Manager of Elvis Presley

Signed "Special Collector's Edition" Book

(1909-1997) Born as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, in The Netherlands, he stowed away on a ship and entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. He changed his name to Thomas Andrew Parker, and settled in the U.S. claiming to be born in West Virginia. His background was in carnivals where he gained his experience as a showman and con artist. Parked got involved in music promotion in 1938, working with such American stars as Gene Austin, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow and Tommy Sands. He helped Jimmie Davis get elected as the Governor of Louisiana and was awarded the honorary rank of "Colonel" in the Louisiana State Guard. Parker first met the young, barely known, Elvis Presley in 1955, recognized his immense talent, and by 1956 he talked his way into becoming Presley's manager serving in that capacity until Elvis's untimely death at 42 years old, on August 16, 1977. The Colonel was known to be both a legendary manager, or an unscrupulous con artist depending on which camp you are in. It was because of the fact that Parker's non American citizenship was originally unknown to Elvis, and that Colonel Parker was an illegal alien, and not a United States citizen, that Parker prevented Elvis from touring abroad, something Elvis yearned to do, ever since he got out of the army, but was talked out of it by the manipulation of Colonel Parker.

Elvis & Colonel Tom Parker, The Partnership Behind The Legend

8 1/2 x 11, book, with thick quality cardboard covers, and printed on glossy paper stock. Copyright 1994. Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. 31 pages full of wonderful color and black and white photographs. Special Collectors Edition printed in gold at the upper right corner. There is a beautiful large color photograph on the front cover with a seated Elvis Presley wearing a red shirt and white pants, with Colonel Parker standing at his side with one hand on Elvis's shoulder while holding his wooden cane in the other. Great large and bold autograph on the front cover, signed in gold sharpie pen, "Thanks, The Colonel." Parker always signed his autograph simply as "Colonel, or The Colonel," never using his full fake name! I got this very rare item from my dear late friend, Joe Moscheo, who was also a great friend and band mate of Elvis Presley, besides being a member of The Imperials gospel quartet. Joe was a Grammy Award winner, a Dove Award winner, and two time member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. VERY RARE and extremely desirable autograph!