The Colonel and the King
Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership that Rocked the World
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The Colonel and the King
Narrated by:
Jim Meskimen
Buy Now for £19.83
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Narrated by:
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Jim Meskimen
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By:
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Peter Guralnick
About this listen
The concluding volume of Peter Guralnick's critically acclaimed Elvis Presley biographies
'Guralnick knows the intricacies of this story more than anyone, except perhaps the Colonel and Presley themselves' GUARDIAN
In early 1955, Colonel Tom Parker discovered a teenage Elvis Presley and declared him destined for greatness. What followed was one of the most extraordinary partnerships in music history and the creation of a bond built on loyalty, ambition and an unshakeable belief in each other.
From the meteoric rise that reshaped popular culture to the struggles that shadowed their final years, this concluding volume of Peter Guralnick's acclaimed trilogy reveals the full complexity of their relationship.
Drawing on previously unpublished letters and telegrams from Parker's own archives, it offers an intimate, unflinching portrait of two American originals: the visionary manager who invented the modern superstar and the artist who became one. Brilliant, flawed and inseparable, Elvis and the Colonel changed the music world forever.
'Guralnick's view of Parker is both clear-eyed and sympathetic, but best of all, it's persuasive' TIME
'A riveting and revelatory read' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT©2025 Peter Guralnick
Critic reviews
In music circles, a new entry in Guralnick's Presley chronicles is practically the equivalent of an update to Robert Caro's series on Lyndon Johnson. Guralnick's exhaustively researched two-volume biography of Presley in the 1990s revolutionised Presley scholarship and remain vital documents
A grandmaster of American letters
Guralnick knows the intricacies of this story more than anyone, except perhaps the Colonel and Presley themselves . . . Parker died in 1997 and took some of his secrets with him to the grave, but Guralnick's book offers the most rounded, complex and myth-dispelling understanding of him we are ever likely to get (Eamonn Forde)
A seasoned chronicler of all things Elvis (his Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love are seminal works), Guralnick here probes the relationship between Presley and his overbearing Svengali. There is no better writer about early rock 'n' roll and roots music
Guralnick's brisk prose, assiduous attention to detail and generous insights make this both an engrossing study of the complex interpersonal dynamics between two outsize personalities and a revealing peek into the making one of rock 'n' roll's biggest acts. Presley fans won't be able to put this down
With unique access to an incredible stash of correspondence, Guralnick reveals Parker's charm, humor, genius and audacity, depicting a genuine person, not the sinister Svengali of other accounts
The enigmatic Svengali Colonel Tom Parker left behind countless mysteries and unanswered questions after his death in 1997. If there's one writer uniquely poised to unpack those mysteries and questions, it's Grammy-winning music writer Peter Guralnick, whose biographies of Presley are universally regarded as the definitive biographies of the King
An intriguing perspective on the music business when rock was first making its mark, and a special treat for Presley fans. A fascinating look at a truly unique personality and his direction of Elvis's career
A surprisingly human portrait of the man behind the brash showman's façade . . . Guralnick has delivered a beautifully written and broadly sympathetic portrait of a complex, secretive individual whose loyalty to his sole charge was absolute
Guralnick [is] an excellent Elvis historian (Ray Connolly)
Meticulous (Sean O'Hagan)
Veteran pop-music scholar Peter Guralnick, Elvis's most ardent and compassionate biographer, makes the case that Parker was hardly the monster he's commonly been made out to be . . . Guralnick's view of Parker is both clear-eyed and sympathetic, but best of all, it's persuasive. You come away thinking differently about a person you thought you'd already nailed down. And isn't that what a biographer is for?
Dramatically humanizes Parker from the one-dimensional Svengali depicted for decades
Guralnick's two-volume biography of Presley is an indispensable modern classic. The focus in the new book is on Parker's side of the relationship, a story that has rarely been told
But if a white wash
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I have never had time for people who vilify the Colonel just because Elvis passed at 42. As someone who was 16 in the UK in 1977 and having visited Graceland on many occasions. My friends have often asked me what my opinions were of why Elvis died so young at 42. As someone who has worked in mental health for 21 years AND battled and survived my own addiction issues I feel my opinion is a valid one.
Primarily Elvis demise was due to himself and his choices.of abusing drugs… whether your a road sweeper or a King.. they will take you.
The Colonel - whilst also having issues in the last 4-5 years of Elvis was responsible for keeping work coming in for him.. without which the money would certainly have ran out. Elvis behaviour and lifestyle was impossible to maintain. There is no manager who has ever existed could have done a better job managing and dealing with Elvis situation . The Colonel worked hard and deserved every penny he got. He has become a too easy target for others to attack thus avoiding their “ own” party in the fall of Elvis.. and I include a fans as well in this.
At the end of the day Elvis did exactly what he wanted to do.. and especially so artistically. He told others and he got… sadly the last part of his life was spent pursuing artificial escape .. drugs.
So next time you think of throwing “ missiles” at the Colonel… just think how Elvis got where he did… and how he managed to stay there… albeit fragilely at the end.
This is a superb book - a genuine record. It stands proud place with Peters other works ..L Last Train to Memphis “ and my favourite “ Careless Love”.
It’s a must read… your eyes WILL be opened if you can take the truth and not the legend,👏👏 Mark
The real truth about the Colonel at last!
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For decades, Colonel Parker (or 'Colonel' as Guralnick calls him throughout) has been vilified by fans as a result of poorly researched and inaccurate stories of Colonel's relationship with Elvis.
In this book, the author thinly veils his criticism of previous authors and notably of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis film in the portrayal of the Colonel's involvement and actions the 1968 NBC Special.
The book's use of contracts and letters enable the introduction of an uncommon ingredient in Elvis books - an almost academic level of verifiable reliable sources.
Guralnick details key milestones in Elvis' career and the result is that Colonel is portrayed as, inter-alia, a) not being responsible for preventing an international tour by Elvis b) not being the driver behind the 1973 sale of Elvis' catalogue and c) having been consistent for most of Elvis' career in his contractual management percentage d) being unfairly treated by the 1981 judicial opinion and this opinion not being supported by 'the estate' and e) being completely supportive of the creative treatment of the aforementioned 1968 NBC Special.
Peter Guralnick credits the previous authors who have written about the Colonel and quotes them extensively. As a result, I didn't learn a lot of new information on the Colonel and although the financial and contractual information are important components of the book, I didn't find them particularly interesting.
As usual, Guralnick has created the definitive work on his subject and this enables Elvis fans to point to his work on the King when being faced with ill-informed nonsense.
Ian Mackay 16th August 2025
Rehabilitating the Colonel - Ian Mackay
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Grew tired of the author's "Snow Jobs"
Tom Parker sycophant
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Colonel
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