Double Parker

I've just finished Alanna Nash's bio of Colonel Tom Parker (or as the cover has it "the story of Colonel Tom Parker & Elvis Presley).

Admittedly the man is defined by his association with The King but having read Elvis bios in the past I'd become intrigued by the mystery surrounding the Colonel's early years in Holland and as a carny in the States.

These parts of his life are well presented here and could probably justify a book on their own but once we reach the 60's and 70's the focus shifts to Elvis to such an extent that the last 20 years of the Colonel's life are dealt with in the last 20 pages.

It's not as revealing as I hoped and not particularly interesting from a musicology point of view but then it was only £3 from Music Zone so not a great loss.

Parker no.2 is Anders Parker, former label- mate of Steve Earle , who plays tonight at 14 Lloyd Street, Manchester, (a new venue and hopefully not as semi-detached as it sounds). I'll drag my arse down their in order to have something to post about next week.