Elvis Costello Undefined / Undefined Declan Patrick MacManus began having the time of his life on Wednesday, the 25th of August, 1954. He was the son and only child of trumpeter, vocalist and erstwhile bandleader Ronald (“Ross”) MacManus (born in Birkenhead, October 20, 1927) and record store manager Lillian MacManus. The MacManus family’s original association with music occurred quite literally by accident. Elvis' grandfather Patrick was an orphan – his father (Elvis' great-grandfather) John MacManus (who was an Irishman from County Tyrone who'd moved to England) was killed in an accident on the dockside in Birkenhead and Patrick's mother (Elizabeth Costello) didn't survive much longer herself. Patrick and his brothers got shipped off to an orphanage in Southall where they all learned to play musical instruments. Patrick later ended up in the British Army in Ireland and was shot in 1917 (I assume he didn't heed the warning he was given by his Irish mates – as retold by Elvis in his song "Any King's Shilling") but later recovered and played jazz on the luxury trans-Atlantic cruise ships "Georgic" and "Majestic" up until 1933. Reviews Elvis Costello - Momofuku (9 out of 10) Ben Gott News • Elvis Costello Plans Spectacle • Elvis Costello new LP represents the Noodle • Elvis Costello & Death Cab for Cutie? Artist Website Elvis Costello - Official Website