The Colonel and the King by Peter Guralnick

This is the book about rock and roll icon Elvis Presley and his manager Colonel Tom Parker written by music writer Peter Guralnick and in the book talks about the Colonel's early life in Breda Holland as his real name was Andreas Cornelius Van Kuijk including his relationship with his father, going to America in 1929, joined the US army which he became the name Tom Parker, working in the carnival circut, manging Gene Austin, Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow, first seeing Elvis Presley who was an upcoming performer from Memphis in 1955, becoming the manager for Elvis Presley which would last until Elvis's passing in 1977, the close personal bond they had as well as defending Elvis, great success as well as the struggles they had in their final years that shadowed it and it also features unpublished correspondence from the Colonel's archives that were letters between 1955-77. IT is AWESOME, BRILLIANT and SUPERB with FANTASTIC and AMAZING stories as well as photos that some have never been before including of the Colonel's mother as well as other photos which it great to see. Peter Guralnick who has written books about Elvis as well as Sam Cooke, Sun Records and Sam Phillips has done an FANTASTIC and BRILLIANT job on this book and it's been 29 years since the passing of Colonel Tom Parker but his legacy is still remembered in a positive way which what it should be. This is an must for Elvis Presley fans and I am giving it 5 stars as it's in the shops now so please do yourselves an favour and BUY IT which you will be impressed and amazed.

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