COLONEL TOM PARKER - Interview on "ABC Nightline" (Aug 15, 1987)

[@SwirlyJoe]

Tom Hanks really overdid his foreign accent 😜

[@cshell64]

I thought the same thing! Now I am questioning other things that happened in the movie. Adding the accent was a bad idea.

[@TinaMarieItalianIce]

Yes, this is why I came to this video to see how he really was and the accent Tom did sounded NOTHING like him

[@briarrose29]

I found it so annoying. Tom Hanks butchered it

[@DalaceE]

Toms so fucking bad in that movie who almost ruined it. Good thing Austin Butler was amazing

[@cassidycheek]

This is exactly why I came here.. to hear what he really sounds like 😂

[@marybyrnes3298]

All Tom Parker cared about was money it was his fault that Elvis couldn't leave America to tour some of us Europeans would have been able to afford to see him that's the only regret I have but I saw Graceland in 2019 but back to Parker he was gambling and Elvis was paying for it when he should have been taking it a little easier We love you Elvis you will never die 😍 💔

[@AlexandraPeters70]

That is so very true ! I wonder why Elvis never dumped him & went overseas / touring ! Never stop for anyone from doing what u want to do. Biggest mistake Elvis made, listing to this Tom Parker clown.

[@moisesperez4605]

I totally agree

[@Kinseliplier]

​@@AlexandraPeters70 cause He still owed Tom Parker a Lot of Money He would have Had to Pay Back and He would have had to Fulfill the Contracts He had with Tom Parker and Right Him off Legally. Tom Parker had this up His Sleeve and He wasn't gonna Let Elvis off Easily. This was Shown in the New Movie with Tom Hanks and also in the 2005 Elvis the Younger Years Short TV Series Biopic Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Randy Quaid.

[@robertwalker951]

He killed Elvis basically

[@Kinseliplier]

@@robertwalker951 Yeah He did

[@coldcoffeebear7459]

I didn't think I remembered him sounding like Tom Hanks in the movie,and I was right.

[@JamesAllmond]

and Tom said the accent was impossible...

[@Kinseliplier]

​@@JamesAllmondthere is No Accent. Tom sounds like a Normal American and a Foghorn Leghorn Hillbilly Type to Me.

[@Elizabeth-gf1zt]

​@@JamesAllmond what would woke Hanks know. Parker milked Elvis to death. Why would a decent manager book shows for a man who was clearly suffering and impaired.

[@terencehennegan1439]

When all said and done it is Elvis’s voice that made him who he is. His voice reach the soul of every human being like no other.

[@royalswan007]

Col. Tom Parker was the Don King of his time . he robbed his star of so much. both these Carnival Barkers were ( are ) the Devil.

[@tonydushaj3912]

But just like Don King, he made them a whole lot more than other managers would have.

[@livewithnick]

I suppose you think Elvis was too dumb to know better?

[@sammymobs3889]

Don king was don king Tom Parker was another con artist

[@ufo-bro532]

Your right Elvis had no knowledge of Management

[@stephenholmes1036]

Hos family liked Tom Parker

[@Sarasdad91]

This man was a crook. He took advantage of Elvis's kindness, he took 50% of Elvis earnings, and no Manager, no matter how good, deserves that much.

[@rogerwilhite530]

No other manager would ask for 50 %. Gladys Presley didn’t trust him, told Elvis not to be with him.

[@VENZUL0]

Was he though? Maybe as a young man fresh off the turnip truck but once EP became the king, a grown man who can make his own choices, he could have dumped him in a skinny minute. Why didn't he? There isn't a Mgr alive, especially then, who wouldn't take 50% of Elvis if given the opportunity.

[@shamCD]

Parker didn't really take 50% all the time. For things like calendars we would.

[@dagnabbit6187]

@@VENZUL0He had something on Elvis . Allegedly a nine mm film of him and an underaged girl

[@thomaspick4123]

At least Parker did this interview.

[@gusjackson3658]

Parker was a Dutch killer on the run. He entered the USA illegally, joined the army to get a n ID, took the name of an officer there, then got kicked out labeled as a psychopath. He became a carnival huckster and talent manager. When he saw the Elvis audience reaction he smelled the money. And that was that.

[@lyndamitton4496]

Right on!

[@mtp4430]

Gus Jackson telling it like it is 👍

[@waylonvids]

What is the proof for the killer on the run story? I keep reading comments about it but haven't seen verification.

[@gusjackson3658]

@@waylonvids I have studied this story since I was 15. It is fascinating. Parker disappeared for years from his family. Later they saw his face in the news about Elvis and made contact. His brother even visited him in the USA. But otherwise he kept his secret past secret. Interesting Elvis sometimes speculated with some accuracy that the Colonel probably had a dark secret past. The facts are in the public domain now, and in many of the more well written Elvis biographies. The truth of their remarkable lives would make a great art film. 1 day someone will do it justice. The Disney style versions just don’t capture the astonishing reality of their intertwined stories.

[@Accordioman]

It's my understanding the later Las Vegas performances were to pay Parker's gambling debts. That he was a really bad gambler losing thousands at a time.

[@PaHeadhunter]

This only makes Tom Hanks accent in the new movie sound more ridiculous than I thought it was. Tom Parker might’ve been Dutch, but you couldn’t tell it here.

[@bgaviator]

Yeah not sure what Hanks was going for but he sounds ridiculous in the trailer, especially now after hearing Parker’s real voice

[@That_AMC_Guy]

@@bgaviator People's accent's change as they age. The Colonel in his earlier years was known for having an odd, or unplaceable accent. It's generally thought the Colonel made a point of losing his accent out of fear of having his background checked.

[@ronaldsnippe813]

Parkers says a few times enne instead of and. Enne is a typicall dutch word. Funny that after all the years he still used it

[@deboisblanc]

some of the body guard books mention that they thought he was a bit tongue tied, and always said "Pwesley". I can hear a hint of Hanks here in this interview.

[@gtamediaproductions1]

Yeah I am really skeptical about this film coming out. Just by looking at the trailer thinking what the hell did they just do. Even to the actor I've never heard of playing the king of Rock and Roll doesn't even look like Elvis. He just trikes me as some theatrical performer style with La Bamba looks. Yes and hearing Tom Hanks voice as Parker throws me off as well. I could see from the trailer as well that there are certain events that are not accurate and Hollywood just decided to add them in to fill the space. I will go watch and give it a chance but I don't think I will not be expecting full satisfaction over it that's for sure.

[@bradbilkingtonsonmon3617]

Kept Elvis in Vegas to pay off his gambling debt. What a great dude

[@Smilebo1]

Ik right 🙄

[@jedijones]

And cancelled million-dollar appearances overseas because he was an illegal alien without a passport.

[@bradbilkingtonsonmon3617]

@@jedijones lol🤣

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

No he didn't.

[@bradbilkingtonsonmon3617]

@@TELEVISIONARCHIVES did tooo did tooo

[@larryvillarreal8936]

Who still loves Elvis in 2023 and will forever ❤

[@VenusEvan_1885]

He was a pa dophile, slept with Priscilla when she was 13 years old

[@sauravyadav6191]

RIP to the legend/king.

[@VenusEvan_1885]

@@sauravyadav6191 he was a pedo

[@Tricia2023]

Everybody ❤

[@jongbong1912]

He was a groomer

[@jrpacer6355]

Elvis talent was perfect on his own account no one no one made Elvis what he is but Elvis himself

[@shamCD]

Parker was a GREAT manager with many connections.

[@anna-mariageorgiades3628]

Just because we hate the Colonel doesn't mean that he didn't contribute to Elvis becoming larger than life. Elvis needed him and thank God for him.

[@jazzmanchgo]

Elvis wanted to be a serious actor, and Parker stymied him at every turn. He pretty much admits it here (starting at about 3:40) where he tells the story of a producer bringing Elvis a script for a role in a film that had Academy Award potential, and Parker refused to let it happen.

[@michaelbrandt5416]

Let us be honest here. From what I have read, Elvis never bothered to read a contract. He left all negotiations to Parker, being content with a steady cash flow. A manager´s job is to present whatever deal comes your client´s way and thus it is the client´s wish that is final. From what I understand, Elvis had no idea what a contract entailed. If he did, he could have demanded better film scripts even under contract. That was his rights. Also he had no sense of economics. His film contract gave him something like one million dollars pr. film plus 50% of profits, which amounted to an average of 5-6 million a year, making him the highest paid entertainer in the world at that time. Never the less, he had to sell much of the goods he bought, like houses, cars, motorcycles etc, simply because he spent more than he earned. In short, he trusted Parker to keep the money coming, the thought of seeking advice from someone else, never entering his mind. Saddest of all, Elvis could have walked the streets anywhere and not be noticed. The story goes that while rehearsing for his 68 comeback special, he stood with the guys responsible for the whole thing, on a street corner with a busy traffic. Someone commented that it was funny standing there in full view and no head was turned his way.

[@Jlitt-yw2zm]

Tom Hanks really messed up his accent because this man did not actually have such a heavy accent like in the movie😮

[@paulgaunt9481]

Right it's mostly New York Accent with a tiny Dutch inflection here and there. Hanks went full Goldmember... I guess to accentuate the fact that he was an immigrant.... really distracting, much as I love Hanks.

[@stuartmcquade3407]

Elvis never got the chance to a Worldwide tour because of Tom Parker.

[@sandgrownun66]

Correct. The "Colonel" was an illegal immigrant without US citizenship. He entered the US via Canada. As he was not naturalized he couldn't get a US passport. So Elvis was a virtual prisoner, who couldn't leave the US. The fact that "Parker" never applied for citizenship was odd. He left Holland just after the murder of a woman. Although there was no direct evidence linking him to the crime.

[@erikkibler3466]

He met Elvis and never had to

[@bcole2864]

That is why the Elvis corporation sued the the colonel in the on the reason for the note no world tour parker didn't have a passport and not his real name

[@JBDazen]

This guy is so obviously Dutch and Tom Hanks so horribly missed that.

[@bluecollarlit]

Oh I don't know - Tom Hanks' Dutch accent was pretty pronounced .

[@shamCD]

But Parker didn't have that accent.@@bluecollarlit

[@JBDazen]

@@bluecollarlit What Tom Hanks did wasn't a Dutch accent. I don't know what it was, but it didn't sound Dutch.

[@MarkGelderland]

Tom Hanks, most overrated actor imo.

[@patrickomaracou7268]

Tom Hanks is a wanker top class.

[@dylanthomas4694]

The Colonel ran Elvis to death he's the one to blame for the drugs. Because that hard schedule he had him touring all the time in the early days. The colonel was The Don king of rock and roll. Dude ruined Elvis.

[@sandgrownun66]

The "Colonel" was well known for his addiction to gambling. He would loose thousands of dollars a night. All of which Elvis had to fund from performing.

[@markjames8603]

It's a common misconception that Elvis became familiar with pharmaceuticals during his stint in the army, Sonny Burgess stated the 1st time he met Elvis he was selling his mum's diet pills ( Amphetamine) outside Sun Studios! Barbera Pittman also says that 95% of Sun Studios recordings were fueled by Bop-Pills and Thunderbird wine. If you think of it this way most working folk that didn't have a lot probably held down at least two jobs and probably went to the doc for something to get them through??

[@gailmoffat3295]

Parker was aparasite up to the day he died he never cared about Elvis in any way

[@shamCD]

It is Elvis own fault he took so much medicine. It is on Elvis who was a great person but had a curse.

[@maryparker2857]

Elvis didn't need this jerk,but he's paying for it now,Elvis could have paid the jerk the so called debt in a couple of his performances, sad Elvis was very lonely and all he wanted was to make people happy by singing, rip Elvis

[@ellejay2021]

I saw this Nightline interview when it first aired. I got angry then and still angry now about the blatant lies "Parker" told. When he said he had nothing to do with the songs Elvis recorded, that simply is not true. Elvis *had* to record songs from Parker's publishing company, Hill and Range. It wasn't until later in Elvis's career that he recorded songs outside of the Hill and Range catalogue. Parker also well knew how dissatisfied Elvis was with his film career and that he was tired of the vacuous, teeny bopper crap films he was contractually bound to. At first, Elvis was told to be patient and that he had to make the undesirable films in order to "get his foot in the door" and the better quality scripts were coming. The story about Jerry Wald that Parker spoke about wasn't the whole truth. The price Parker set for Elvis was unrealistically high and he knew no one would pay it, therefore, Wald (and other producers) passed on using Elvis. This unscrupulous, sneaky "strategy" used by Parker made it appear as if he did try to get Elvis better quality roles, as well as to appease him. Parker overworked Elvis as many in the Memphis Mafia attested to. His dependency upon prescription drugs grew as a result. According to Larry Geller, during one of Elvis's near-fatal overdoses which rendered him semi-conscious and barely responsive, Dr Nick had buried his face in a tub of ice in an attempt to revive him and Parker, who'd just walked into the hotel suite, saw this being done and then remarked to Geller that "The only thing that's important is that this man is on stage tonight. Nothing else matters." *That* is who "Colonel Tom Parker" was. From the start, Gladys did not like Parker and did not trust him. Vernon did like him and convinced Elvis to sign with him. I wish Elvis had listened to his mother. With Elvis's phenomenal talent, charisma, and incredible physical beauty, he surely would have had managers knocking down his door and ultimately would have chosen one of them. But at the time, Elvis and his family were completely naive about show business and a manager's function. Parker took full advantage of this naivete and promised them riches and fame beyond their wildest dreams and of course he went with Parker. Parker was, of course, highly instrumental in Elvis's huge success and we must remember that there was no prototype for Elvis to follow/emulate. Elvis *was* the prototype.

[@Limpopulaireabraham]

Problem : Parker was a buisness manager and their job is to win a money and the movies with elvis bring a lot of money . The period of elvis at hollywood saved him because when the britain wave came in the usa , he was proctect with his films.

[@mtp4430]

Elle Jay Truth 👍

[@rhlopez2694]

Tom Parker was an illegal alien.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Elle Jay, Gladys Presley taught her son, Elvis, that when you give your word to somebody, you adhere to it. Gladys Presley hated Parker and told Elvis that he should not agree to sign a contract with him. Elvis didn't care all that much about money. His main goal, in life, was to entertain and make people happy. Parker was a greedy POS that exploited Elvis for his own personal gain.

[@DanSmith-cb5vj]

Interesting how some people seem to know so much, as if they were a fly on the wall seeing it all happen. Things happened as they did. No one can go back and change any of it. People still worship E as a god. He was a human like everyone else. He had his gifts and talents. Anyway!

[@inescece4707]

Tom Parker wants everyone to believe that elvis called the shots when we all heard different from people close to him that elvis couldn't do some of the songs he wanted because Tom Parker wanted part of the copyright and the writers didn't want to give that up ! And the 68 come back we almost didn't have that if it wasn't for elvis going against Parker! Just saying ! Rip elvis u r so loved ! 😍

[@gailmoffat3295]

Elvis never called the shots Parker is a liar of the worst kind

[@lindawatts5102]

Col P said he didn't have any say in what Elvis sang but most of us will know that Col P wanted Elvis to do just an xmas shows of xmas songs.in 1968... Elvis did not want that and was rumored to say F@@@ him and did the songs he wanted and thank god he did that show launched him back ... what would Col P know about singing. he ran a circus and Elvis was a good way to off Col P gambling debt and took 50% of Elvis earnings. Hope the new film portray that. As far Elvis drug issue he was tired doing as many shows he could, anyone who even works a night shift will tell you how hard it is to recover and function out of normal working hours... Yes he had other issues and we all deal with loss in different ways its what makes us human.. NOTE sorry that's just this offends its just my taken on it and i respect others opinion and view thank for reading

[@gailmoffat3295]

@@lindawatts5102 Elvis was like a robot to Parker he couldn't tour outside USA only made it to canada from wat Iam I still wish he would of gotten away from Parker took a year off to relax then a world tour just wasn't to be Elvis died to young and to sick where was the help for him

[@geraldlewis5498]

Col Tom Parker is The most horrible man in the world in good and bad times . He did in a way the best he could but not good enough. Elvis Presley I'll still be missed R.I.P.

[@gailmoffat3295]

@@geraldlewis5498 Tom Parker is and always will be crap

[@357clinger]

Like it’s said in the introduction Col Tom was just a “Carny” And they rip everybody off He literally worked Elvis to death by keeping him constantly touring,which meant he was reliant on medications to make it possible As he had over a $$$ Million payroll every week And felt so responsible for the people who worked for him and their family’s Especially those with kids and mortgages That sense of loyalty and the old “Never forget where he came from “ and how he and his parents were spectacularly poor And the Colonel took full advantage of all their values Personally I don’t think Elvis cared about money! Especially after losing his beloved mother And the Colonel was also a degenerate gambler who dropped around a “Billion in Vegas “ No wonder why he kept Elvis there as long as he did And he also wasn’t an American citizen with no passport So unbeknownst to Elvis that was why he was always talked out from touring overseas and desperately wanted to tour The United Kingdom and Australia As he must of been hiding from something??? And was terrified that if he left the US he would never be let back in And board his gravy train

[@sandgrownun66]

All correct. You did your research.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

There would've been no Elvis without the Colonel. But, it might almost be frightening to think how much greater Elvis could've been WITHOUT the Colonel. Elvis should've ditched the Colonel in 1968. Elvis could've been in "A Star is Born" with Streisand. He could've been in "True Grit". He could've been in "Thunder Road". But no, the Colonel insisted on Elvis having an outrageous salary. Hell, he could've appeared on Carson, or Dick Cavett or Merv Griffin.... but no. The Colonel wouldn't allow it.

[@pamlomeli1360]

@@That_AMC_Guy - So true. Not to demean Elvis’ intelligence, but I think he felt comfortable with Colonel Parker. With the folksy, sort of “Boss Hog” mentality the Colonel had. Backwards in a lot of ways. Elvis’s fame outgrew Mr Parker, only I don’t know if Elvis had the wherewithal and confidence to tell Mr. Parker, thank you sir for everything, but I’ll take it from here..and then find management that would help him grow and mature as an artist. I think it was money that spurred most of the choices of what Elvis did and the fact that Elvis had a big payroll of people to help support. I also wished someone in the entourage and team would have really told Elvis - No! No to those damn drugs, no to “the Colonel”. He may be right about one thing. Elvis’ estate has made more money after he died.

[@Lilmickcrocodiledundee0001]

@@That_AMC_Guy Yes there would have been. SMH timeline would be different but Elvis would have still been big like he is today. Yes he should have left him in 68

[@Lilmickcrocodiledundee0001]

Fact's Clinger

[@JL-zn7me]

And YOU fed him pill after pill!!!! He was the beginning of the end for our beloved Elvis!

[@Guitarwizzard1833]

Elvis fed Elvis pill after pill.

[@oreldm]

Even Elvis's roadies stated that Elvis wouldn't listen to anyone about drugs. He loved them !!!

[@tomrucco6490]

Elvis should have left Parker behind when he was discharged from the Army. He didn't need that vulture vampire that piece of s***

[@sandgrownun66]

True. But Elvis probably didn't want the hassle of finding a new manager and he probably thought that "Parker" cared about him.

[@tomrucco6490]

@@sandgrownun66 you're probably right but he did realize it late in his short career!

[@sandgrownun66]

@@tomrucco6490 He did sometimes near the end, but by that point it was too late.

[@tomrucco6490]

@@sandgrownun66 exactly he actually fired him at one point and then well you know how it went

[@sandgrownun66]

@@tomrucco6490 Sadly Elvis didn't have the heart to make the split permanent.

[@bakivaotuua9120]

Elvis would've still been alive if he didn't have this snake as manager

[@sandgrownun66]

Correct. The "colonel" was greedy man, who worked Elvis into an early grave.

[@danielupsdell2697]

I agree

[@danielupsdell2697]

He worked him to death

[@rayskitten78]

Humm maybe not but he would of had a better chance, early death was in his d n a

[@mitchribbens491]

without this so-called snake he would never have grown so big, indeed the colonel was a grabbing Dutchman but with an understanding of the business

[@matthewgrill5464]

Glad I found this interview. It shows how ridiculousTom Hanks accent was in the "Elvis" movie..

[@steelstreet3765]

I wish Elvis was still alive in 2022

[@Christhegreaser25]

Don't we all

[@smoovkilla]

Probably would still be good looking too. For a dude who was overdosing and overweight. He looked pretty good before he died. Sad stuff

[@williebeamen2x]

As a purest elvis fan I have been through the blaming stage, I had periods where I would find myself being mad at the Memphis mafia , Parker, Doc Nic ect ect....but in the end only Elvis could have saved elvis unfortunately Elvis had demons the world didn't know about .... He is the greatest entertainer of all time , one of the most unique kind pure human beings to ever live , a true trailblazer and icon ...... hope all are resting well and still rocking in the halls of heaven ....RIP to the King , Parker , and the MM 🙏 never be another like em

[@henryhill6637]

Sadly but that's the God's honest truth. You can tell a person million times to get off of drugs. But if they don't wanna change for the better they won't because the body too used to it and lot harder staying sober . Much easier keep doing. Mafia were all yes to Elvis not sure he really had 1 real friend. That all being said What Elvis wanted what he got and that's why he died so tragically.

[@Jlitt-yw2zm]

Exactly. Elvissss was an adult why are all these people in the comments acting like Elvissss was not an adult

[@johnroy9654]

Well, Elvis did have legitimate health issues. His colon was abnormal, and he did not take care of himself.

[@nataliekriegler9329]

I’d like to ask you what you think of all these people trying to say that this pastor, Bob Joyce is Elvis. I responded to one platform and I thought I was clear but everybody got mad at me. I simply said that Pastor Bob Joyce is him meaning him meaning he is Bob Joyce, not Elvis I think I must’ve written that at three in the morning on my way to sleep, but I wasn’t clear to all the people who came on and said oh no and they got so mad, I know that’s not Elvis Presley but I was curious to know what you thought because what you wrote was very well written in I see that you’re an Elvis fan and I am one too and I get very upset when people don’t understand when I’m saying get angry with me also, I tried to compliment Pastor Bob Joyce and said something very nice about him which I now really regret because of coursehe does not sound just like Elvis. Nobody sounded like Elvis except Elvis. I’m a professionally trained musician and I have had a passion for Elvis Presley since I was a little girl for a number of reasons. Let me know what you think about that about people saying that Pastor Bob Joyce is Elvis.

[@AndreaElizabeth100]

What are your thoughts on Priscilla Presley and Scientology?

[@vernongrant3596]

The Colonel speaks English remarkably well for someone who was born and bred in the Netherlands.Obliviously a clever man.

[@reneebraxton1032]

He sounded like someone from the Midwest.

[@vernongrant3596]

@@reneebraxton1032 I will have to take your word for that, I'm an Australian.

[@sandgrownun66]

The Dutch have a history of speaking English, so that would help.

[@tomrucco6490]

He was ducking something that's why he never went back overseas and Elvis never got a chance to perform overseas.SOB that he was

[@vernongrant3596]

@@tomrucco6490 Yes very sad ,it would have been great if The King had made it to Australia. The Colonel was a shifty bastard.

[@lindapollard6469]

In the Elvis movie they were very particular about getting Austin Butler to talk like Elvis. Pity they didn’t get Tom Hanks to speak like Tom Parker.

[@robtru84]

Austin Butler does not look like Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley's widow and Lisa Marie would not approve of this. Horrible portrayal

[@shamCD]

Lisa and Priscilla both loved the movie. It certainly isn't 100% true but movies never are.@@robtru84

[@user-ic2hu6bm2q]

Austin Butler did a great job. Are you ill?

[@lindapollard6469]

@@robtru84 While attending the 2023 Golden Globes on Jan. 10, Lisa Marie-who was the only child of Elvis and Priscilla-sang Austin's praises for his portrayal of her father in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic. "He's such a sweetheart-an authentic, true sweetheart," Lisa Marie, 54, told Access Hollywood on the red carpet. Pricilla also thought he did a great job.

[@robtru84]

@@shamCD yes and they were like he looks nothing like him. Horrible portrayal. Hollywood needs to find actors that resemble the biopics they're portraying

[@bird401]

I recommend reading Peter Guralnick’s bio of Elvis. A great account, Parker and all.

[@rogerwilhite530]

He worked Elvis hard, Parker had huge gambling debts.

[@livewithnick]

In reality his debts must not have been too bad. He was never not a wealthy man. Lots of high rollers and big name people had and still have credit at the casinos. This is where his “debt” came from. Not that he didn’t have the money to pay.

[@violinmke]

Well, Elvis also burned through money and wanted the work on the road.

[@paulhitchcock5071]

I'll even say this for the record degenerate gambler

[@Groucho-tg1tx]

Trust me , when your on prescribed medications, you don't think clearly. Besides Elvis lived a hundred lifetimes.

[@robtru84]

Why is there so hate towards col tom parker?

[@robertlee2791]

Absolutely agree parker did call the shots elvis was denied touring the world because of this man Absolutely twaddle what he talks as for the movies it was parker turning parts down he was offered a,star is born park turned it down west side story he was considered for parker turned it down elvis really hated some of his movie rolls it's well documented he hated to have to sing old Mcdonald from the back of a truck in double trouble all parker was interested in was his income and he got more than elvis ever did he should have been fired and replaced by someone who appreciated him not ripped him off

[@lyricmannixon1793]

he is the reason elvis passed away . tom is a greedy , disgusting man . he knows way more than he says .

[@briangoguen8547]

Elvis should have shopped around for a better manager.He could have had a stronger film career & could have done tours overseas.Parker wouldn't let him because Parker was posing as an U.S citizen who was really Dutch & didn't want to be exposed.

[@deboisblanc]

Elvis should have told him goodbye after the Memphis album that produced Suspicious Minds, In the Ghetto, Kentucky Rain and others. Maybe without the Col the 68 special or Aloha from Hawaii may not happen.

[@Serenoj69]

Yes I think this is true. Strange to think he was born really close to me in NL, I think in Breda. He should have settled the case of his nationaility and be done with it. He held Elvis back because he didn't. Pretty sad and selfish.

[@svjim1]

The problem with the Col. was that he wouldn't let his "product" take a chance or evolve beyond what he wanted. As to those who would blame anyone else for what would cause Elvis' decline I'd have to that's not true. Elvis had no willpower to control his excesses in my opinion. You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

Elvis had the will power, but he didn't have the balls. He stood up to the Colonel on several occasions, and in some instances where if it didn't cost the Colonel anything, it was allowed. The American Sound sessions in 1968 are one example. What I've been told however is that the Colonel was a shrewd businessman. He had it written into his contract that not only did he get 50% of everything Elvis made, his contract had a dismissal clause that allowed him to CONTINUE receiving that percentage as recompense for dismissal. That's pretty goddamn tenacious! No buy-out fee, but 50% of the take in perpetuity. Today, that would be a lawyer's wet dream arguing that kind of clause but you could get away with that sort of thing if you were pulling the wool over the eyes of some uneducated folks from Mississippi.

[@reneebraxton1032]

Well said. You must allow your product to grow. Evolve, or the product suffers a tragic end.

[@andykyriakides2144]

The colonel also stopped Elvis working with Steve Binder again , after the big success of the '68 tv special , and with Chips Moam of Stax records , by demanding copyright for all the song recordings , and after initially recording " In the Ghetto " , Chips told the colonel where to go , and that was that .

[@jaclynmormile4102]

Elvis and the Colonel loved one another in a way....Elvis was loyal, lm sure there were times when Elvis probably wanted to fire the Colonel but then changed his mind.....

[@kilgoretrout4707]

It's sad to think how good Elvis could have been with better management. Imagine if he had recorded with Stax records in the 60s. Issac Hayes writing his songs and Booker T and the MGs as his backup bans.

[@themusicjive4852]

Hi think Elvis could have done it with or without Tom Parker Elvis made it himself the voice the looks the clothes the jumpsuits the songs the energy the magnificent the class the gold albums Elvis had it all that's why he is the true king his legacy will go on more than any group or solo artist he sold more than anybody else ever he made the man he was was he done the hard work himself the king lives on forever...Long Live The King..E..L .V..I .S

[@Serenoj69]

Some of us Dutch are a bit embarrassed by Tom Parker because it is well known he held Elvis back because he was too afraid to go abroad himself and get caught in the fact that he is not an American and had no passport ( I think that was the story or am I mistaken?).

[@chriscoo8367]

Parker was a big time gambler and 50 percent was ridiculous,!!!! Those close to him knew what He was all about ,such a shame!!! A Living Legend!!!

[@piercehubbard4086]

It wasn’t even just his gambling debts, the man kept Elvis on such a tight leash because he was afraid the more industry people he’s around the more they’d warn him about Parker and try to “steal” him away. He wouldn’t let him go on international tours that would have made huge money, because he couldn’t go with him since he didn’t have citizenship anywhere and therefore had no passport. He always had to keep him at arms length, like a jealous insecure lover always afraid their partner would cheat on them.

[@tonydushaj3912]

Some managers take more. Watch VH1 Grand Funk Railroad or TLC behind the music. Those managers made the Colonel look like a saint. Parker marketed the shit out of Elvis when most labels wanted nothing to do with a white kid who sounded black. Was Elvis really a great singer or actor? not really in my opinion but hundreds of millions of people probably disagree. I think Parker did a great job, better than most would have, but yeah 50 percent is high.

[@RemiMarkos8]

Parker was a Scumbag plain & simple 💯💯

[@Edward-pp8jc]

I agreed with one decision that Colonel Tom Parker made. Elvis was offered the role with Barbra Streisand in that "A Star is born" remake, which went to Kris Kristofferson instead. Playing second fiddle to Streisand would've been a horrendous error. Colonel Tom felt the same.

[@GEORGEGEORGEIII]

Where is Tom Hanks accent is coming from? The Colonel’s accent seems standard Southern accent. Not that monstrosity Tom Hanks is attempting in the trailer lol.

[@cmcproductions26]

That's what I'm wondering. I love Hanks, and he's generally a good actor, but him trying a thick dutch accent, is not good. He's a veteran actor, and the young guy playing Elvis, totally destroyed him, as far as acting goes.

[@shamCD]

Hanks blew it.

[@randyjames693]

He should have received 10% ...not 1/2

[@carlofederico1659]

What a fake this guy is, snake, he didn't let elvis do what he wanted. We would still have the king here

[@demostheodorakakis6328]

Elvis was unwell in 1977 and this guy pushed shows until it was too late.

[@tolistolis8277]

When lamar call elvis 1-2 days befir die ,and ask how he doing,elvis say im not well, Lanar say : i tell him to cancel and take 1 year out to fix himself,and elvis answee: lamar i need the money.

[@shamCD]

Elvis asked for more work.

[@juliuscaesar8152]

0:39 it sounded like he was about to say General Parker before he said Colonel Parker

[@lindawatts5102]

Col P said he didn't have any say in what Elvis sang but most of us will know that Col P wanted Elvis to do just an xmas shows of xmas songs.in 1968... Elvis did not want that and was rumored to say F@@@ him and did the songs he wanted and thank god he did that show launched him back ... what would Col P know about singing. he ran a circus and Elvis was a good way to off Col P gambling debt and took 50% of Elvis earnings. Hope the new film portray that. As far Elvis drug issue he was tired doing as many shows he could, anyone who even works a night shift will tell you how hard it is to recover and function out of normal working hours... Yes he had other issues and we all deal with loss in different ways its what makes us human.. NOTE sorry that's just this offends its just my taken on it and i respect others opinion and view thank for reading

[@TonyGalla-kw4hw]

I believe Parker fought fights for Elvis that Elvis wouldn't or couldn't do. Parker shielded Elvis from many public scentios that would have been unpleasant for Elvis. Just my opinion. I also think that at least in the beginning, perhaos for decades, Elvis and Parker had a deep friendship and loved one another. That would have been priceless to Elvis. BTW, Isaw Elvis live in concert. I've seen of the greatest singers/entertainers in the wotld, but No One came close to Elvis. He was the top echlon of talent, looks and as a entertainer, nobody was better.

[@Vinnie101a]

@TonyBlahBlah: Only the last three sentences of your post make any sense at all. The rest, none, absolutely none.

[@sonny323]

I think if elvis would tour where ever can wanted. He wouldn't have died. He wanted to see other countries but his junk manager Ruined that for him. I wish elvis could have caught on to what Mr Parker had in mind. I think Elvis would still be here. Maybe not touring a lot. But still be with us. Look at all the other actors singers who are in their mid to late 80's in age. They still around R.i.p elvis

[@sergeantmasson3669]

S O N N Y, Elvis couldn't tour outside of the USA because Parker couldn't obtain a legal passport. He was an illegal immigrant that never became a US citizen.

[@sonny323]

@@sergeantmasson3669 I know that but what all that money the junk kernel made off elvis. He could have get fake papers made. Or do something. Retatd kernel only thought about himself. He killed ELVIS

[@FloydSamson]

I heard Parker would change his accent depending on who he was talking to.

[@smoovkilla]

This guys an example why we need better border security

[@salvatorelicata8768]

Did you listen to him. He did his job. His job was to make Elvis money. He did that. He answered all of the questions . The man was a marketing genius. He made no excuses. Sounds solid and genuine. Elvis had his own personal freakyness that ultimately took his life. This guy wasn't feeding him drugs. This guy wasn't pushing women on him. ELVIS DID THAT ALL BY HIMSELF HE WAS HIS OWN MAN. Very sad really.

[@theredheadchronicles17]

I’ve found interesting articles about Colonel Parker’s whereabouts. Some have said he might have killed someone in the Netherlands and that’s why he fled. There are stories about he came illegally to America and then when they tried to draft him in the 1920’s, he overate to become ineligible for the draft. There’s a lot of things floating out there, but this man was horrible for taking 50% of Elvis’s earnings.

[@milesbennet4572]

Yeah, but still he had millions of dollars that he wasted on his friends and family. If he had a manager that was capable of investing that money he could've lived like a king... But he spent millions on Bullshit.

[@bluecollarlit]

Like Gatsby: "They say he killed a man..."

[@Mariek9]

the movie was A star is born which he wanted to be in so bad!

[@Dive-Bar-Casanova]

That's what Pricilla says. Parker demanded too much money.

[@elvisfangirl9093]

@@Dive-Bar-Casanova don’t believe a word Priscilla says. She loved Parker.

[@texasgirl6000]

@@elvisfangirl9093, exactly. Tom Parker and Priscilla were wolves in sheep clothing.....Priscilla is still the gold digger she always was...she's never worked a day in her life and lives off of Elvis's last name and his legacy....she's a absolutely disgrace and a blood sucking stank!

[@shamCD]

I don't believe Elvis wanted to work with Streisand. He wasn't a fan.

[@rosskardon7195]

Colonel Tom Parker was an illegal immigrant from the Netherlands. So because of how as a result, Elvis Presley was never able to fulfill his dream of doing overseas concert tours, Col. Parker had Elvis under very tight overbearing, tyrannical control under a contract, and in addition to has how Elvis died too soon at the age of 42 in 1977, I feel very deeply sorry for the late Elvis Presley!

[@jimdent351]

Rumor has it Parker was wanted for murder in the Netherlands.

[@armchairobserver4747]

Parker is so crooked he can't even sit straight but he did his part in making Elvis for sure. The casino fronted Parker millions knowing Parker had a gambling problem so they were guilty working Elvis to the grave too.

[@lisaaheanueanderson4591]

He still didn't tell the truth about being fired by Elvis,

[@theapavlou3030]

People moaning about Tom Hanks' accent in the most recent Elvis film. This is many years later, accents change. And maybe that's the only way he could channel the character

[@sunn209]

The theme that keeps repeating, but people don't want to believe, is that nobody made Elvis do what he didn't want to do ...,he did what he WANTED to do. Just like Michael Jackson,Prince and pretty much most celebrities....,the celebrities themselves, are to blame for their downfall...., NOBODY ELSE. People just can't accept that.

[@noahschmartz2354]

even Pricilla is on record as saying NOBODY told Elvis what to do.

[@SilverDreamer62]

An alphabet soup of uppers and downers will start telling you what to do, whether you are Elvis or not. You start riding the Tiger, and you end up in it's stomach. Your power to decide leaves the building.

[@TheDylandProductions]

His doctor(s) were definitely to blame.

[@leeroyholloway4277]

Worst thing ever to have happened to Elvis was meeting this stooge.

[@franobrien6415]

He's such a liar

[@Eric-iq7wj]

Why the hell did they make him sound like Goldmember in the movie?

[@thylacinethetigerwolf1372]

People say he doesn't have an accent..he does..just not as thick as Tom Hank's did it..

[@betterthanyourname2391]

I know whose to say it wasnt thick 10 or 20 years before

[@shamCD]

Sorry to not post more hate but I think Col. Parker was a great manager. I met the man so many times and he was a great guy and nice to fans. He and Elvis together were special. Read the 2024 Elvis and the Col. book. It may change your mind. The movie was fun but not accurate. Elvis had an addiction issue that Parker and those closest to Elvis tried to help him with but Elvis wasn't ready to help himself.

[@ELVISPOLICE]

100%👍👍 And that Elvis and The Colonel book is fantastic!! Very sorry to hear the book's author, Greg McDonald passed shortly after publishing it. He was like family to Col. Parker and knew him well..Like Elvis did.

[@xavier6037]

He definitely has a subtle Dutch accent. Im surprised nobody picked up on it earlier.

[@waylonvids]

From what Baz said, he recorded himself dictating for his assistant and also other conversations. Apparently one can hear his Dutch accent get suppressed when talking to some people, and be extremely noticeable when speaking to someone else he had no reason to keep a secret from....

[@Goldenowl66]

He doesn't have a Dutch accent. Why did Tom Hanks emphasize that in his impersonation? (Yes, I know Parker was born in the Netherlands).

[@cshell64]

Adding the accent in the movie was a bad idea. It would have been more authentic without it. Oh well.

[@shamCD]

Hanks NEVER heard Parker's real voice and was going by the character description in the script.

[@jajacobs2]

Fascinating interview. I wish he asked him if he felt responsible for Elvis’ death?

[@nataliekriegler9329]

Yes, that would’ve been a great question but of course, I don’t think the kernel would feel responsible about that even though he was when Elvis passed away, I was a teenager and my dad who admired Elvis, and was also a musician, said that he had been majorly exploited by his manager, who was a gambler, and he wasearning way too much money as a manager

[@SilverDreamer62]

Elvis had a chance to lawyer up after his comeback special and make Parker a financial offer he could not refuse. It would have locked Parker out of any future revenue from new recordings and tours and would have forced Parker to give Elvis' name and copyright back to Elvis. Certain forces could have been applied to make Parker sweat about being deported and extradited on a murder rap. People in small communities in the Netherlands rarely forget history.

[@hudsonrilke]

When you know you can clearly hear his Dutch accent. Hanks virtually ruined the film for me, he over acted through the entire film which is unlike him

[@GereDJ2]

I think it needs to be said here that Parker became near synonymous with Elvis in that one din't think of Elvis without the thought of Parker somewhere, similar to the show business inculcation Phil Spector had with The Ronettes. They both made sure you knew who they were.

[@Kanarie1973]

He's 78 years old, did not speak Dutch for almost 60 years and he still has a Dutch accent. Very recognizable for me, being a Dutchman.

[@victorsamsung2921]

But *not* as thick as Tom Hanks did it though.

[@Kanarie1973]

@@victorsamsung2921 That was English with a German accent. Very badly done.

[@victorsamsung2921]

@@Kanarie1973 Just like Cilian Murphy and his *Dutch* in Oppenheimer. It was bad. Although he is a very talented and gifted actor.

[@danieldydzak691]

A lot of singers have great voices and dont get anywhere. Elvis was a truck driver. Col.parker got him known. Not perfect but helped elvis succeed

[@ericbryant-dz8mj]

There would be no Elvis without him

[@biggstavros5876]

There`s the man who helped put Elvis in an early grave.

[@johnkelly3549]

Comparative to the real Colonel Parker, Tom Hanks was really wide of the mark. I’m surprised. The accent here is almost taunt New Hampshire but Parker still has remnants of a European accent. He’s Dutch but I’d have probably guessed German-born. He speaks across quite metronomic beats, not a lot of inflection. He sounds self-assured and authoritative anyway, despite his age. That fits a self-proclaimed Colonel. Tom Hanks’ interpretation was pantomime territory. He was probably never going to nail Parker’s own accent because of how specific it is but he definitely didn’t capture the man. If ELVIS was a king, Hanks’ played Parker as an aging queen.

[@nelle9118]

Let's talk about his 50 percent fee from Elvis? He was sued by the estate!!

[@Jlitt-yw2zm]

It’s funny how everyone in the comments is acting like Elvissss was not is on man and an actual adult and capable of making his own decisions. Anything bad in his life he only has himself to blame.

[@ShirleyMooney-f6p]

Elvis should of stayed with his first manager sam philips who discoverd elvis at sun records

[@theapavlou3030]

Sun records was too small to handle him. Sam Philips didn't have the reach or the know how. Although, I agree with you

[@danielupsdell2697]

i also agree but Philips could only book him around the south at the time

[@BartmanMi]

Im Dutch (American). I hear his accent. Especially when he says "And uh..." (Like ' uhm'), he says: "ennuh" which is a typical Southern Dutch filler word. But, he must have practiced on his accent because it's not a thick accent at all. Just some give aways.

[@FractalityX]

The accent in the Baz Luhrmann movie is STYLIZED people. Just like that whole movie is STYLIZED. Like Moulin Rouge by the same director. You just don't get it.

[@crashburn3292]

I thought it was a picture of Charles Nelson Reilly.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Spot on

[@peteriversfanclub]

He liked money........a lot more than he ever liked Mr Presley. The end!

[@sandgrownun66]

Correct. The "colonel" was greedy man, who worked Elvis into an early grave.

[@lpdog82]

Parker made sure Elvis was pumped full of speed and on the road and on those stages, as Elvis' health went down, Parker's bank account went up😈

[@jasperf5667]

I’m Dutch but I hate this snake who was only interested in making money for himself.

[@StephenLuke]

I feel you!!! 🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱

[@rfjohns4452]

Colonel Parker was a real carny" never give a sucker and even break" using people constantly but he was right not letting Elvis on TV shows knowing from carnival "that suckers won't pay for it if you show too much & eliminate mystery" Elvis definitely should have left him by late 60s.

[@bingusslingus7020]

Whoa, Hanks really hammed up the accent..

[@JohnSmith-il7jn]

Did Tom Hanks not watch this interview before he played him? He never even got close to his real accent.

[@jimmorrison5308]

He blackmailed Elvis with contracts when Elvis wanted to get away from him.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

Well, usually just one contract - the Colonel's Own. While Elvis could fire the Colonel at any time, it's said that the Colonel's "Buy Out Fee" was 50% of Elvis' future earnings in perpetuity. I don't think that would be allowed today, but back then, I don't believe Elvis nor Vernon were smart enough to contest. Contracts were Contracts in those days.

[@TopFix]

This man moved to the USA from the Netherlands as a 20 year old, and his accent is as if he grew up in the States. So weird. Whereas Arnold Schwarzenegger moved at a similar age and his accent is thick af.

[@davidgibbs7232]

He was a self serving greedy slime ball.

[@minewheaties5029]

His real name was Andreas Cornelius Van Kuijk. Like in the 2022 film, he was in reality an illegal Dutch immigrant.

[@StephenLuke]

Ding! Ding! Ding! That’s a gold star answer!!!

[@timmytootall1]

Elvis could have been even bigger with the right Manager.

[@CulturedGem]

Where did his accent go?

[@JonathanPOyen]

A major theme in the recent movie, “Elvis,” is, “Colonel Parker bad man.” For those who do not who Parker was, he was Elvis’ manager from a little after Elvis’ discovery to until his death. A known claim is that Parker took great advantage of Elvis, being more concerned for his own welfare, in the form of money, than Elvis’ welfare in the form of same and, more importantly, in the form of mental and physical health. In contrast to what the movie portrays, Sonny West, Elvis' friend and personal body guard, a member of the “Memphis Mafia,” had nice things to say about Parker. During a presentation that he gave (Up Close & Personal with Sonny West) after the passing of both Elvis and Parker, he said, "But Colonel, to make a bad decision with all that he had to make ... I'm going to tell you something. I'll tell you this and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Colonel Parker ... If I could go to my grave and make half of the right decisions that he made regarding Elvis, I would be very happy that I had really, really accomplished more than I ever thought I could … and along with that, I would take all the bad decisions that he's made and I'd take all of them and I'd still be way outbalanced. But, he, he was, uh, his ... his … Elvis was his best interest … and there's been things that have come out against him ... they weren’t intentionally done … like Colonel Parker being the bad guy … you, know … because he wasn’t. He cared about Elvis and he did the best he could and I think he did a hell of a job. I worked with him a lot on tour so I was with him constantly on tour out there and I saw what he did for Elvis.” In the same presentation, in reply to a question about Elvis, West said, “I would say … probably what really sticks out in my mind … if you kind of took everything together about Elvis, with his humility and his warmth and his compassion and his concern and take all of this … and, you can probably wrap it up in one word … is, humanity. His humanity was something like, you just don’t, you know, it’s such a big word but he covered that word very well. It really brings him to it, you know … yeah … humanity.” In a June 22, 1977 interview, before Elvis’ passing, Elvis’ father, Vernon Presley, said, "Colonel Parker is an honest man. And I think that's where the big organization and the big togetherness comes. You know? Once you find out, you don't have to worry about a guy being your manager, what he will do for you ... he handled it ... you do the show ... everything worked smooth.” In West's case, harboring favorable opinions towards Parker might be attributed to Parker producing the money-making opportunities that he did. In the same vein, Elvis, the "bread and butter" of the operations, combined with Parker’s business prowess, enabled a quality of life that West would not have been able to enjoy otherwise. Therefore, his loyalty was to both. As for Vernon Presley’s opinion, at least at the time of the interview, some say that he was snowed by Parker. Like West, Mr. Presley also enjoyed the fruits of Parker's labor - as conniving and manipulative as Parker has said to have been. The bottom line is Parker was able to produce the venues that equated into dollars. Although his antics might have been questioned during the process and much later, the concern at the time that it was happening wasn’t strong enough to change the equation by replacing Parker. As long as the money kept rolling in, the relationship that had been established wasn’t questioned, business as usual as it evolved was the accepted norm.

[@Funsoul8]

Hanks did a GERMAN accent in the movie Elvis, but the Colonel, didn’t have a German accent.

[@StephenLuke]

DUTCH!!!! It’s a Dutch accent!!! Do you even know where Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk “Colonel Tom Parker” was originally born from??? 🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱

[@spacegerrit9499]

haha this is when my Dutch grandpa talks English. We call it Denglish.

[@DanDDirges]

The king is gone but he`s not forgotten. Rock and Roll is dead and gone but long live the king!

[@janetbaker3616]

Those who knew him...is this the real Col Tom Parker? Or is he making himself look like a good friend and manager?

[@jodythomas4324]

Bro not for nothing, but you are literally begging for someone to bullshit you if you think you’re going to get someone in the YT comment section who genuinely knew the manager of Elvis.

[@sandgrownun66]

"Parker" as he called himself, was a publicist and so it's not surprising he would do a similar job on himself.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

It's kind of like how Norman Petty painted a halo over his head after Buddy died. While Norman wasn't as tenacious as Colonel Parker, he had a similar clause with Buddy in that 50% of of the songwriting royalties went to Norman Petty in lieu of recording session fees. Hence, why you see Petty's credits on ALL of Buddy Holly's songs. He never wrote with Buddy, but that 50% got Buddy unlimited studio time at Nor Va Jak Studios in Clovis, New Mexico. It wasn't until late 1958 when Buddy began recording in New York that he didn't want that deal anymore and wanted out from under it. But barely being 21, I think Buddy was a bit naiive; when he sued Norman Petty to get out from under that contract; well, that froze the bank accounts of everybody involved! That's why Buddy signed up for the fateful Winter Party Dance Tour - he was going broke from trying to sue Petty! But if you asked Norman Petty later in life about Buddy; oh no friends and neighbors; it was BUDDY who was stubborn as a mule and HAD to do things his way. Norman was just there to put things on tape! But Gee Whiz, who was the guy overdubbing all of Buddy's unreleased recordings with a Surf Group and strung that stuff out for the next DECADE? Sheesh.... There are many others out there who got SCREWED by managers in the record business. Ask John Fogerty sometime about his contract with Fantasy/Saul Zaentz.

[@sandgrownun66]

@@That_AMC_Guy Interesting. It's a dog eat dog world out there. There are many examples of performers, who signed unfair contracts when starting out. They were just desperate to get a recording deal and weren't aware of what they were committing themselves to.

[@BeautifulDove-i7u]

This guy is/was pure evil

[@Skyluna07]

Colonel Tom Parker had serious breathing problems in 1987. He used to try and talk like a Southerner and it just came out weird. Tom Hanks actually nailed Parker's strange accent.

[@shamCD]

Parker never sounded like Hanks.

[@ELVISPOLICE]

​@@shamCD Exactly..not even close...and thank you for endorsing the late Greg McDonald's book, 'Elvis and The Colonel'...More people should read it if they want to know the truth about Col. Parker. He was human and had his quirks but what a great and genius manager and promoter..and a good and respected friend to Elvis.

[@salbaldanza6930]

We all know that Elvis deserved better. Parker was no more than an agent - just concerned with booking dates and making money. But why does the Presley inner circle defend this guy? Lisa Marie speaks at his funeral and the West cousins, Schilling, Lacker, etc. all say some good things about him. What am I missing?

[@texasgirl6000]

Because they're still living on the gravy train of Elvis's legacy.

[@BeautifulDove-i7u]

Colonel Parker worked for the CIA, the entire music was has always been ran by Mafia and the CIA

[@beautifulinsideout5258]

Elvis was already well known and popular without his help when Col. Parker became his manager. All he did was the booking of TV shows and concerts. But I must admit he was really good when it comes to promotions and selling Elvis merchsndise. As I recall Elvis was the first celebrity to sell them like hats, shoes, etc. and made millions from them.

[@edm5378]

Did he die as an alien without a passport?

[@geoffreyparsons4353]

He priced Elvis out of even more massive artistic achievements. RIO BRAVO , WEST SIDE STORY , midnight cowboy and a Star is born just for starters . Leiber and Stoller were price out , people like John Lennon who offered to write songs for Elvis priced out . Also he was worked insanely . But ho hum many conspiracy theories to why Elvis went along with it 😉