<p id=”par-1_73″>For nearly all of his career, <a href=”https://cheatsheet.com/tag/elvis-presley”>Elvis Presley</a> worked with controversial manager Colonel Tom Parker. Parker helped Elvis on his rise to success, but he also hindered him in some ways, not allowing him to perform internationally or act in the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/movies”>films</a> Elvis wanted. Elvis occasionally expressed a great deal of resentment toward Parker. Still, they worked together until Elvis’ death, and Parker attended the funeral. His choice of attire shocked everyone there.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-colonel-parker-did-not-dress-up-for-elvis-funeral”>Colonel Parker did not dress up for Elvis’ funeral</h2>
<p id=”par-2_55″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/how-did-elvis-presley-die-look-back-king-of-rock-and-roll-tragic-end.html/”>Elvis died on the afternoon</a> of Aug. 16, 1977. Two days later, his family held a funeral at Graceland. Thousands of <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/elvis-presley-grieving-fans-swarmed-graceland-see-king-rock-roll-one-last-time-after-his-death.html/”>mourning fans gathered</a> outside the home’s gates while the singer’s friends, family, and associates attended the service. It was a somber, tragic affair, which made Parker’s choice of clothing stand out all the more.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” fetchpriority=”high” width=”1200″ height=”782″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Colonel Tom Parker holds a pipe in his mouth and sits next to Elvis Presley. They sit in front of a wood paneled wall.” class=”wp-image-3639756″ srcset=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg 1200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?w=640&h=417 640w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?w=768&h=500 768w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?w=1024&h=667 1024w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?w=537&h=350 537w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?w=259&h=169 259w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?w=200&h=130 200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?w=778&h=507 778w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-Parker.jpg?w=92&h=60 92w” sizes=”(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px”><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis | GAB Archive/Redferns</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-3_38″>Parker arrived at Graceland wearing a Hawaiian shirt and baseball hat. When he saw concert promoter Tom Hulett dressed in a suit — as many of the mourners were — Parker told him he should change into jeans. </p>
<p id=”par-4_41″>“If Elvis looks down and sees the Colonel all dressed up, he’s gonna say, ‘What the hell is that?’” Parker said, per the book <em><a href=”https://valsec.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-colonel-alanna-nash/1100367694″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Colonel</a></em> by Alanna Nash. “This is the way I always dress. Informal. No point putting on airs now.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-he-noticeably-avoided-looking-at-the-casket”>He noticeably avoided looking at the casket</h2>
<p id=”par-5_34″>Parker stood out in his casual attire. People also noticed the way that he tried to avoid even looking at Elvis’ casket. After refusing to be a pallbearer, he sat far in the back.</p>
<p id=”par-6_44″>“He didn’t talk to many people, and he was way in the back,” Elvis’ barber Larry Geller said. “He certainly wasn’t sitting in the front room, and he could have been right down there with Grandma [Minnie Mae Presley] and Vernon if he’d wanted.”</p>
<p id=”par-7_17″>Parker did not walk up to take a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/lisa-marie-presley-hid-a-special-gift-in-elvis-presleys-casket-on-the-day-of-his-funeral.html/”>private moment with the casket</a> as many others did.</p>
<p id=”par-8_17″>“He wouldn’t walk up,” Geller said. “He didn’t even look. You could almost see him struggling <em>not </em>to look.”</p>
<p id=”par-9_12″>Elvis’ backup singer and on-and-off girlfriend Kathy Westmoreland said Parker was grief-stricken.</p>
<p id=”par-10_16″>“I could see there was pain in his eyes, and he didn’t want to show it.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-colonel-tom-parker-said-elvis-death-didn-t-change-anything”>Colonel Tom Parker said Elvis’ death didn’t change anything</h2>
<p id=”par-11_25″>After Elvis’ death, Parker planned to continue managing the singer’s memory. He likened it to the work he did while <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/colonel-tom-parker-want-elvis-sing-army.html/”>Elvis was in the army</a>.</p>
<p id=”par-12_26″>“Elvis didn’t die. The body did,” he said. “It don’t mean a damned thing. It’s like when he was away in the army. This changes nothing.”</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” width=”1200″ height=”798″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”A black and white picture of mourners gathered outside a strip mall for Elvis’ funeral. They stand under a sign that says “Rest in Peace Elvis.”” class=”wp-image-3639762″ srcset=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg 1200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=640&h=426 640w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=768&h=511 768w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=1024&h=681 1024w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=526&h=350 526w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=254&h=169 254w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=200&h=133 200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=762&h=507 762w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Elvis-funeral.jpg?w=90&h=60 90w” sizes=”(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px”><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>A crowd mourning Elvis | Gilbert UZAN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-13_15″>Elvis’ father Vernon authorized Parker to carry on as he had while Elvis was alive.</p>
<p id=”par-14_79″>“I am deeply grateful that you have offered to carry on in the same old way, assisting me in any way possible with the many problems facing us,” Vernon wrote. “I hereby would appreciate if you will carry on according to the same terms and conditions as stated in the contractual agreement you had with Elvis dated January 22, 1976, and I hereby authorize you to speak and sign for me in all these matters pertaining to this agreement.”</p>
<p id=”par-15_10″>In 1981, though, the Elvis estate sued Parker for mismanagement. </p>