Little Brown and Company published Peter Guralnick's new biography on Elvis' manager, 'The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership that Rocked the World'
In this book, the biographer draws from archival material to paint a fresh portrait of Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Publicity stated: In early 1955, Colonel Tom Parker (the manager of the number-one country music star of the day) heard that an unknown teenager from Memphis had just drawn a crowd of more than 800 people to a Texas schoolhouse and headed south to investigate. Within a matter of days, Parker was sending out telegrams and letters to promoters and booking agents: 'We have a new boy that is absolutely going to be one of the biggest things in the business in a very short time. His name is Elvis Presley.' The close personal bond between Elvis and the Colonel is something that has never been fully portrayed before. It was a relationship founded on mutual admiration and support. From the outset, the Colonel defended Elvis fiercely and indefatigably against RCA executives, Elvis' own booking agents and movie moguls. But in their final years together, the story grew darker, as the Colonel found himself unable to protect Elvis from himself - or to control growing problems of his own.
Little, Brown and Company will publish the 624-page book on August 5, 2025. The book is already available for pre-order from >>> Amazon (associate link).
Up Close: Colonel Parker's Promotional Jackets
Graceland shared the latest episode of its exclusive video series, Elvis: Up Close, offering fans a rare look at the king’s most memorable artifacts and the stories behind them.
This new installment spotlights two custom-made promotional jackets worn by Elvis’s legendary manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Designed as wearable advertisements, each jacket is covered in bright logos, co-star names, and film titles, turning Parker into a walking billboard for Elvis’s movie career.
One jacket highlights the 1964 film Roustabout, complete with Paramount Pictures branding. The other promotes Kissin’ Cousins and features the iconic MGM lion logo. Flashy, eccentric, and completely unique, these jackets reflect Parker’s bold marketing style and tireless dedication to keeping Elvis in the spotlight.
(Source: Little Brown and Company / Graceland)
