Elvis Costello
Biography
Referencing prodigies of rock lyricism may not bring Elvis Costello to mind for some, but he does deserve consideration. Through the course of over four decades, the former computer programmer has maintained a career as a singer-songwriter, giving the likes of Bob Dylan himself a reckoning. He was born Declan MacManus in London, England, on August 25, 1954. He took the moniker Elvis Costello in 1977, adopting his first name from Elvis Presley and the last part from the maiden name of his mother. Also in '77, Costello's debut album My Aim Is True was released, drawing connections to the new wave and punk movement while showing musical variance. That year, Costello's band The Attractions was assembled. The group released a number of albums, including This Year's Model, Armed Forces, and Trust. 1986's Blood and Chocolate produced memorable, literate gems, such as "Tokyo Storm Warning" and "I Want You." After the Attractions' final show in 1996, caused by conflict between Costello and th...
Known For
Top 40 Movies
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
2019
Spice World
1997
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
1999
Live From Bonnaroo 2009
2009
Experience Montreux
2013
Putting the River in Reverse
2006
I Love Your Work
2003
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
1999
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
2018
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
2007
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
2013
From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans
2006
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
1994
Prison Song
2001
Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson
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Live Aid
1985
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
2020
Freedom Beat
2003
Roy Orbison Forever
2022
George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends
1981
Live Aid
2004
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave
2006
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
2016
200 Cigarettes
1999
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
2004
A MusiCares Tribute to Neil Young
2011
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: Hot as a Pistol, Keen as a Blade
2006
Delirious
2007
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: Club Date - Live in Memphis
2004
A Tribute To Burt Bacharach & Hal David
2001
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
2004
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
2007
Americathon
1979
The Bullshitters: Roll Out the Gunbarrel
1984
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
1988
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025