This Day in History: 1997-01-21

Col Tom Parker

June 26, 1909 – January 21, 1997

Col Tom Parker was Elvis Presley’s manger and business partner. Col Tom started as a carnival barker and eventually began managing music artists like “Hank Snow” and “Eddy Arnold”. The Colonel, as he was called, was a cunning and clever business man who never passed on making a buck. The Colonel owned 55% of Elvis Presley enterprises at one time when Elvis only owned 22% and was responsible for the majority of  Elvis’s career decisions. Although listed as an American, when he died, the Colonel was found to have been born in Breda, Netherlands and therefore an illegal immigrant. The Colonel passed away of a heart attack in his Las Vegas Home.