My Take
I genuinely think Elvis Costello might be one of the most underrated figures in the entire rock era — and that's saying something for a guy who made the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. Born Declan MacManus in London, he burst onto the scene in the late '70s with that nervy, horn-rimmed-glasses intensity, and what he did was blend the verbal density of Bob Dylan with the raw anger of punk in a way that felt completely his own. Albums like This Year's Model and Imperial Bedroom showed a songwriter who could out-craft almost anyone of his generation. Then he pivoted to country, classical, soul — restlessly smart in every direction. The 2019 Americana Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting felt overdue. He's never been fashionable in the pop-chart sense, and I think that's exactly why his catalog still sounds vital decades later.
Overview
Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to Rolling Stone, Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical traditions of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison with the raw energy and sass that were principal ethics of punk", noting the "construction of his songs, which set densely layered wordplay…
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Elvis Costello
- Name (Japanese)
- エルヴィス・コステロ
- Reading
- えるゔぃす・こすてろ
- Born
- August 25, 1954 (age 71)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Horse
- Origin
- London, Roman Empire
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- singer / guitarist / songwriter / record producer / composer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- St Francis Xavier's College
Awards & achievements
- 2003 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- 2019 Americana Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.