Part of the punk and New Wave movements of the 1970s, Elvis Costello made an impact with hits like "Alison," "Oliver's Army," "Everyday I Write the Book" and "Veronica."
After the release of his critically acclaimed debut album, My Aim Is True, he formed The Attractions as his backing band, who featured on his second album, This Year's Model, released in 1978.
Costello and his band The Attractions toured and recorded together until they went their separate ways in 1986.
Much of Costello's work since has been as a solo artist or with The Imposters, although he has been known for some high-profile collaborations with the likes of Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and The Brodsky Quartet.
1. Elvis Costello was born Declan MacManus, but his stage name was inspired by his musical hero Elvis Presley and his father's stage name of Day Costello.
2. In the early 1970s, a pre-fame Costello worked as a computer operator for a cosmetics company while trying to make it as a professional musician.
3. In 1977, Costello was arrested and fined £5 for busking outside a Hilton Hotel where there was a conference for executives of Columbia Records, the label that later signed him.
4. Costello appeared in an episode of Frasier as a loud folk musician called Ben who plays in the Cafe Nervosa. Frasier (played by Kelsey Grammer) complains about the noise and subsequently boycotts the cafe.
5. Costello's father, Ross MacManus, was a well-known jazz trumpeter and he also sang with the Joe Loss Orchestra.
6. A teenage Elvis sang backing vocals for his dad in the "I'm a Secret Lemonade Drinker" TV advert for R.White's Lemonade.
7. Before he had a hit, Costello was in a country-rock group called Flip City, who played on the London pub circuit and covered a range of songs including Bob Dylan's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door."
8. Costello appeared in the film Austin Powers 2 singing a duet of "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" with Burt Bacharach, with whom he recorded the album Painted With Memory.
9. Costello has been married three times and has three sons — Dexter, Matthew and Frank. He married his current wife, singer Diana Krall, in a wedding ceremony at Elton John's mansion.
10. During the early 1970s, he performed under the name D.P. Costello in various folk clubs around the UK.
11. In 1979, Costello starred in the comedy movie Americathon, in which he played the role of The Earl of Manchester alongside stars John Ritter and Peter Riegert.
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