Ross MacManus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ross MacManus (born Ronald MacManus, 20 October 1927, Birkenhead[1]) is an English musician and trumpet player, who performed with Joe Loss and his orchestra. He joined Loss in March 1955.[2]
He is also the father of the singer, Elvis Costello, and father-in-law of Diana Krall.[1]
MacManus was responsible for the music and vocals from the R. White's Lemonade television advertisement theme song, "Secret Lemonade Drinker", on which Costello plays the drums, and sang backing vocals.
"1973 saw the launch of the brand’s most famous advertising campaign, ‘The Secret Lemonade Drinker’, which remained on screen until 1984. The ad featured a man in striped pyjamas creeping downstairs to raid the fridge for R Whites Lemonade. Ross McManus, the father of singer Elvis Costello) wrote and sang the original song, with his teenage son, providing backing vocals. The ad won a silver award at the 1974 International Advertising Festival." [3]
In 1975, MacManus wrote and sang a number of songs for the soundtrack to the British sex comedy film, Secrets of a Superstud.
MacManus released a CD entitled Elvis' Dad Sings Elvis, where he covered Elvis Presley songs. He recorded a version of The Beatles' song "The Long and Winding Road" under the pseudonym of Day Costello.[1][4] He also appeared playing the trumpet on a number of Costello's albums, including Out of Our Idiot and Mighty Like a Rose.[5]
MacManus's track, "Patsy Girl" appeared on Bob Dylan's radio series, Theme Time Radio Hour: Father programme.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c IMDb database
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years, 1st, London: Reed International Books Ltd, p. 12. CN 5585.
- ^ Britvic - R Whites
- ^ Elvis Costello website article
- ^ All Music Guide discography credits
