The Colonel even made money from people who despised his hip-swivelling star. (thatericalper) His most ingenious product, though, was "I Hate Elvis" buttons. The Wall Street Journal reported that by the end of 1957, Elvis merchandise had grossed over $22 million dollars.īy 1962, Colonel Parker's share of that booty would become an eye-popping 50%.Ī whole other market. In just a few months, over 50 different Elvis-themed products were produced, from charm bracelets and necklaces, to scarves, teddy bear perfume, Topps bubble gum cards, and sneakers… to record players, hats, and lipsticks in "Heartbreak Pink" and "Hound Dog Orange" – sold with the slogan, "Keep Me Always On Your Lips." It was a revolutionary strategy, as it was the first all-out merchandising campaign ever aimed at the teen market. Sensing a marketing opportunity that no music manager had every considered before, Colonel Parker signed a deal with a Beverly Hills movie merchandiser for $40,000. The film was a huge hit, and there were one million advanced sales for the title song – a first for a single in music history. (Getty Images) So in 1956, Presley made his first movie, titled Love Me Tender. Presley bought his first guitar at just 11 years old. It is believed that this was Elvis's real goal in life.
Seeing that national success, Colonel Tom Parker started to plan an extensive marketing campaign to make his boy the number one attraction in North America.Īll the while, Elvis harboured a secret desire to be a movie star. The song topped Billboard's charts for seven weeks, going to number one on the country & western and R&B charts, and became Elvis's first million selling record. The record company was completely against it, saying nobody would be interested in a song that morbid.Įlvis was unfazed, and recorded it anyway. With his new RCA contract, Elvis insisted on recording a song inspired by the suicide of a lonely man who jumps from a hotel window. So Parker was determined to ride that short wave for all it was worth by marketing Presley in ways no other manager had ever dreamed of. (YouTube) While Colonel Parker instantly understood his young singer was becoming the hottest act around, he also figured his popularity might last two years, at most.
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