5 Chapter 4 Colonel Tom Parker

Chapter 4 Colonel Tom Parker Girls weren't the only ones interested in watching Elvis. A man named Colonel Tom Parker also took note. Colonel Parker wasn't actually a colonel. He had once been in the army, but he was not an officer. And he dropped out to join the circus. Parker thought "colonel" made him sound important. Parker couldn't sing or play an instrument. He was a businessman who managed country singer Hank Snow.

COLONEL TOM PARKER Colonel Parker had big plans for Elvis. When they met, he told the young singer that playing small concerts near his home wasn't good enough. He should be touring the country. Elvis should appear on television shows, and star in movies. With his looks and style, Elvis could be bigger than anyone before him. There was one problem. Elvis already had a manager. His name was Bob Neal. Bob was friendly and hard-working. He got Elvis a regular spot on the Louisiana Hayride, a popular concert series on the radio. He also helped Elvis make business deals with Mr. Phillips at Sun Studios. But that didn't stop Parker. He was pushy. Parker knew Elvis needed him. Sun was too small.

Bob Neal was too small, and Elvis was going to be big. Famous record companies should be recording his music. That was the way to get big hits heard all across the country. Mr. Phillips knew all of this, too. But he didn't like Parker, and he didn't want to let Elvis go. Vernon wanted Elvis to sign with Parker. The talk of movies and big record deals impressed Elvis's father. But Gladys had her doubts. She hardly knew this Colonel Parker. And he wasn't easy to like. Parker smoked big cigars that stank up their home. He was older than Vernon. He was blunt, saying whatever he wanted, even if it made people feel bad. He only seemed to care about money. Gladys worried about girls running after her son, tearing at his clothes. Would he be happy spending most nights on a bus, traveling from concert to concert? Gladys wanted him to settle down and start a family.

Elvis adored his mama. Still, he ended up doing what his father wanted. In August of 1955, Colonel Parker became "special adviser" to Elvis. And, sure enough, a few months later, Parker got RCA Records to buy Elvis's contract with Sun. RCA paid thirty-five thousand dollars. That was more money than any other record company had ever paid for a singer. Some people at RCA worried that Elvis would be a flop. Maybe they had made a big mistake. They had nothing to worry about.