Elvis Costello

Declan Patrick MacManus, known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television presenter. Per 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 in an ever-expanding repertoire of styles." His first album, My Aim Is True (1977), is widely regarded as one of the best debuts in popular music history. It spawned no hit singles, but contains some of Costello's best-known songs, including the ballad "Alison". Costello's next two albums, This Year's Model (1978) and Armed Forces (1979), recorded with his backing band the Attractions, helped define the new wave genre. From late 1977 through early 1980, each of the eight singles he released reached the UK Top 30. His biggest hit single, "Oliver's Army" (1979) sold more than 400,000 copies in Britain. He has had more modest commercial success in the US, but has earned much critical praise. From 1977 through the early 2000s, Costello's albums regularly ranked high on the Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll, with This Year's Model and Imperial Bedroom (1982) voted the best album of their respective years. His biggest US hit single, "Veronica" (1989), reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

25 August 1954

Born on the same birth date (25 August 1954): Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness

Born on the same birth day (25 August): Alexander Mair • Andy McDonald (ice hockey) • Crispin Tickell • Darrell Johnson • Dorothea Tanning • George Wallace • Justin Upton • Lane Smith (illustrator) • Ledward Kaapana • Masumi Asano • Nathan Deal • Rebeka Jančová • Tim Cain • Tom Hollander • Tom Kiely

Born in the same month (August 1954): Alain Daigle • Benno Möhlmann • Charles Busch • David Paymer • Derek Warwick • Halimah Yacob • Joe Jackson (musician) • Jonathan Pollard • Mark Williams (singer) • Ravi Kanbur • Ravi Shankar Prasad • Rob Borbidge • Sam J. Jones • Steve Phillips (footballer, born 1954) • Stieg Larsson • Tarmo Rüütli • Trevor Berbick