A dual portrait of the relationship between the Elvis Presley and his legendary manager—drawing on a wealth of the Colonel'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.
Mammoth ... Comprehensive ... The book isn’t hagiography, because Guralnick does so much research and reporting for every book that he’s incapable of writing a one-sided account of any subject. That said, The Colonel and the King often reads like a Parker apologia, or at least a concentrated effort to set some records straight ... One can admire Guralnick’s thoroughness and sense of mission while also wishing for tighter results. I found the arc of Parker’s story quite intriguing, even as I got a little tired of it.
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.
Guralnick offers a compelling narrative for anyone interested in rock-and-roll. He dispels the image of Parker as a money-hungry leech by convincingly casting him as a hard-working, honest manager who cared deeply for his client.
