
The Colonel and the King
Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership That Rocked the World
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pre-order for $23.39
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Jim Meskimen
-
By:
-
Peter Guralnick
About this listen
From the award-winning biographer of Elvis Presley, The Colonel and the King is a groundbreaking dual portrait of the relationship between the iconic artist and his legendary manager, Colonel Tom Parker, drawing on a wealth of Parker's never-before-seen correspondence to reveal that this oft-reviled figure was in fact a confidant, friend, and architect of his client's success.
In early 1955, Colonel Tom Parker—the manager of the number-one country musician of the day—heard that an unknown teenager from Memphis had just drawn a crowd of more than 800 people to a Texas schoolhouse, and headed south to investigate. Within days, Parker was sending out telegrams and letters to promoters and booking agents: “We have a new boy that is absolutely going to be one of the biggest things in the business in a very short time. His name is ELVIS PRESLEY.” Later that year, after signing with RCA, the young man sent a telegram of his own: “Dear Colonel, Words can never tell you how my folks and I appreciate what you did for me.... I love you like a father.”
The close personal bond between Elvis and the Colonel proved impossible for outside observers to understand—not during their lifetimes, and not in the decades since. It was a long-standing, deeply committed relationship, founded on mutual admiration and support. As the Colonel wrote to Elvis in July 1973, several years before the star’s tragic death: “Without a doubt you are by far the greatest artist I have ever known, and can be even greater if you just believe in yourself half as much as I believe in you.” From the outset, the Colonel defended Elvis fiercely and indefatigably against RCA executives, Elvis’ own booking agents, and movie moguls. But in their final years together, the story grew darker, and the relationship strained, as the Colonel found himself unable to protect Elvis from himself—or to control growing problems of his own.
Featuring troves of never-before-seen correspondence from the Colonel’s own archives, revelatory both for their insights and—particularly with respect to Elvis—their emotional depth, The Colonel and the King provides a unique perspective on not one but two American originals. A tale of the birth of the modern-day superstar (an invention almost entirely of Parker’s making) by the most acclaimed music writer of his generation, it presents these two misunderstood icons as they’ve never been seen before: with all of their brilliance, humor, and flaws on full display.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Can't Be Satisfied
- The Life and Times of Muddy Waters
- By: Robert Gordon
- Narrated by: Keb' Mo'
- Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The epic, rollicking, up-and-down life of Muddy Waters—who went from Mississippi farmhand to musical legend, invented electric blues, and created the template for the rock-and-roll band and its wild lifestyle—is chronicled with rare vividness in Robert Gordon’s widely praised biography.
-
-
Muddy!
- By govtmule1 on 02-08-25
By: Robert Gordon
-
Elvis '68 Comeback
- The Story Behind the Special
- By: Steve Binder
- Narrated by: Dennis Quaid
- Length: 2 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Take a tour behind the scenes at the NBC television special that relaunched Elvis Presley’s career as a stage musician. Author Steve Binder—who directed the TV special—provides exclusive “backstage” access that gives fans even more insight into the performance that many see as a high point in the King of Rock’s reign of American music. Learn how Binder gave us in this Comeback Special, the first MTV Unplugged with Elvis performing in an intimate acoustic musical setting.
-
-
GREAT
- By Dorothy Rusignuolo on 02-16-24
By: Steve Binder
-
Elvis Presley Word for Word from 1955 to 1977
- By: Elvis Presley
- Narrated by: Elvis Presley
- Length: 4 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Enjoy a collection of interviews featuring Elvis Presley from 1955 to 1977. A fantastic insight into the life of the King of Rock and Roll.
-
-
Elvis
- By Anonymous User on 12-06-18
By: Elvis Presley
-
The Colonel
- The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley
- By: Alanna Nash, Alanna Nash - introduction
- Narrated by: Gibson Frazier
- Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While scores of books have been written about Elvis Presley, this is the first meticulously researched biography of Tom Parker written by someone who knew him personally. And for anyone truly interested in the performer many consider the greatest and most influential of the 20th century, it is impossible to understand how Elvis came to be such a phenomenon without examining the life and mind of Parker, the man who virtually controlled Elvis' every move.
-
-
Alanna Nash's first Elvis audible is a must listen
- By Leahmgordon on 12-25-17
By: Alanna Nash, and others
-
Elvis Presley: The Truth About Me & Outtakes
- By: Elvis Presley
- Narrated by: Elvis Presley
- Length: 18 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On August 29, 1956, in Hollywood, California, Elvis Presley shared a fantastic insight into his personal life and career.
-
-
Wonderful to hear all this and it's Elvis!
- By S. P. NORRIS on 12-14-17
By: Elvis Presley
-
The Grand Tour
- The Life and Music of George Jones
- By: Rich Kienzle
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a masterful biography laden with new revelations, veteran country music journalist/historian Rich Kienzle offers a definitive, full-bodied portrait of legendary country singer George Jones and the music that remains his legacy. Kienzle meticulously sifted through archival material, government records, and recollections by colleagues and admirers, interviewing many involved in Jones' life and career. The result: an evocative portrait of this enormously gifted, tragically tormented icon.
-
-
Interesting story, bad reading
- By Amazon Customer on 05-12-16
By: Rich Kienzle
-
Can't Be Satisfied
- The Life and Times of Muddy Waters
- By: Robert Gordon
- Narrated by: Keb' Mo'
- Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The epic, rollicking, up-and-down life of Muddy Waters—who went from Mississippi farmhand to musical legend, invented electric blues, and created the template for the rock-and-roll band and its wild lifestyle—is chronicled with rare vividness in Robert Gordon’s widely praised biography.
-
-
Muddy!
- By govtmule1 on 02-08-25
By: Robert Gordon
-
Elvis '68 Comeback
- The Story Behind the Special
- By: Steve Binder
- Narrated by: Dennis Quaid
- Length: 2 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Take a tour behind the scenes at the NBC television special that relaunched Elvis Presley’s career as a stage musician. Author Steve Binder—who directed the TV special—provides exclusive “backstage” access that gives fans even more insight into the performance that many see as a high point in the King of Rock’s reign of American music. Learn how Binder gave us in this Comeback Special, the first MTV Unplugged with Elvis performing in an intimate acoustic musical setting.
-
-
GREAT
- By Dorothy Rusignuolo on 02-16-24
By: Steve Binder
-
Elvis Presley Word for Word from 1955 to 1977
- By: Elvis Presley
- Narrated by: Elvis Presley
- Length: 4 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Enjoy a collection of interviews featuring Elvis Presley from 1955 to 1977. A fantastic insight into the life of the King of Rock and Roll.
-
-
Elvis
- By Anonymous User on 12-06-18
By: Elvis Presley
-
The Colonel
- The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley
- By: Alanna Nash, Alanna Nash - introduction
- Narrated by: Gibson Frazier
- Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While scores of books have been written about Elvis Presley, this is the first meticulously researched biography of Tom Parker written by someone who knew him personally. And for anyone truly interested in the performer many consider the greatest and most influential of the 20th century, it is impossible to understand how Elvis came to be such a phenomenon without examining the life and mind of Parker, the man who virtually controlled Elvis' every move.
-
-
Alanna Nash's first Elvis audible is a must listen
- By Leahmgordon on 12-25-17
By: Alanna Nash, and others
-
Elvis Presley: The Truth About Me & Outtakes
- By: Elvis Presley
- Narrated by: Elvis Presley
- Length: 18 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On August 29, 1956, in Hollywood, California, Elvis Presley shared a fantastic insight into his personal life and career.
-
-
Wonderful to hear all this and it's Elvis!
- By S. P. NORRIS on 12-14-17
By: Elvis Presley
-
The Grand Tour
- The Life and Music of George Jones
- By: Rich Kienzle
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a masterful biography laden with new revelations, veteran country music journalist/historian Rich Kienzle offers a definitive, full-bodied portrait of legendary country singer George Jones and the music that remains his legacy. Kienzle meticulously sifted through archival material, government records, and recollections by colleagues and admirers, interviewing many involved in Jones' life and career. The result: an evocative portrait of this enormously gifted, tragically tormented icon.
-
-
Interesting story, bad reading
- By Amazon Customer on 05-12-16
By: Rich Kienzle