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Article: Col. Tom Parker Dies at 87; Was Elvis Presley's Manager
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- January 22, 1997
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Col. Tom Parker, 87, a onetime carnival pitchman who shrewdly
guided singer-actor Elvis Presley's career for 22 years, died here
Jan. 21 after a stroke.
He became Presley's manager in 1955 just as the young Memphis
truck driver was breaking onto the national scene as a rock-and-roll
sensation. Col. Parker stayed in the position until "the King of
Rock 'n' Roll" died Aug. 16, 1977.
Col. Parker was credited with getting Presley a $35,000
recording contract with RCA Victor in the mid-1950s when Sam
Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis decided to sell Presley's
contract.