Elvis Costello

His first marriage was to Mary Burgoyne in 1974 with whom he has a son. The marriage ended in divorce.

He married bassist Cait O’Riordan in 1986. This marriage too ended when the couple separated in 2002.

In 2003, he married musician Diana Krall. He has twin sons with her.

Elvis Costello was born to Ross MacManus and Lilian Alda. His father was a musician who had played with the Joe Loss Orchestra.

He attended the Hounslow Secondary Modern School.

As a youngster he performed with his father in an award-winning television commercial for R. White’s Lemonade.

His parents separated when he was a teenager and he moved to Liverpool with his mother.

He enrolled at St. Francis Xavier’s College and returned to London after completing his education.

He formed ‘Flip City', along with aspirating musicians Mich Kent and Malcolm Dennis, in 1974. The band could not do well and was disbanded the very next year.

Costello played solo gigs and did several small jobs to support his family. He spent his free time writing songs and recording demo tapes to send to record companies but with little success.

He sent a demo tape to independent label Stiff Records in 1976 after reading an ad inviting demo tapes. Stiff Records’ Nick Lowe loved the promising singer’s music and signed a contract with him. It was during this time that he adopted his stage name Elvis Costello.

His debut album, ‘My Aim is True’ was released in 1977. It was produced by Nick Lowe and the backing music was provided by members of the band Clover. The album was a commercial success.

In late 1977, he formed his own backing band The Attractions with Steve Nieve, Bruce Thomas and Pete Thomas. His 1978 album, ‘This Year’s Model’ was the first one with this band.

His first album, ‘My Aim is True’ (1977) was a big hit; it was considered to be the most impressive debut album in the history of pop music. The album went Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in Canada.

His 1979 album, ‘Armed Forces’, was named on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of greatest albums. It was accredited Platinum in the U.K and Canada. The album was so popular that it was reissued twice, in 1993 and 2001 by different labels.