The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership that Rocked the World

by Peter Guralnick

From the award-winning biographer of Elvis Presley, The Colonel and the King is a groundbreaking dual portrait of the relationship between the iconic artist and his legendary manager, Colonel Tom Parker, drawing on a wealth of Parker's never-before-seen correspondence to reveal that this oft-reviled figure was in fact a confidant, friend, and architect of his client's success.
 
In early 1955, Colonel Tom Parker—the manager of the number-one country musician 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 days, Parker was sending out telegrams and letters to promoters and booking “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.” Later that year, after signing with RCA, the young man sent a telegram of his “Dear Colonel, Words can never tell you how my folks and I appreciate what you did for me.... I love you like a father.”
 
The close personal bond between Elvis and the Colonel proved impossible for outside observers to understand—not during their lifetimes, and not in the decades since. It was a long-standing, deeply committed relationship, founded on mutual admiration and support. As the Colonel wrote to Elvis in July 1973, several years before the star’s tragic “Without a doubt you are by far the greatest artist I have ever known, and can be even greater if you just believe in yourself half as much as I believe in you.” 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, and the relationship strained, as the Colonel found himself unable to protect Elvis from himself—or to control growing problems of his own.
 
Featuring troves of never-before-seen correspondence from the Colonel’s own archives, revelatory both for their insights and—particularly with respect to Elvis—their emotional depth, The Colonel and the King provides a unique perspective on not one but two American originals. A tale of the birth of the modern-day superstar (an invention almost entirely of Parker’s making) by the most acclaimed music writer of his generation, it presents these two misunderstood icons as they’ve never been seen with all of their brilliance, humor, and flaws on full display.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History, Audiobook

624 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2025

About the author

Peter Guralnick is an acclaimed American music critic, author, and screenwriter best known for his deeply researched works on the history of rock and roll. He earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Boston University and soon began writing about blues, country, soul, and early rock music. His two-volume biography of Elvis Presley, Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love, is considered a definitive account of the singer’s life. Guralnick also authored landmark biographies of Sam Cooke and Sam Phillips, earning praise from critics and musicians alike. He has written liner notes for legends like Jerry Lee Lewis and Charlie Rich, winning a Grammy for his notes on Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club. His documentary scripts include Sam Cooke – Legend and Feel Like Going Home, directed by Martin Scorsese. Guralnick’s writing stands apart for its straightforward, unembellished style, earning him a reputation as one of rock’s most respected storytellers. He has taught at Vanderbilt University since 2005 and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2010. His recent works include Looking to Get Lost and a forthcoming biography of Colonel Tom Parker. Guralnick lives with his wife, Alexandra, and their family. His extensive archive is housed at the University of North Carolina’s Wilson Library.

Reviews

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Bruce Raterink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read ten books by Peter Guralnick, and at least that many on Elvis, including the two volume set by Peter Guralnick so I was surprised to find such a new perspective on Colonel Tom Parker. This thoroughly researched book, like all by this author, presents the entire Elvis Presley story from the perspective of his exclusive manager, as well as the history of the Colonel before and after Elvis. With complete access to the Colonel's correspondence plus interviews with his widow and other contemporary individuals, the author acknowledges that this perspective of the Colonel is different for him as well. The first two-thirds of the book is a typical, well written narrative biography and the last third consists of the actual letters that were used as reference for the book. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advanced reader copy.

[kw204741]

To be honest, Peter Guralnick lost me when he quoted Alana Nash. I've already read Alana Nash's book on The Colonel and Elvis's relationship numerous times. I've already read the obvious money grab that was clearly biased towards the Colonel written by Greg MacDonald. I've also read both biographies written by Peter Guralnick, "Last Train To Memphis and Careless Love." In fact, they're my favorite books written about Elvis to date. I've read them many times. So you can imagine my disappointment that at 24% in, I realize that the only thing new Peter has to offer is mundane information about the technical business side of Elvis's career and misinformation on topics that have been cemented in my brain for decades. I don't need to read 624 pages of that.

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty disappointing, lacks the magic and mythos of Guralnick’s Elvis biography.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The more Peter Guralnick books I read, the more I never want to read another one again. His books are such slow, tough reads because of his pretentious writing style. I don't really care enough to read that much about the Colonel with that little about Elvis. He kept referring the reader to read his other books whenever Elvis related events came up, which was a very odd choice. The book was full of holes and felt incomplete, despite the length of over 700 pages! It of course, did not change my opinion of the Colonel in any way. But did provide a more well rounded understanding of him whether I cared to know it or not. My main issues with the Colonel remain: why didn't he add into the movie contracts any kind of creative control for Elvis? Why did he keep extending the movie contracts after the movies were clearly beneath his talent and getting worse? How could he have thought it was fair to take 50% of his earnings? Peter Guralnick tries to give him a pass on these and many other issues. I will not.

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

****SPOILER ALERT****



This book is a repetitive, revisionist mess. Split into two parts that echo each other with the same letters and excuses, it pads instead of probes. The second part of the book is word-for-word things mentioned in the first part. Guralnick paints Colonel Parker as warm-hearted and universally loved—ignoring decades of testimony from those who clashed with him. He claims Parker supported Elvis’s artistic freedom, yet never really explains the garbage movie scripts, the blocked world tour, or the lack of creative control in contracts. Major roles like Thunder Road and A Star Is Born? Not explored. His mysterious past—including fleeing the Netherlands under suspicious circumstances—is not mentioned at all. And while his wife was ill and dying, Parker lived with another woman—yet Guralnick glosses over that too. Elvis is barely present, and the “relationship” promised in the title is never examined with any real depth. Guralnick seems more interested in defending Parker from portrayals like the 2022 film than in telling the full truth. If you're looking for honesty about Elvis and the Colonel, you might want to look elsewhere to get the entire story. The book reads like a full-on bromance, not a biography. Guralnick doesn’t just defend Colonel Parker; he romanticizes him. Instead of critically examining Parker’s manipulations, missed opportunities, and shady past, he wraps him in warm anecdotes and recycled letters like they’re love notes. It’s less “The Colonel and the King” and more “The Colonel and His Biggest Fan.”

[Matt Carmichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting deep dive on The “Colonel” Tom Parker and his relationship with Elvis. The author takes pains to counter argue commonly held beliefs that Parker took advantage of Elvis and their bond was only about money. Its obvious, through his personal letters, that Parker truly loved Elvis and Elvis truly loved the “Colonel”. I appreciate that Parker is a fascinating character & was a genius of promotion. Apparently Parker did not meddle in Elvis’ creative decisions or control Elvis money (according to Guralnick). However can we ever fully know a person distilled in a few hundred pages or the depth of their relationships? If someone wrote a book about me, i am sure there would be gaps in my thoughts & feelings, undocumented events, …secrets. Only Elvis and Parker know everything, but this book is a must read for fans. I think there is no Elvis “the King” without “Colonel” Tom Parker.

[Bookreporter.com Biography & Memoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the third volume in Peter Guralnick’s triptych covering the life and times of Elvis Presley, THE COLONEL AND THE KING arrives bearing weighty expectations. His previous bios about Elvis, LAST TRAIN TO MEMPHIS and CARELESS LOVE, were award-winning tomes that were hailed by music historians and top-shelf review media alike --- in droves.

But unlike those earlier bestsellers, center stage in this latest installment is occupied not by the King himself, but rather by his formidable manager --- the self-knighted “Colonel” Tom Parker, who joined forces with Elvis in 1955, when Elvis was still only a regional attraction in the South. Parker would stay with Elvis for the remainder of his storied career, right up until the tragic day that Elvis died, and kept representing many of the interests of the Presley estate for years afterward.

THE COLONEL AND THE KING also deviates from the first two books in having an unusual structure. The first half is a conventional biography covering Colonel’s (we are told that he eschewed the “The” deliberately) highly colorful and vastly mysterious early life as a highly illegal teenage immigrant from Holland who finally reached America as a stowaway in the late 1920s after an earlier failed attempt.

All of the key notes are covered in Guralnick’s trademark meticulous fashion, including Tom Parker’s (his nom de plume upon arriving in the US) years as a promoter for circuses and carnivals throughout the South; his entrance into the armed services, where he was stationed in Hawaii; and his fateful entry into the country music business, where he soon began a 10-year run as the manager of Eddy Arnold, one of the major stars of early C&W in the ’40s and ’50s, followed by his star-building term with the charismatic Hank Snow.

Then, in 1955, came the dawning of Parker's courtship of Elvis Presley, who was a raw 20-year-old from Memphis with charisma to burn and the frantic local crowds to prove it. It was a relationship that would run deep and true for the next 20 years, though the last several hit some serious shoals and frequently seemed on the verge of foundering.

But the even more interesting second half of the book consists entirely of correspondence from Parker’s vast archive of his decades of negotiations on behalf of Elvis --- with RCA record executives, concert promoters, television and film moguls, record distributors, Las Vegas hotel management, and everyone else who ever had the ability to employ or market the King’s artistry. Guralnick reveals that he was given unfettered access to this enormous archive by the Presley estate. So all thanks to them for making this probing study possible.

In a rather surprising note, Guralnick reveals that during the ’80s, he even suggested to Parker --- with whom he often corresponded --- that Parker should avail himself of this treasure trove to produce his own book. Obviously that project never came to pass, but it must be said that Guralnick’s commentary on each letter and telegram that is presented herein are invaluable for providing full context and analysis --- a task that the aged Colonel would not have been able to perform at this level (or, most likely, at all).

In any event, there are high points to this formidable ocean of collected correspondence, as well as a few downsides.

With literally thousands of missives from which to select for this volume, Guralnick presents many gems. Some that are especially striking are Colonel Parker’s endless renegotiations with the execs at RCA, who acquired Elvis from Sam Phillips’ Sun Records late in 1955 for what then was the lofty sum of $35,000 (which, in the hindsight of 70 years, now seems laughable).

The way that Colonel constantly prevailed over that mighty corporation provides more than a few laughs, along with profound admiration. He even managed to hypnotize RCA into giving Elvis a guaranteed advance and royalty raise in the midst of a 40% sales decline over the past few years. Abracadabra!

In fact, one of the most surprising elements revealed in this correspondence is how utterly checked out Elvis was on both his recording and filmmaking work for a period of almost two-and-a-half years during the mid-’60s while he immersed himself in his spiritual studies. This doubtless led to a negative effect on his artistic output in every realm --- and the public noticed.

Just as impressive was Colonel’s more delicate manipulations of the film executives at the major studios who contracted to make Elvis’ first four films, prior to him leaving for the Army at the end of 1957. Playing them off against each other, he managed to extract ever more favorable terms for his client, who by now was one of the premier attractions in all of show business.

While Elvis’ years in the armed services were not necessarily filled with drama, we are provided with so many fascinating details of how Colonel kept alive the Elvis industry --- and even grew it in his absence! --- while laying plans for his 1960 return to action. Of particular interest to me were the dozens of letters involving negotiations for Elvis’ big comeback special on NBC in 1968, an artistic triumph that launched the King into the third vastly successful phase of his career just when he had appeared to be washed up.

Just as revelatory are the exchanges between Parker and both Elvis and his father, Vernon, that enumerate the many ways in which Elvis was recklessly spending more than he was earning, which led to at least one frightening exchange with the IRS.

The drawback to the second half of THE COLONEL AND THE KING is that nearly a quarter of the privileged communiques involve minutiae that doesn’t really pay off. It sometimes seems that every single licensing agreement and contract renegotiation for a period of over 20 years is represented here. While the vast majority of these letters are informative and, in many cases, even revelatory, there is some amount of dross that eventually weighs even the most voracious reader. Without enumerating any of them here, several dozen exchanges could have been given a haircut without any loss to history.

It also must be said that Colonel’s personal life does not exactly reach the level of The Agony and the Ecstasy. Of course, it has to be represented here, maybe just not as fully. The man was a business genius, but in living his life, there was little on his mind except benefiting Elvis further.

That said, THE COLONEL AND THE KING is a wonderful example of the author’s narrative skill and research wizardry. A lifelong Elvis fan (I was a child of the ’50s), at first I did not think that I would have the interest to read 600 pages about the life and business dealings of Colonel Tom Parker. But Peter Guralnick proved me wrong, a hundred times over. I am very glad to have learned that lesson.

Reviewed by Michael Barson

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Michael Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guralnick's two volume biography on Elvis is the definitive one. It is clear from this book that while writing that book, he became intrigued by Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker. This is a three-hundred-and-thirty-page biography of the Colonel, followed by 250 pages of the Colonel's letters. Guralnick says in the prologue that he originally intended to produce a book of letters with commentary and that it eventually evolved into a full biography.

The Colonel lived a life worth telling. He was born with the name Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in the Netherlands in 1909. He was a stowaway who entered the US illegally in 1929, on his second attempt. He assumed a false name and joined the Army for two years. He then began working with carnivals and circus as an advance man. He told stories of his days as a carny for the rest of his life.

He began working as a promoter. He eventually signed as manager for several big country stars including Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow. In 1955 he saw Elvis. He knew immediately that this was a star. He dropped everything and devoted the rest of his life to managing him.

He was a brilliant and demanding manager. He beat up on RCA records for over twenty years. He made an initial bad deal for Presley on movies but negotiated his way out of it as the years went by. He was a control freak who tracked every detail on Elvis' business. He personally approved the ads. He negotiated the merchandise deals. He controlled every penny.

Guralnick is fascinated by the Colonel. He met him while working on his Elvis books and he was given access to his archives. He had long conversations with his second wife, Loanne. He disputes the accepted picture of The Colonel as a conniving dishonest conman.

Guralnick says that the Colonel deliberately came off as an unsophisticated hick, but he was a very sharp negotiator who usually got the best of any deal. He insists that his word was good and that he was honest in his accounting of money to Elvis.

It appears that The Colonel got greedy as he and Elvis got older. He renegotiated his deal with Elvis to take a 50% share of new deals, rather than the old 25% share. When RCA bought Elvis' catalog in 1973 the Colonel negotiated a complicated deal which ended up with him getting $6 million and Elvis getting $4.5 million. Everything was disclosed to Elvis, but it is not clear that it was explained to Elvis, who was struggling with his drug issues by that time.

This is a personal biography. Guralnick often gives us his opinion about what is happening. For example, at one point he says, "It occurs to me that by presenting the Colonel's actions so cavalierly, and in so compressed a form, I am doing a disservice to all of the planning..." or , at another point, "There's no doubt in my mind that Colonel was as capable as ever of amusing himself with these and other similar distractions."

The end of the story is sad. The Colonel became an addicted gambler who would go on 24-hour gambling sprees in Las Vegas. Elvis was spiraling down with drugs and uncontrolled spending. Neither could talk to the other about these problems. Guralnick says "they were locked in a relationship of mutual denial."

Guralnick works hard at giving a feel for the true character of a man who worked very hard not to let anyone get close. I ended up more sympathetic with, and impressed by, the Colonel then I was, but he was still a carny working every deal for every angle. He worked the long con on Elvis.

[Brian Rothbart · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Colonel and the King, Peter Guralnick revisits the life and career of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley’s famous manager. Originally conceived as a publication of Parker’s correspondence with minimal commentary, the book instead offers a narrative interwoven with letters, aiming to provide what Guralnick calls a “fair and balanced” portrait. The story follows the Colonel from his early life in the Netherlands to his rise in American entertainment, his pivotal role in Elvis’s career, and his enduring influence on Presley’s public image and business decisions. Besides the correspondence and research from others, Guralnick draws heavily on interviews, most notably with the Colonel’s second wife, Loanne.

Guralnick has long been respected for his deep research, narrative clarity, and ability to bring nuance to musical biographies. His two-volume Elvis biography remains a high-water mark for pop culture history. Unfortunately, The Colonel and the King falls well short of that standard. While the book contains occasional fresh details and interesting anecdotes, its approach feels rushed, overly deferential, and uncritical of its subject.

Despite claiming to offer a balanced account, Guralnick omits or glosses over numerous controversial aspects of the Colonel’s life and career. Key incidents, such as allegations about the Colonel’s childhood abuse, the suspicious circumstances of his departure from the Netherlands, questions around a possible murder, his going AWOL from the Army, and his role in key creative and business disputes are ignored, minimized, or reframed to cast Parker in the best possible light. The result is a narrative with conspicuous blind spots that undermine its credibility.

The heavy reliance on Loanne recollections is especially problematic. Loanne, fiercely loyal to her late husband, has an obvious agenda, yet Guralnick seems to accept her version of events uncritically. Even more striking are the absences: no meaningful discussion of The Colonel’s alleged interference with song publishing rights, the behind-the-scenes drama of the 1968 Comeback Special, the A Star Is Born negotiations, his absence during Elvis’s time in Germany, or his handling of figures like Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and Leiber and Stoller.

Some interpretations border on revisionism, such as the suggestion that The Colonel foresaw the cultural revolution of Elvis’s rise, or that Larry Geller’s influence derailed Elvis’s career choices. These narratives oversimplify, dismiss or contradict other documented accounts. At times, the book even reads like a defense brief, reframing well-known conflicts to portray the Colonel as selflessly taking blame for Elvis’s sake.

Guralnick himself admits that the project began as a lightly annotated collection of letters. That origin may explain why the book feels thin, why key historical disputes go unexamined, and why it reads more as a tribute than an investigation. Readers hoping for the rigorous, probing work seen in Guralnick’s earlier Elvis volumes may be disappointed.

While The Colonel and the King will appeal to completists and those curious about the Colonel’s own voice through his correspondence, it offers little in the way of new, critical insight. By leaning too heavily on sympathetic sources and sidestepping controversy, Guralnick delivers a portrait that feels more like a valentine than a biography. For a subject as complex and controversial as Colonel Parker, it’s a missed opportunity.

[Richard West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It took a long time to read this one! It's divided into two books, Book One is the story of Colonel Tom Parker and the other is a collection of letters he wrote - and those aren't easy to read because sometimes his English left a bit to be desired.

This is quite possibly the only biography of Parker that shows him in a sympathetic light. Most everything else that has been written about him shows him to be a somewhat opportunistic, money-grabbing, uneducated s-o-b who didn't really care all that much about Elvis Presley other than the money that Elvis could bring in, which wasn't as much as a lot of people believed. However, after reading this, you come away with the impression - based upon Parker's own letters - that he truly did care about Elvis in more than just a managerial way.

So why should one believe this version of the Parker story? Author Peter Guralnick is possibly the leading biographer of Elvis having written two outstanding books about Presley and he has nothing to gain by spinning falsehoods. And, it's obvious he's done his research - this book, as he admits, has been in the works for several decades and then some.

And the book also is about Elvis - after all, how could a book about Parker not be about Elvis Presley? So it's must reading for the Elvis fan.

We follow Parker from his days as a child and youth in his native Holland (he never did become a naturalized American citizen), through his days as a carnival huckster and to his eventual crossing paths with Elvis. Not everything was peaches and cream - their relationship had its rough spots and it's all here. The first 329 pages are what we can call The Parker Story while those that remain are the letters between Parker and just about everyone he ever corresponded with.

This is a fascinating look at a fascinating character and if you're an Elvis fan is - as mentioned- must reading. And if you've read Guralnick's other two books about Elvis, it's a good follow-up.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured Guralnick's books Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love. They made up a gripping, richly detailed biography, the rise and fall of Elvis Presley.

With The Colonel and the King, Guralnick fills in that history with the story of the relationship between Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis. But first we get Parker's story, from his childhood in the Netherlands to his journey to America as a stowayay, to his stint in the Army to his carnival days. With Parker's blessing and access to his archives, Guralnick uses Colonel's own words and letters to portray the man behind Elvis. He also makes clear that he's not a fan of Colonel's recent portrayals on film (Hi Baz!).

It's a compelling portrait, reflecting Colonel's tenacity, humor, desperation and conflict as he always tried to secure the best deals for his client (and himself). And there's a mind-numbing amount of detail about contracts and royalties.

This isn't Elvis' story. More than once, Guralnick refers the reader to the two above-mentioned tomes for more details on, say, the Army, the '68 Special, the movies, Priscilla and Lisa Marie, etc.

This is a lengthy book. Over 600 pages. Book One, a little over half, is dedicated to the narrative. Book Two contains the actual letters. Book Two also gives context for the letters, rehashing the narrative from Book One. I wish this could have been edited differently, to prevent reading those anecdotes twice.

My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the Advance Reader Copy. (pub. date 8/5/2025).

[Julio The Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The pure products of America go crazy". William Carlos Williams, "Spring and All".
Both Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker were 100% pure Americans, even if the Colonel was born in Holland ne' Andres van Kuijk. If the Colonel lied about his name, citizenship, army record, and finances, so what? Isn't that what the American dream is all about, remaking yourself? Elvis remade himself too; from sharecropper's son and truck driver to rock and roller. He ripped-off Black blues, gospel and country music to forge not just a new sound but a new identity. No one had ever been "Elvis Presley" before. Peter Guralnick, author of the two-volume Elvis bio LAST TRAIN TO MEMPHIS and CARELESS LOVE: THE UNMAKING OF ELVIS PRESLEY goes beyond the standard picture of Elvis the young naif exploited by a greedy bastard. These two men represented the flip sides of the same coin. They were going to milk celebrity for all it was worth. In that, both men succeeded and naturally paid the same price. Elvis retreated into a claustrophobic world of drugs and religious mysticism while the Colonel used Elvis' Las Vegas act to pay off his huge gambling debts. This story is surely worth telling, yet Guralnick has introduced himself into the narrative, with an annoying "I" or "me" in nearly every paragraph; "I thought {the} Colonel was wrong", and "looking back, it seems to me..". Guralnick excuses this on the grounds that he met Parker once, after Elvis's death, and told him of his plans for this dual biography, but the impact is still cloying. That aside, this is still the riveting story of two men who working in tandem created American superstardom.

[Charles James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book .
Peter Guralnick has written the definitive biography on Elvis Presley and one of the best books on 60's / 70's soul music. Unfortunately this does not reach the heights of these books on several fronts . The first is the structure of the book , the first half of the book is a 250 page biography of Col Tom Parker . The second the second is the author explaining the importance of various correspondence he has had access to followed by him reading the letter extracts. I must admit that I at various stages thought the audio book had malfunctioned because I heard the same thing about three times. The book also only seems to focus on sources that are favourable to the Colonel i.e. his correspondence and the testimony of his second wife . Many negative aspects of his life and business dealings appear to be glossed over .
On plus side the book does provide a good overview of a wealth of original material that has not been considered in previous books and the sources he does focus on are well researched . The book could have ben called the defence Colonel Tom Parker .To get a good overview of Parker one should read this in conjunction with other biographies (i.e. Alanna Nash The colonel : The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley 2003) . This is book worth reading for Elvis Fans to get a wider understanding of the Elvis /Parker relationship. Not one for those with a passing interest

[MISS MELANIE J HAMPSON · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more appropriate title for this book would have been 'The Colonel', though I know that was already taken by the fairly recent Alanna Nash biography to which this book owes a little debt of gratitude.

If you are seeking a biography of Elvis, this book is not for you as it focuses primarily on Colonel Parker. Guralnick's two existing, excellent biographies of Elvis tell his story in a comprehensive & sensitive way if that is what you are seeking.

It was interesting to read some of the Colonel's correspondences, especially pertaining to his relationship with the infamous Memphis Mafia & their role as 'go betweens', especially during the latter stages of Elvis's career but the letters in general were quite tricky to navigate as the Colonel's writing style was very rambling & repetitive.

In the earlier biographical section of the book, I found the author's use of brackets to be quite clumsy, often utilising them in the middle of sentences when it would have made the text flow better had they been placed after the full stop.

The author has said that he wanted to shatter some of the myths that surround the Colonel & his relationship with Elvis & he does partially achieve this as I did find myself agreeing with the Colonel at certain points, especially when the influence of the Memphis Mafia was increasing.

[Byron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book to some extent mirrors Guralnick's earlier ones on Elvis: impeccably researched but lacking editor to help him separate the wheat from chaff and cut to the chase faster. The result is a sprawling, dense, repetitive and uneven reading experience. But if you can slog through the first 150+ pages, there's light here, worth the effort, even if like me you're not a diehard Elvis fan. Because this is not a celebrity tell all but a memorable story about the road millions of people before and since the Colonel travelled to find/make settle into a decidedly American kind of life. The fact that the man who called himself Tom Parker and played such an outsized role in Presley's life gives this story some legs, to be sure. But this as much a narrative about how the United States remains a singular place on earth where dreams built from parsed to wholly fictional biographies, replete with repeated trial by error reinventions along the way, can still take place. Guralnick does a solid job of dismantling much of the speculation and press about Parker as a manager, most especially that he exploited the entertainer financially. But for me, more than anything, he offers an immigrant's story about how Americans from all walks of life opened their homes, welcomed him into their lives and extended Parker goodwill, which he not only appreciated and returned in kind. The fabulous mix of letters at the back amplify on all of this but here again I wish the author had resisted the temptation to comment on each and instead let them speak for themselves.

[Kelly O'toole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives me a new perspective on the relationship between Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley. It's probably the most even-handed account I've ever read. It might even be more sympathetic to Colonel Parker than any other version of the Parker-Presley relationship I've read. Colonel is certainly not portrayed as a saint, but thanks to tens of thousands of letters, memos and other documents the author was lucky enough to lay his hands on at the Graceland Archives, we finally get to hear the story largely in the Colonel's voice. A lot of background information that's never been available is now brought forward that helps explain both Colonel and Presley's behaviors. I came away from this book seeing Colonel as less of a villain and more a human. Flawed, like all of us, but with good intentions for the most part. And Elvis certainly made mistakes that strained their long relationship. Guralnick's previous Presley biographies set the standard for Elvis bios, and I'm glad I read this book to get the straight story on a crucial part of Elvis Presley's life and career. We may never have the full story--only Elvis and Colonel know what really happened between them--but this is about as close as we will ever get. A great read for Elvis fans, celebrity bio enthusiasts, and pop culture/music industry bio fans.

[D. D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preordered this book before it was released. I wish I hadn't. The title is totally misleading. It's not about the Colonel And The King and the Partnership that rocked the world. It's quite simply THE STORY ABOUT THE COLONEL.
The correspondence is 99% one sided and the 2 letters by Elvis and one or two by Vernon Presley don't say anything other than thanks or something of this sort. This is so one sided because apparently the writer wants posthumously to shed a favourable light on the Colonel. It's a struggle to do it however and regrettably he does not succeed.
Why he does not succeed? Because however many letters he left out so he could prove his point the truth is different than the one he's trying and failing to create.
Don't get me wrong, this is a very well written book hence the 3 stars. This author knows how to take you into a story and keep your interest to the last page, even when you know you're been fed a fable.
Regardless of all that I wish I had waited for the paperback because this book is too heavy! 😂
This is most certainly NOT a book for a fan of Elvis Presley. And it's not fair that Elvis' name or photo is on the cover.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointment, especially for those readers who were blown away by Guralnick's magnificent biography of Elvis Presley. This book is a lumpy hybrid - the first half is a cursory 300-page biography of Col. Tom Parker, and the second half is an annotated collection of the Colonel's letters. Guralnick said he originally was just going to publish the letters, and writing a biography was a later idea - and it shows. It doesn't seem like his heart is in it. The problem is that by the time I got to the letters, I was pretty damn sick of the Colonel and had no desire to read a recapitulation of his life.

I admit to getting choked up by the last couple letters the Colonel sent to Elvis, who was no longer responding to them. The Colonel's heartiness and bravado completely deserts him as he sees his friend disappear before his very eyes. These are some of the saddest letters I've ever read.

[Dennis Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

It will go along way to helping restore the Colonel‘s reputation. But it seems like the author is biased in favor of his subject. It feels like a vigorous rebuttal of the 2022 Baz Luhrmann movie which goes conspicuously unmentioned in the narrative. The Colonel just come off as caring and savvy, but Guralnik excuses a 15 year-plus affair while his wife was ill and couches any brusqueness as a defense mechanism for an inferiority complex.

It is like two books in one: the first half is a biography which takes pains not to focus on Elvis, followed by a lengthy and insightful list of correspondence throughout the years.

All in all, you do come out with a more favorable view of the Colonel as, at the very least, a complicated individual — but you are left wondering if the truth lies somewhere in between.

[Faithe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the partnership that rocked the world by Peter Gutalnick

In 1955 Colonel Tom Parker heard Elvis sing and knew immediately that he was something special. This book takes a look at the relationship between Elvis and his manager. One that was built on respect, but during their final years took a dark turn. Both the colonel and Elvis were fighting demons of their own and couldn't help themsleves let alone each other.

This book reads differently then how we see the Colonel often portrayed. What makes this book unique is that the author became friends with the Colonel over the years and had access to things most media does not. It was interesting to see things from a different perspective.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

[TLRHB · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Colonel and the King" is a fine book that dispels the myths around Tom Parker and gives a nuanced portrait of a dedicated showman-promoter often painted as a ruthless villain. I'm not sure you could ask more from a biography than to make you see somebody in a different, clearer light. He's not perfect (his late financial arrangements with Elvis are hard to justify), but he's not the man you see in, say, Baz Luhrmann's telling. I've long thought Elvis is too easily given blanket amnesty for his own tragic shortcomings. That is now much more evident when we see Parker and Parker's actions in full, or as full as he would ever allow. My only complaint about the book is its structure: The first half is a biography and then the second half is the Colonel's letters and correspondence. I don't understand why Peter Guralnick didn't blend them together. After I'd read the full story, I didn't want to wade through the footnotes.

[Wallace McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't know too much about the early business of Elvis and the Colonel and this filled in a lot of the details. Based on newly released letters of the colonel, it provides a good history of Elvis's career from the business side. Also the last half of the books are some of the letters that the book is based on. Informative and entertaining.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful on the relationship between Elvis and Colonel Tom, who was by no means the malign influence that some presented him as.

Many interesting stories about the carnival days, his love of building up and promoting shows, and the deep devotion and trust that he and Elvis had for many years

[Rcavictory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not one of Peter's best writes! It took awhile to get into it then I enjoyed it. He could have not included all the letters, (250 pages worth). It would have made the book more enjoyable. Some may like all of them, but for me they were boring.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve loved all of Guralnick’s other books, but this one never grabbed me.

[john · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Colonel and the King provides a unique perspective on not one but two American originals. A tale of the birth of the modern-day superstar (an invention almost entirely of Parker’s making), and their relationship. Certainly changed my view of the Dutch born svengali-like Colonel and his influence on Elvis' career.

[Joseph Wadas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Guralnick’s research and presentation.