Tom Parker

Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk more commonly known as Colonel Tom Parker was a Dutchborn musical entrepreneur best known for being Elvis Presleys manager Born in the Netherlands Parker immigrated illegally to the United States at the age of 20 He then changed his name and claimed to have been born in the United States A carnival worker by background Parker moved into music promotion in 1938 working with one of the first popular crooners Gene Austin and then country music singers Eddy Arnold Hank Snow and Tommy Sands in his early career He also assisted Jimmie Daviss campaign to become Governor of Louisiana As a reward Davis gave him the honorary rank of colonel in the Louisiana State Militia Parker encountered Elvis Presley in 1955 and by 1956 had become his sole representative