Category: Wales; Radio
Date: 13.04.2006
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A new two-part Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Wales documentary on the life of Elvis Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, leads listeners to some unexpected places.
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The King & I: The Colonel Parker Story (Saturday 22 April, 6.30pm, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Wales) is presented by Welsh actor, comedian and Elvis fan Rob Brydon.
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Following Parker's trail took Rob all over the USA but one of the strangest links with the Colonel turned up in Porthcawl - the town where Rob used to live and where he attended school.
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The town is home to Europe's largest Elvis festival. Hordes of jump-suited fans line the streets and promenades for the annual event which, it turns out, is managed by the man who knows more about Colonel Tom Parker's business methods than anyone.
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Charles Stone was mentored by Parker himself, having worked as tour manager for Elvis during the Seventies. "Elvis and the Colonel would have loved Porthcawl," says Charles.
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Over the course of two hour-long programmes, Rob Brydon seeks out the truth behind all the rumours from people such as Parker's widow Loanne Parker and Elvis's guitarist Scotty Moore.
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He also gets exclusive access to members of the charmed inner circle of Elvis's entourage - the 'Memphis Mafia'.
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Rob hears about Parker's movie decisions, his gambling debts and his odd decision to wear a Hawaiian shirt and shorts to Elvis's funeral.
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Rob says: "For Elvis fans like me, Colonel Tom Parker has always been cast as the villain of the piece - at best a salesman, at worst a con man.
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"For fans it's a simple equation: Elvis equals good, Colonel equals bad. It's great to find out about the man himself from the people who knew him best."
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The King & I: The Colonel Parker Story is a Vision Thing/Jones the Film production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Wales.
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