Elvis Costello is a uniquely prolific singer/songwriter. Despite his recent cover of classic ballads, his early songs are centered on political topics and personal feelings far from simple love. His lyrics may sometimes sound cynical but it is partly because of his intelligence and engaging way of words.

Elvis Costello, whose real name is Declan Patrick, was born 1954 in Paddington, UK. His father was a jazz trumpet player (he later appeared on Costello's album) and lived a hippy-like life. Although Costello grew up surrounded by jazz standards and old torch songs of which his parents were fond, like many of his generations, he would listen to rock music by the likes of The Band, Van Morrison and Gram Parsons. While working as a computer engineer, he formed a pub-rock band named Philip City and performed at plenty of local pubs.

It wasn't until 1976 he signed a solo deal with Demon. As he released singles 'Less Than Zero' and 'Alyson', he began to catch attention from every direction. Amid the punk rock boom in late-70s, his debut album 'My Aim Is True', which was produced by Nick Lowe and backed by the American band Glover (the precursor of Huey Lewis & The News), received wide and unexpected acclaim. It's not his Buddy Holly-like glasses but his lyrics and music that set him apart from other musicians of the era.

After forming his backing group the Attractions, Costello released 10 albums from the independent label Demon. Among them are 'This Year's Model'('78), 'Armed Forces' ('79), 'Get Happy' ('80), 'Almost Blue' ('81), 'Imperial Bedroom' ('82), 'Punch The Clock' and ' Goodbye Cruel World' ('83) and King Of America ('86). Though his fans sometimes were not able to catch up with his quick stylistic changes, his music, which is marked by accomplished songwriting skills and stripped-down sounds, always won him many new fans.

His first Warner album after parting ways with the Attractions - 'Spike' ('89) and the follow-up 'Mighty Like A Rose' ('91) include songs co-written by Paul Mccartney. Costello in return contributed to Paul's albums 'Flowers In The Dirt' ('89) and 'Off The Ground' ('93). Costello's musical interests since became increasingly wider, leading to teaming-up with classical Brodsky Quartet on 'Juliet Letters' ('93) and collaboration with Bill Frisell on 'Deep Dead Blue' ('95) while reuniting with the Attractions on 'Brutal Youth' ('94).

In 1997, he moved to Mercury and released 'Painted From Memory' ('98) in cooperation with his songwriting idol Burt Bacharach. Continuing the Bacharach-style, he covered a classic ballad ' She' for the theme song of 'Notting Hill' (starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant) in 1999. He then again shifted his interests to classical music and released 'For The Stars' ('01) with the help from classical singer Anne Sofie Von Otter.

In 2002, Elvis Costello has come full circle with his latest rock album 'When I Was Cruel', but his next studio alubm 'North' is expected to swing the mood back to retro-styled ballads similar to his collaboration with Bacharach and Otter. Who knows what he comes out with next? Rocker, blues singer and classical music admirer … Elvis Costello is all of these and more.