Elvis Costello, born Declan Patrick McManus on August 25, 1954 in London, England, is a British singer-songwriter, producer, author, and television host. He began his career in the early 1970s pub rock scene before forming the band The Attractions in 1977 and becoming one of the key figures of the new wave movement.
His debut album My Aim Is True (1977) featured classics like "Alison" and "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes." This was followed by This Year's Model (1978) and Armed Forces (1979), which combined raw energy and lyrical nuance, solidifying his reputation as a sophisticated yet edgy pop-rock artist.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Costello’s musical curiosity led him to explore various genres — from the baroque-pop tones of Imperial Bedroom (1982) to the country reinterpretation in Almost Blue (1981), and collaborative works with Burt Bacharach and Allen Toussaint in orchestral, soul-infused directions.
In 1999, he won a Grammy alongside Burt Bacharach. The 2000s saw further experimentation, including a collaboration with The Roots in Wise Up Ghost (2013) and his spoken‑word memoir Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink (2015). In late 2024, he released The Coward Brothers, a joint project with T Bone Burnett presented as a radio-style drama soundtrack.
In 2025, his tour Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello revisits his formative hits from 1977 to 1986. He continues performing live with his band The Imposters, and remains active in philanthropy and social causes.
Renowned for his witty lyricism, restless creativity, and genre-crossing ambition, Elvis Costello stands as one of the most influential and enduring singer-songwriters of his generation.
