The wealth of detail that [Dickerson] gathers and lucidly imparts along the way is never less than utterly compelling. -- Johnny Black * MOJO *
An incendiary, powerful investigative account . . . an explanation, finally, of the twisted, corrupt relationship between Elvis and Colonel Parker. -- Joe Eszterhas, Screenwriter and Bestselling Author of American Rhapsody
This is essential Elvisiana, excellent about showbiz's underbelly. -- Mike Tribby * Booklist *
In this new biography of Colonel Parker, which also sheds new light on his most famous protege's life, Nashville-based music historian James Dickerson blows the lid off the career of a rock 'n' roll promoter and con man whose audacity knew no bounds. ...The amount of detail in this biography is stunning. -- Larry D. Woods * The Tennessean *
This intriguing, meticulously researched biography of Presley's Svengali could be a manual of how not to take care of your client. . . . Fans will be dismayed to learn of the endless stream of ripoffs Parker perpetrated on the King and, even more disturbing, the arduous work schedule he forced Presley to endure. . . . Dickerson has painted a riveting portrait of an especially unsavory character. -- Mike Villano * Billboard *
Colonel Tom Parker is intriguing-a fascinating look at a secretive power behind the throne. -- Joel Welin * The Herald Tribune *
Packed with personal interviews, Dickerson's book is hugely entertaining and informative, a lasting tribute to a unique and enigmatic hustler. -- Peter Grendysa * Discoveries *
A rare glimpse into the underbelly of the music biz. * Los Angeles Daily News *
Arguably the most notorious manager in show business history, Colonel Tom Parker (1909-1997) virtually controlled every aspect of Elvis Presley's career. Dickerson is tough but fair with his slippery subject.... This is a well-presented biography of Parker, who, through gall and cunning, created the ultimate celebrity icon. Recommended. * Library Journal *
This jaw-dropping biography confirms what I felt for years-that the Colonel was a far more fascinating rascal than Elvis ever became. This is a model of research assembled with crafty objectivity and humor. -- Hal Kanter, Director of the Elvis film Loving You
Here is the amazing story of how an illegal Dutch immigrant went from playing Santa Claus in a Las Vegas apartment store to become a marketing pioneer who revolutionized American popular culture.... Dickerson's authoritative account of the racist gambling addict who had his boy unwittingly paying the Mafia $1 million a year to ease his debts is an incredible story of one of the twentieth century's biggest hustlers. * Uncut *
How Parker came to manage one of the twentieth century's greatest icons and the stunts he pulled still take some believing. It's a tale Dickerson tells with relish: Presley's conscription into the army, why he made those rotten movies, and what lay behind his close ties with Las Vegas all take turns under the magnifying glass.... A lively contribution to the endless Elvis industry. * Q Magazine *
Dickerson's research has confirmed more than I ever suspected. -- Scotty Moore, Elvis's guitarist and First Manager
Colonel Tom Parker is a journey toward understanding the man who wielded power over Elvis and everyone else who fell into his orbit. Dickerson explores Parker's mysterious origins and provides telling information about the early relationship between the Colonel and Elvis, information that clarifies why Parker behaved the way he did. . . . This is a brisk, enjoyable read, perfect for Elvis fans, serious or casual. Dickerson pulls the reader into the drama of the story. His insider knowledge of the music industry allows him to present his material in a lucid fashion. While all the questions that surround the perplexing relationship between an ex-carnival barker and a country boy who hit the big time may never be completely answered, Colonel Tom Parker leaves the reader with a provocative story and fresh insights. * Book Page *
Dickerson puts Parker under the microscope and attempts to reconstruct the life of a man who worked very hard to remain in the shadows. Anyone interested in the darker side of the entertainment business will find this well-documented biography an interesting read. * Charleston Post and Courier *
Dickerson does a good job of recreating the early Parker years despite some formidable obstacles.... This book is filled with anecdotes. More importantly, Dickerson provides an intriguing portrait of a man who was at once a brilliant promoter and a devious con man. * Country Music Magazine *
Dickerson reveals how rock promoter and con-man extraordinaire Colonel Tom Parker swindled Elvis and put unreasonable pressures on him, even while turning him into an icon. Dickerson's investigation cuts through the flimflam and lies that the Colonel created about himself to discover who he really was and how much of Elvis's success was the result of Parker's schemes. * Gadfly *
This riveting biography shines a hard light on the inscrutable Colonel. . . . Dickerson has made it easy to understand that if rock and roll will never die, it owes its life to how Parker wrote the rules of the game. -- Mark Ribowsky, Author of He's a Rebel: Phil Spector, Rock and Roll's Greatest Producer
Dickerson has dug deeply and comes a bit closer to unravelling Parker's story than most. . . . A rare look into the behind-the-scenes machinations of a man who was perhaps the twentieth century's most notorious show business figures. * Country Standard Time *
Dickerson is a careful craftsman. No detail in Parker's life is too small and he weaves them all together to form a fascinating profile of a man driven by greed, fear and a lifetime of covering his own mysterious identity.... Dickerson, an experienced journalist and author, keeps a healthy distance from his subject, and readers even gain some sympathy for Parker.... This is a book not to be missed for so many reasons, but most of all because it puts into perspective the greatness of Elvis Presley and the tragedy of his fall. * Bluespeak.Com *
Here is the whole sad and amazing story of 'the most accomplished con man since P. T. Barnum.' In swift, deft strokes Dickerson has sketched the greed, compulsion, and lies that drove every decision in the making and undoing of rock and roll's greatest talent. This is the book our study of popular culture's most glittering icon has lacked. -- Lewis Nordan, Author of Music of the Swamps and The Sharpshooter Blues
The thing that comes through most clearly in Dickerson's biography is that Parker was a strange, shrewd man who never wandered far from the training he got as a carny. . . . This look at the public Tom Parker, a gambling addict who clamped himself onto Elvis Presley and thereby outearned and outlived the King, fills in the blanks. * Oxford American *
Dickerson offers readers fascinating glimpses of the carnival culture that became Parker's first family, his methodical courtship of Presley as a client, his campaigns to separate the singer from his original band, assorted contractual machinations, and organized crime in the South. . . . Entertaining. * No Depression *
