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Elvis Costello Biography

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The Sensational Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello a brilliant singer and songwriter came onto the new wave scene in the late 1970s. When you looked at him he resembled the late great Buddy Holly who also had nerdy looking spectacles and of course his name reminded one of the King of Rock and Roll. Therefore it seemed destined that Costello would be a success in the world of music.
Inborn Talent
He came into this world as Declan Patrick Macmanus on August 25, 1954 in Paddington, London, England. I say he had inborn talent because his dad was a successful big-band singer and trumpet player. Costello went to Catholic school and tried out a variety of different instruments among them the violin. Then at the age of 15 he took up the guitar and at this …show more content…

He wrote songs, recorded demos and at times performed under the name D.C. Costello. Costello was his mom’s maiden name. All this time he supported his family as a computer operator. Finally in 1975 Costello quit his job and became a roadie for Brinsley Schwartz. In 1976 Stiff Records signed him on and his manager rechristened him as Elvis Costello.
First Single
Costello’s first single was “Less Than Zero” which came out in April 1977. This song was included on his first album “My Aim Is True” and placed him on the charts and made him a major British cult star. The album is now considered a classic and includes one of his most popular songs “Alison”. Other songs on the album are “Watching the Detectives” and “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes”.
Getting a Band
Costello gathered together guys to form a band called The Attractions with Steve “Nieve” Nason as keyboardist, Pete Thomas as drummer and Bruce Thomas as bassist. They took off on the road and Costello was introduced to an American audience on Saturday Night Live in December of …show more content…

Songs on the album included “Sweet Dreams” and “A Good Year For the Roses”.
He came out with some really haunting ballads on his album Imperial Bedroom in 1982. Songs here included “Beyond Belief” and “Tears Before Bedtime”.
In 1983 his song “Every Day I Write the Book” became a Top 40 hit in the U.S. and in 1984 he was noted for “Goodbye Cruel World”.
Changing Trends
Along with changes in his personal life Costello temporarily traded his band The Attractions for a pickup band called The Confederates which included former Elvis Presley musicians. With these musicians he recorded the album King of America in 1986 with songs like “Don’t Let me Be Misunderstood”.
Costello followed up this album with Blood and Chocolate and set on a tour that featured The Attractions, The Confederates and Costello singing solo. Songs from this album were “Uncomplicated” and “I Want You”.
Costello designed the Spinning Songbook which allowed the audience to “choose” by luck of the draw, songs from his very vast repertoire.
Co-Writing With Paul

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