3.5 Stars

I've read many, many books about Elvis over the decades. I vaguely remember reading this author's two volumes on Elvis Presley, "Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley" and "Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley" and finishing them- but not being wowed by them. I feel a bit guilty saying that, because they are chock full of information, yet somewhat of a dry read in its delivery. I had the same experience reading this take, which is a laser focus on the relationship of Elvis Presley and his manager "The Colonel". If you like reading in minute detail about all manner of business dealings in the entertainment industry over the decades, this is the book for you. The first slice of the book is in biography form tracking the origins of "The Colonel" - real name Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk - who was born in the Netherlands in 1909 and entered the US illegally. Upon Elvis's death, he continued to manage his legacy with father Vernon Presley's assent. This area was particularly intriguing, the way The Colonel had a pinpoint, steely focus that never wavered while conducting this business in the wake of such epic tragedy.

The second slice of the book consists of actual business letters written to Elvis, Vernon, and many others in the business realm. It is clear that The Colonel was a robust letter writer, covering exquisite business details, doused in a bit of wry humor and forthrightness. I was particularly interested in reading one about Elvis possibly starring in "A Star is Born" with Barbra Streisand- a movie I absolutely loved from the late seventies - where The Colonel hammered out financial details in a negotiation for Elvis's involvement with this movie.

While I have incredible respect for this author's gargantuan effort in presenting a full-bodied representation of this iconic manager, to me personally it was a bit dry reading as I hate reading about business details and financial numbers. I gravitate towards the more personal stories about Elvis such as with his former wife Priscilla, but she was a mere footnote in this book. As I said before, this is geared towards people who love reading about a clever business mind, how to make contracts, and market a client to the hilt.

Thank you to the publisher Little, Brown and Company who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

One of my older brothers was a big Elvis fan; I distinctly remember hearing on the radio when Presley died. I was born the same day as Elvis’ Aloha from Hawaii concert; my siblings and I would play the album from the concert and lip sync to the music. So, yes, I was always familiar of Presley’s music, and I’d heard stories over the years about Colonel Tom Parker, and most of it was bad.

This new book, The Colonel and the King, sheds light on the Colonel, who was famously guarded during his lifetime. The author was able to go over the Parker’s personal effects including Elvis’ recording contracts and merchandising deals.

The Colonel and the King is a deep dive into the cultural history of the phenomenon that was Elvis Presley and his relationship with his lifelong manager, Tom Parker. There were intricate dynamics to their relationship that most people didn’t understand but become clearer with this book.

The Colonel had a shady, mysterious past. Born in the Netherlands, he made his way to the United States and worked in a variety of entertainment fields until he came upon Elvis Presley. He believed long before others that Elvis was a once in a lifetime talent, and only he knew how to capitalize on Presley’s talent. He literally changed how the music business was conducted with his creative contracts regarding the music and merchandising for Presley.

This was a very interesting book that sheds light on the Colonel and his machinations with Presley’s career.

My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advance copy of a man who was a power behind the throne of The King, a man who was blamed for much, hid much, and yet in the end loved what he did, and the person he gave so much.

America has a complicated history with fame. One allows the famous a lot of latitude in their actions. If something is wrong, well its the people the famous keep around, it could never be the star, it has to be that hanger-on. Elvis Aron Presley was The King, E. and many nicknames to friends, and curse words to parents and moral authorities. Elvis changed music, how it was sold, how it was presented, and who it should be marketed to. This can all be attributed to the man who saw the potential in Elvis, and did so much to make that potential come true. Colonel Tom Parker was a big man, with a gift for messing up words, an understanding of what needed to be done for his clients, and and the work ethic to get things done be it setting up lights, advertising a show, or making record breaking deals with RCA. Parker was a complicated man, a man dismissed for using Elvis, for cheating him, and even worse for lying about his past. However what comes clear after reading this book, the Colonel took his power seriously and did the best to let his man be the King he was. The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership that Rocked the World by Peter Guralnick is a look at an a American original, one who who lived the American dream, made American wealth, and changed America forever.

Colonel Thomas Andrew Parker told everyone he was born in West Virginia, which wasn't really a lie, as that is where the persona, even the Avatar one could say was created. Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk the man who became the Colonel was born in the Netherlands in 1909. Andreas was a man who was never close with his family and struck out on his own at a very young age. Growing bored Andreas decided to come to America stowing away twice after being caught the first time, learning English and hitting the road. The performing life hit him when working with the circus, learning not only the performing end, but the advertising, and how to run a show. By now Andreas was calling himself Tom Parker, was married, a veteran of the military, and slowly getting into the talent business. Parker was promoting a few large country show when he began to hear stories about a kid blasting people out of their seats, causing a ruckus. Parker slowly ingrained himself with the Presley camp, becoming friends with his family, promoting bigger and bigger shows, and getting him off of Sun Records, onto RCA, which gave him one of the highest deals at the time. After a slow start Elvis Presley, soon became a phenomenon and Parker, now a Colonel through the grace of a friendly governor, was right there with him.

One of my big regrets is not reading the Peter Guralnick's biographies on Elvis, though I can see them staring at me from my shelf. I have read others by Guralnick, his Sam Phillips book is especially good. So in many ways I had a preconception of what the Colonel was to Presley. I thought the worse of him. A man who drove the love of music out of Elvis, making only money, and limiting Elvis into not wanting to travel the world, as Parker was not an American citizen. I was so wrong. This book is so illuminating about a I want to say friendship, but I will use relationship that really did change music. Parker did everything he could for Elvis, making deals that no one had thought of, setting up concerts few had thought of, and working twenty-four/seven for Presley. Parker comes across as not a money crazed music man, but as a man who loved to deal, to see what he could get, and make people he cared about happy. And a lot of money. This book was not only fascinating, it was hard to put down, due both to the writing and the subject matter. One of the best music books I have read in a while, and I have been reading a lot of music books.

Presley fans will learn a lot. Music historians will learn a lot, especially about the deals that Parker made, and how the business changed because of Parker. A really fascinating book, that makes me even feel worse about still not getting to those Elvis biographies.

The life of Elvis Presley has been covered in myriad ways. The public is, in general terms, aware of the close cadre of people that surrounded him. This book I found to be quite interesting as it digs deeper into the Colonel Parker and Elvis connection by first beginning with Parker's life and then dovetailing nicely into the collaboration with Presley. It is a much fuller representation of Elvis' career. It is also written in a way that is easy to understand yet provides much information. Finally, the historical perspective creates a sense of nostalgia for that era.