Elvis Presley Unravelled #25
Bob Neal before Col Parker
Elvis was managed by Bob Neal before Col Parker. It might well be the Colonel’s name in the history books but Bob Neal gave Elvis his start.
22 to 28 April – Bob Neal before Col Parker
guest feature on the Mop Tops and The King show
Steve Chelmsford presents the Mop Tops and the King radio show. Certainly, a great name for a show that is all about the music of The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
Every other week, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Derek Shelmerdine presents The Beatles Unravelled, alternating with Elvis Presley Unravelled.
The podcast provides this 1-minute segment of a little bit of Beatles and Elvis Presley history. Moreover, the Unravelled stories take a look at some of the more obscure parts of the story.
The MTK Network broadcasts the show, with 100 radio stations around the world. Consequently, the Mop Tops and the King is playing somewhere in the world, every day of the week.
Show Schedule for times and radio stations.
(Times on the Show Schedule are Eastern Time. The UK is five hours ahead.)
Listen Again – PODCAST
Bob Neal before Col Parker
Elvis was managed by Bob Neal before Col Parker
Before Col Tom Parker came on the scene, Bob Neal was Elvis’s manager.
Bob Neil was very active on the Memphis music scene. As well as being a country music DJ, he also owned a record shop and promoted concerts.
In the summer of 1954 Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records, persuaded Neal to add Elvis to one of his shows. Following this Bob Neal became Elvis’s manager. At this point Elvis was managed by guitarist Scotty Moore.
Col Tom Parker was already on the scene but his involvement really started in the spring of 1955. It happened when Elvis auditioned for Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. Sadly, this visit to the New York based TV Show didn’t go well.
Shortly afterwards, Elvis signed a “Special Agreement” management deal with Hank Snow and Col Parker. That resulted in the Colonel’s successful negotiation with RCA for a record deal. At the time of the signing with RCA, Bob Neal was still Elvis’s official manager. In fact, there was still four months left to run on Elvis’s contact with Neal.
But it was not to be… Bob Neal bowed out gracefully but stayed on friendly terms with Elvis.
The rest… as they say… is history…
Extracts from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
All of the Elvis Presley Unravelled and The Beatles Unravelled podcasts are based on extracts from Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.
The Beatles – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Elvis Presley – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
These extracts are only a small fraction of the stories, discographies, and other associated Beatles and Elvis information in the book.
About the book – Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk.
In addition to the music, the book looks at the social factors influencing the music. The Vietnam War, fear of communism and Civil rights struggle certainly helped to shape the sounds of the time.
If it’s relevant to the music of the 1950s. ’60s, ’70s and its roots – it’s in the book. In addition to bands, artists, classic albums and singles, recording sessions, gigs and festivals, you’ll also find stories about influential managers, how bands came together, lineups and – SO MUCH MORE…
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled‘s unique three-part structure
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled has three sections: Timeline, What Happened Today and Pocket Histories.
What Happened Today – looks at the events happening on a day-by-day basis.
Consequently, as the review in Record Collector magazine puts it in its review of the book, “Shelmerdine has made a painstaking effort to documented pretty much every event that will prove significant in shaping popular music”. In addition, the review went on to describe the book as, “comprehensive… invaluable”.
Moreover, the cross-referenced events in What Happened Today create the other two sections, Timeline and Pocket Histories.
Timeline – consequently provides a date-order listing of all of the events in What Happened Today.
Pocket Histories – further extends the cross-referencing. As a result, this builds a picture of the lives and times of the artists, bands and events in What Happened Today.
TO BUY – a signed copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
For all the previous editions of…
The Beatles Unravelled and Elvis Presley Unravelled
First Broadcast: Bob Neal before Col Parker
22 to 28 April 2022, on the MTK network.
