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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.
Col. Parker also arranged Presley's early television
appearances, including three on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1956 and ...