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Declan Patrick Aloysius McManus (born August 25, 1954), better known as Elvis Costello, is a popular British musician, singer, and songwriter of Irish descent. He was an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid- 1970s, and later became associated with the punk rock and new wave musical genres, before establishing himself as a unique and original voice in the 1980s.Born into a musical family (his father, Ross McManus , sang with Joe Loss ), McManus moved with his mother to Liverpool in 1971. It was there that he formed his first band, Flip City, which had a style very much in the pub rock vein. They lasted until 1975– 1976, by which time McManus was living in London with a wife and child. McManus worked a number of dead-end jobs, during which time he continued to write songs, and began aggressively looking for a solo recording contract, which led to an incident in which he was arrested while busking outside a conference of record executives. On the basis of a demo tape, he was signed to Stiff Records. His manager at Stiff, Jake Riviera suggested a name change (using Presley'sElvis Aron Presley ( January 8, 1935 August 16, 1977), known as The King of Rock and Roll, or as just "The King", was an American singer who had an immeasurable effect on world culture. He started his career under the name the Hillbilly Cat and was later first name and his mother's maiden name to form "Elvis Costello") and teamed him with a country/soft rock band named "Clover" (who would later back Huey LewisHuey Lewis whose real name is Hugh Anthony Cregg III (born July 5, 1950) is a musician and singer. He does lead vocals and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and The News, a rock group based in San Francisco, California that was particularly popular as 'The News').
1 Music
1.1 1970s
Costello's first album, My Aim Is TrueMy Aim Is True is the debut album by Elvis Costello. It ushered in the new wave genre, both musically and in the stylish appearance of the man himself. Released in 1977 (see 1977 in music) by Stiff/ Columbia, the album broke new ground with punk, pop, and ( 1977For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). Events January 1 First woman Episcopal priest ordained January 6 EMI sacks the Sex Pistols January 18 Scientists identify a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious " legionnaire's disease" Januar) was a moderate commercial success (No. 14 in the UK and Top 40 in the US) with Costello appearing on the cover in his trademark glasses bearing a striking resemblance to Buddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley ( September 7, 1936 February 3, 1959), better known as Buddy Holly was an American singer, songwriter, and a pioneer of Rock and Roll. Biography Holly was born in Lubbock, Texas. The Holleys were a musical family and as a young boy H. Its release saw Costello marketed by Stiff as a new wave artist or a punk, despite the fact that the album featured the ballad "Alison" (one of his most enduring songs). The same year, Costello recruited his own band, The Attractions ( Steve Nieve , born Steve Mason, pianoPiano is a common abbreviation for pianoforte a large musical instrument with a keyboard (see keyboard instrument). Its sound is produced by strings stretched on a rigid frame. These vibrate when struck by felt-covered hammers, which are activated by the; Bruce Thomas , bass guitarThe electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument similar to the electric guitar, but larger in size and with a lower range. It is also closely related to—and inspired by—the double bass, and shares things in common with a range of bass instruments. It is and Pete Thomas drums) and released his first major hit single, the cinematic "Watching The Detectives", recorded with Nieve.
Following a whirlwind tour with other Stiff artists (captured on the Live Stiffs album, notable for Costello's recording of the Burt Bacharach standard "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself") the band recorded This Year's Model ( 1978), a frenetic record filled with raucous energy and Costello's barbed lyrics. Stand-out tracks include the British hit "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "Lipstick Vogue", on which the rhythm section excel. A tour of the US and Canada also saw the limited release of "Live At The El Mocambo".
1979 would see the peak of Costello's commercial success with the release of the album Armed Forces (suitably subtitled "Emotional Fascism"). Inspired by the constant touring, the band were in fine form and Elvis had further honed his lyrical wit, tackling subjects both personal and political. Both the album and the single "Oliver's Army", with a piano hook self-admittedly borrowed from Abba's "Dancing Queen", went to No.2 in the UK. Costello also found time in 1979 to produce the debut album for ska band The Specials. His success in the US was severely dented, however when Costello called Ray Charles a "blind, ignorant nigger" during an argument with Bonnie Bramlett in an Ohio bar (the comment being particularly odd, since Elvis worked extensively in Britain's "Rock Against Racism" campaign both before and after). A contrite Costello apologised at a press conference, claiming that he had been drunk, and had said it only to annoy Bramlett (at which he was successful, since Bramlett punched him in the face).
