in Europe. But as late as 1982, the idea that Parker had not been born American was still little more than rumor in the States. Id like to think, yeah, he was running away from an aspect of his past and escaping his small town, and who among us wouldnt jump at an opportunity to do that very thing?. . At the same time, the heirs of the late Elvis Presley are believed to benefit from both a share of the master royalties and the even larger share of the publishing royalties to the songs. Ivana Marie Zelnkov escaped from behind the Iron Curtain to storm New York City and help create the twisted miracle of Donald Trump. From 1964 the growing influence of British rock began in the United States, while at the same time Presleys films slowly lost popularity, mainly due to the repeated formula of the scripts, although Elvis continued to record three annual albums for RCA. Why bother to paint both sides? Tom Parker American or Dutchman? Its Elvis Time, April 1967; Alanna Nash. Parker initially rejected Binders project, but shortly afterward Elvis himself insisted on going ahead, aware that only a luxurious and well-cared television presentation would restore him to prominence on the music scene. Elvis had a great influence on American culture through his influence on music, affect on American culture, and his legacy. His real name was Andreas van KuijkDries (pronounced Drees) to his familyand as far as anyone could tell, he changed it to Tom Parker because that was the name of the officer who interviewed him when he signed up for the Army. Even when Elvis was on tour, he went to the next town, he made sure the radio, the TV were aware that Elvis was arriving, Todd continued. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',152,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Nevertheless, Elvis assets were eventually divided among his surviving heirs: his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley; his father, Vernon Presley; and his paternal grandmother Minnie Mae Presley. The other remained in its dilapidated state. After this moment of splendor, Presleys physical health went into frank decline for the next four years. Half Man, Half Animal! He took that really seriously. The premises had then been ransacked, apparently fruitlessly, in a search for money. Despite his love of spending, including generous donations and lavish purchases, he was able to maintain his wealth until his death in 1977 at the age of 42. Parker arranged for Elvis to give a series of concerts in Las Vegas, but these were unsuccessful in a city with a crowd that was certainly wealthy but middle-aged and barely fond of rock and roll, before which Parker contacted Paramount Pictures for Elvis to participate in a total of seven films (considering that in those years, one of Presleys main interests was acting).