Died On This Date (January 21, 1997) Col. Tom Parker / Managed Elvis Presley
themusicsover Tom Parker (Born Andreas van Kuijk)
June 26, 1909 – January 21, 1997
Col. Tom Parker is best remembered as the larger-than-life manager who ran Elvis Presley’s career for many years. Parker’s entertainment career began during the late ’40s when he promoted records by the likes of Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow. He began managing Presley in August of 1955, and just three months later, brokered a deal where RCA Records purchased Sun Records, launching a relationship between the label and the artist that continues to this day. Parker was seen more than just an artist manager for Presley in that he oversaw every aspect of his career and in doing so, secured an astronomical commission rate that reached as high as 50% during a time when 10% was the norm. But to his credit, he DID create an international superstar out of Presley. After Elvis passed away in 1977, Parker sold his masters of Presley’s recordings to RCA and moved to Las Vegas to work as an entertainment consultant for the Hilton. Col. Tom Parker, age 87, died of a stroke on January 21, 1997.
Jackie Wilson was an R&B singer who came to be known as “Mr. Excitement” during a career that spanned from the early ’50s until tragedy struck in 1975. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Wilson’s young life was spotted with trips to a juvenile detention center until, at age 17, he turned his focus on music. He was discovered by the legendary 
Larry “L.A.” Johnson was a respected filmmaker who worked with Neil Young for the better part of forty years. Coming from a similar school of film making ideals that made stars out of Martin Scorsese and Brian DePalma, Johnson’s first break came in 1969 when he was hired as a sound recordist for the Woodstock concert film. His tremendous work on the landmark film earned him an Academy Award nomination in 1971. It was while working at Woodstock that Johnson met Young, and it was thanks to that chance meeting, Johnson was soon hired by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to film a never-released concert film that captured a series of shows in 1970. Eight years later, Young hired Johnson to capture live footage for a concert movie to be called Rust Never Sleeps, which became one of the genre’s greatest films. Young went on to put Johnson in charge of his film production company, Shakey Pictures, where he produced Weld, Neil Young: Silver and Gold, Year of the Horse, Greendale and other Young vehicles. Out side of his work with Young, Johnson also collaborated with the likes of Belinda Carlisle, New Edition, Bobby Brown, and Bob Dylan. On January 21, 2010, Larry Johnson died of an apparent heart attack. He was 62.
Lamar Williams was the bassist for the Allman Brothers Band from 1972 to 1976, the peak of the band’s success. He also played in the post-Allman Brothers’ group, Sea Level. During Williams’ early days, he played with future Allman, Jaimoe, in a soul band called Sounds of Soul. His career was briefly interrupted when he was drafted and sent off to Vietnam. Shortly after his return, he joined the Allman Brothers Band, replacing original bassist,