KQ98 Salutes: Col. Tom Parker

Bauer’s Market and Garden Center 7AM shout-Out pledge of allegiance with DUKE. The unusual story of Colonel Tom Parker, The long time manager of Elvis Presley. Many recording industry experts note that Parker launched Elvis’ career. Parker passed away on this date, 1997 at age 87. He lived in a mansion in Las Vegas. He was born in Holland with his real name being Andreas Van Kuijk. He worked as a carnival barker in Rotterdam. He came to the US at age 20 and shortly after enlisted in the US Army, giving the name Tom Parker. He was assigned to the 64th Coastal Artillery in Hawaii. Later, he was honorarily inducted into the Louisiana militia under the rank of Colonel , hence the title. I think today’s Army checks one’s background a bit closer than They did in 1929.