Product Description

Based on precedented research and interviews, this authoritative biography of Colonel Tom Parker includes revelations and insights into rock music's most renowned and notorious manager.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1552016 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-25
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Elvis's manager gets a good skewering in this uneven biography by Dickerson (That's Alright, Elvis, with Scotty Moore), a veteran Nashville writer. The strength of the book lies in its early pages, when Dickerson traces Parker's sketchy background in the circus and his rise as a country music manager. The circus business gave him the ideas, Dickerson persuasively argues, that he later effectively used as a music promoter. But throughout the book, Dickerson's judgment is questionable. He argues that both Parker and Elvis were Jewish, but provides weak evidence on both accounts. And after the Dutch-born Parker designated a colonel by a Kentucky governor takes over Elvis's career in the mid-1950s, Dickerson exhibits little of the sympathy biographers usually feel for their subjects. Instead, he blames Parker for Elvis's ruin: "Rather than risk losing his interest in Elvis's contract to his creditors, Parker allowed Elvis to risk losing his career." Even if the colonel did push Elvis into some disastrous film roles to cover some of his own gambling debts, Parker deserves some credit for Presley's rise to demigod status, as Dickerson's own account shows ("Parker's decision to accept RCA's offer was the best thing that could have happened for Elvis' career.... ") There's little doubt that Parker was a shady character plagued by gambling problems, who tried to take advantage of Elvis. But readers hoping for a balanced account of the relationship will be disappointed. 35 pages b&w photos not seen by PW. (May)Forecast: Elvis remains such a national obsession that any book promising a little-explored angle has some commercial potential. But this one won't register on most fans' radars, for true Elvis followers prefer not to have their king upstaged, especially by the man many think betrayed him.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Arguably the most notorious manager in show business history, Col. Tom Parker (1909-97) virtually controlled every aspect of Elvis Presley's career. Dickerson (Goin' Back to Memphis) is tough but fair with his slippery subject. Although he conducted solid research and dozens of interviews, he is unable to prove several key theories that would have distinguished his book from Dirk Vellenga's Elvis and the Colonel (LJ 10/1/88). For example, Dickerson takes Vellenga's groundbreaking discovery that Parker was an illegal alien born in Holland a step further by speculating that he was actually born a Russian Jew. Dickerson himself admits that "there is no documentation to substantiate either claim." More of a stretch are Dickerson's suggestions that Elvis's father intentionally misspelled his son's middle name "Aaron" instead of "Aron" on his gravestone in recognition of Elvis's Jewish heritage and that there may have been mob connections, related to Parker's dealings, in the deaths of Elvis and his father. Otherwise, this is a well-presented biography of Parker, now reviled by many Elvis fans, who through gall and cunning created the ultimate celebrity icon. Recommended where Elvis titles are in demand; another recent Parker biography is Sean O'Neal's My Boy Elvis: The Colonel Tom Parker Story (DIANE Pub., 2001. reprint). Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
"Colonel" Tom Parker, Elvis' own Svengali, shrouded himself in mystery, and Dickerson plumbs the depths of flimflam, self-promotion, outright lies, and showbiz history to reveal him. He claimed to be from Huntington, West Virginia, though his name isn't recorded there, and no documents exist that place him in America before he hit Tampa in the 1930s. Indeed, his name itself is elusive. He apparently was once known as Andreas van Kujik. As for his origins, Dickerson likes best the story that he was born a Russian Jew and passed through Holland en route to the U.S., though a previous biographer contended that he was a native Hollander. Whatever the truth may be, he was, Dickerson emphasizes, a foxy fellow who applied the rules of the carny game, in which he cut his promotional teeth, to managing Elvis. In short, it's a wonder not that he clipped the King for lotsa cash, but that ol' El came out of their dealings with anything at all. This is essential Elvisiana, excellent about showbiz's underbelly. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

I've read it all before
This book is a compolation of every story we've ever heard. The fans have a tendency to blame everyone for Elvis' downfalls and the Colonel is villified for letting Elvis be a drug addict as if he or anyone had any say. The nature of their relationship was established right off. Elvis had the million dollars worth of talent and the Colonel had the ability to cash it in. Elvis went from making $18 a night on the Louisiana Hayride to making $100,000.00 for TV appearances in less than a year. He got Elvis a big money movie contract with an unheard of backend royalty. Elvis had the talent to pull it off; Parker couldn't have done it with Hank Snow. But Elvis was just as talented when he met Parker and was scraping along in the lower strata of middle class. In this book once again the chatracters are stick figures; they're one dimensional in their interaction and the story is worn.

A fascinating insight into The Colonel & into Elvis' career
I like to learn about Elvis from the inside out. This is unquestionably one of the best and most interesting books I have ever read about Elvis' career. It is a fascinating and enlightening insight into Colonel Parker and thus into Elvis and his career also. Dickerson's approach takes you down a road I don't believe has been explored before. He has done remarkable research into (i) what influenced and shaped The Colonel and enabled him to emerge as a revolutionary and unique manager and (ii) into the underlying cultural and political forces of the time that greatly influenced the course of this particular piece of history. If you are serious about learning about Elvis and The Colonel, Dickerson's writing makes you think; it opens doors and suddenly so much becomes clear. The first half of the book is, perhaps, kinder to The Colonel than the second half; but, above all, if you want new and interesting information and great insight into these two gentlemen (Elvis and The Colonel), this book is brilliant. This book is well worth your time and money.

A waste of time.
I don't care to write too much about this book, because it just wastes more time.

Too much effort was put into this book and it was all futile.
Not enough "real hard evidence" supports anything reported in this "tabloid" type of book.
I felt like I was reading the National Enquirer (hardback version) than a book about Elvis and his manager.

This man obviously used a lot of other people's material, from other books, and added his opinion: which doesn't amount to much.

I like Scotty Moore and what he did for Elvis, but he was always kept in the dark about Elvis' business. So his comment about how much this book was an eye-opener is expected.

This was a waste of my money, but even moreso my time.
I would rather read something more substantial.