Country Music Hall of Fame marks the late Col. Tom Parker's centennial with Spotlight exhibit

October 29, 10:14 AMNashville Country Music ExaminerLisa L. Rollins

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Col. Tom Parker and his star client, Elvis Presley. Parker's exhibit runs now through March 2010.

Courtesy of Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

In honor the revolutionary music business figure who served as Elvis Presley’s longtime manager, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled a special spotlight exhibit dedicated to the life and career of the late Col. Tom Parker.

Located within the museum’s permanent exhibition and titled after one of Parker’s famous slogans, The Colonel Says, “How Much Does It Cost If It’s Free,” is now open and will run through March 2010.

Parker managed Elvis Presley from 1955 until the singer’s death in 1977. Prior to managing Presley, Parker helped transform Eddy Arnold into a country superstar with his own radio shows, movie roles, Las Vegas bookings and an unparalleled résumé of No. 1 records. In steering the careers of both men, Parker is credited with revolutionizing the artist management role, displaying an unprecedented marketing savvy while exercising near-total control. His energetic, all-encompassing management style created a blueprint that is still followed today.

As for his display downtown, the exhibit Incorporates photographs, business documents, letters, apparel and promotional materials from the museum’s collection and from Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., “Graceland,”  to trace Parker’s life and career, from his days as an immigrant carnival worker to his time as a powerful, pioneering artist manager.

In addition, a special lecture by esteemed Elvis Presley biographer and music historian Peter Guralnick is now available to view on the museum’s Web site. In the lecture, which took place at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in April, Guralnick explored ways in which Parker was both a visionary genius and a master of what he called the art of “exploitation.” Guralnick also served as an exhibit consultant to The Colonel Says, “How Much Does It Cost If It’s Free.”

About Col. Tom Parker

Described as a purposeful, perceptive and mysterious character, Parker was born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in Breda, Holland, and entered the United States illegally in 1929. After serving in the Army for three years in Hawaii, he moved to Florida, where he joined the Johnny J. Jones and Royal American carnivals, passing himself off as a native West Virginian under the name of his former commanding officer, Thomas Parker.

After several years of carnival life, Parker settled down and became director of the Tampa Humane Society (he was, among other things, Tampa’s chief dog officer) where he developed a remunerative range of pet service-pitches that translated seamlessly into showbiz promotion.

He started off with Gene Austin, Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb, focusing at first on Florida tours exclusively but gradually expanding his show-business activities until in 1944 he met Eddy Arnold on a Jamup & Honey tent show. He managed Arnold as his exclusive client from 1945 until 1953, developing a range of unique promotions that helped make the singer one of the most prolific hit-making artists of all time.

By early 1955, Parker had set his sights on the emerging Presley, whom he placed as an opening act on tours by his new client, Hank Snow. By August, Parker had acquired a controlling interest in Presley’s management contract, and two months later set up a deal for RCA to purchase Presley’s contract from Sun Records for the unheard-of sum of $35,000.

Under Parker’s exclusive guidance, Presley went on to become one of the most influential cultural figures of the twentieth century—a tribute to a talent and a gift for communication that continues to defy definition. Parker secured for Presley broad national exposure through television at a time when other managers feared that the new medium would undercut the value of personal appearances. Calling the shots in Hollywood, Parker made Presley a No. 1 box-office star and kept the entertainer’s career alive during his two-year stint in the Army.

In addition to Parker's current Spotlight exhibit—which is an informal, short-term display that's part of the narratives that supplement themes or aspects of the museum's core exhibition—the museum also currently features Spotlight exhibits that focus on Trace Adkins, John Hartford, Carrie Underwood and Porter Wagoner, respectively.

For more info: Contact the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 Fifth Ave. South, online at www.countrymusichalloffame.com or by calling 615-416-2001. The Web site has complete admission info, hours of operation, parking and directions info, and much more for those interested in visiting the world-class museum.