Colonel Tom Parker - by James L Dickerson

About the Book

SOON TO BE MADE INTO A MOTION PICTURE STARRING TOM HANKS AS 'THE COLONEL.' This authoritative biography of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager, includes new revelations into the music industry's most notorious and mysterious manager.

Book Synopsis

THIS IS THE BOOK WARNER BROS. PURCHASED FOR BAZ LUHRMANN'S 2022 "ELVIS" MOVIE STARRING TOM HANKS AS 'THE COLONEL.'

Based on unprecedented, original research and interviews with insiders, this authoritative biography of Colonel Tom Parker (1909-1997), Elvis Presley's lifelong manager, includes new revelations and insights into the music industry's most notorious and mysterious manager. Investigative journalist and music writer James L. Dickerson looks at topics such as Parker's illegal entry into the United States, his work as a carny with Royal American Shows, and his management of country singer Eddy Arnold, his partnership with Hank Snow, and how he manipulated Elvis Presley and his family to seize control of the singer's career.

The book examines Parker's greed, his indebtedness to behind-the-scenes players in Las Vegas, his gambling addiction, and his fear of deportation played a role in ruining Elvis's career. Because Colonel Parker was always there with Elvis, gazing ominously over his shoulder, the book presents behind-the-scenes glimpses of the entertainer's career that you will read nowhere else, thanks in part to the author's personal and professional relationship with Elvis's first guitarist, Scotty Moore, with whom the author wrote two revealing books.

Based on unprecedented, original research and interviews with insiders, this authoritative biography of Colonel Tom Parker (1909-1997), Elvis Presley's lifelong manager, includes new revelations and insights into the music industry's most notorious and mysterious manager. Investigative journalist and music writer James L. Dickerson looks at topics such as Parker's illegal entry into the United States, his work as a carny with Royal American Shows, and his management of country singer Eddy Arnold, his partnership with Hank Snow, and how he manipulated Elvis Presley and his family to seize control of the singer's career.

Review Quotes

"A rare glimpse into the underbelly of the music biz."--Los Angeles Daily News

"[A] stunning biography . . . A sad but enlightening, behind-the-scenes look into the life of the King and the man who put him on the throne."--Nashville Tennessean

"This intriguing, meticulously researched biography of Presley's Svengali could be a manual of how not to take care of your client . . . Dickerson has painted a rivetinb portrait of an especially unsavory character."--Billboard

"This jaw-dropping biography . . . is a model of research, assembled with crafty objectivity and humor."--Hal Kanter, director of the Elvis film Loving You

"Dickerson is tough but fair with his slippery subject . . . This is a well-presented biography of Colonel Tom Parker (1909-1997), who, through gall and cunning, created the ultimate celebrity icon. Recommended."--Library Journal

"Dickerson has done his homework The wealth of detail that he gathers and lucidly imparts is never less than utterly compelling . . . He skillfully reduces a labyrinthine saga to simple component parts that make it easy to digest [and] impossible to put down."--Mojo magazine

"Essential Elvisiana. Excellent."--Booklist

"A rare glimpse into the underbelly of the music biz."--Los Angeles Daily News

"[A] stunning biography . . . A sad but enlightening, behind-the-scenes look into the life of the King and the man who put him on the throne."--Nashville Tennessean

"This intriguing, meticulously researched biography of Presley's Svengali could be a manual of how not to take care of your client . . . Dickerson has painted a rivetinb portrait of an especially unsavory character."--Billboard

"This jaw-dropping biography . . . is a model of research, assembled with crafty objectivity and humor."--Hal Kanter, director of the Elvis film Loving You

"Dickerson is tough but fair with his slippery subject . . . This is a well-presented biography of Colonel Tom Parker (1909-1997), who, through gall and cunning, created the ultimate celebrity icon. Recommended."--Library Journal

"Dickerson has done his homework The wealth of detail that he gathers and lucidly imparts is never less than utterly compelling . . . He skillfully reduces a labyrinthine saga to simple component parts that make it easy to digest [and] impossible to put down."--Mojo magazine

"Essential Elvisiana. Excellent."--Booklist