Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dexter Henry Lorcan Macmanus |
| Birth Date | December 6, 2006 |
| Birthplace | New York City, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Age | 18 (as of 2025) |
| Parents | Elvis Costello (Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus) and Diana Krall |
| Siblings | Twin brother: Frank Harlan James MacManus; Half-brother: Matthew “Matt” MacManus |
| Notable For | Son of acclaimed musicians Elvis Costello and Diana Krall |
| Early Visibility | Occasional family outings in NYC; brief 2009 concert cameo |
| Public Career | None publicly known as of mid-2025 |
| Family Homes | Primarily New York and Vancouver |
| Family Focus | Privacy, education, and a music-rich home life |
A Childhood Tuned to the Soft Glow of Fame
Born on December 6, 2006—on the third anniversary of his parents’ wedding—Dexter Henry Lorcan Macmanus arrived with his twin brother, Frank, at full term in New York City. For twins, reaching full term is a small miracle; for the sons of two world-famous musicians, it was greeted as a blessing. Early glimpses in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood offered vignettes of a family choosing ordinary rituals—strollers on sidewalks, bundled winter walks—over red carpet spectacle.
The first years played out quietly save for a charming onstage cameo in 2009: two toddlers in tiny band shirts and protective earmuffs, briefly stepping into the limelight before retreating to the shelter of home. That moment still lingers like a grace note—fleeting, memorable, and resolutely nonintrusive.
Roots and Heritage: A Family Tree in Harmony
Dexter’s lineage reads like a ledger of songbooks and schoolrooms, a transatlantic weave of artistry and public service.
- Father: Elvis Costello, born August 25, 1954, in London, has written and recorded across genres for decades, entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. His songs often blend wit and bite, but his reflections on parenthood add a softer counter-melody, as heard in “My Three Sons.”
- Mother: Diana Krall, born November 16, 1964, in Nanaimo, British Columbia, is a Grammy-winning pianist and vocalist whose velvety tone reshaped the mainstream appetite for jazz standards and sophisticated pop.
- Paternal grandparents: Ross MacManus, a trumpeter and vocalist with the Joe Loss Orchestra, and Lilian Alda Ablett, a singer whose musicality helped form the family’s creative core.
- Maternal grandparents: Adella A. Wende, an elementary school teacher, and Stephen James “Jim” Krall, an accountant—pillars of discipline and support behind Diana’s early training.
The family’s cultural map stretches from Liverpool to London, Nanaimo to New York, and on to Vancouver—each locale a chapter of melodies, classrooms, and close-knit gatherings.
Siblings, Bonds, and the Everyday Rhythm
Dexter’s twin, Frank Harlan James, shares not just a birthday but a carefully maintained privacy. The pair’s rare joint appearances—most notably their toddler-age concert cameo—reflect a household tuned to normalcy. Their half-brother, Matthew “Matt” MacManus, born in the mid-1970s, provides a generational bridge and occasional musical collaborator with their father, extending the MacManus thread through decades.
Uncles on Elvis’s side—Ronan, Kieran, Ruari, and Liam—underscore the family’s musical bent, while maternal aunt Michelle Krall, formerly of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, offers a complementary model of public service and steadiness. Gatherings often include instruments and stories; what they do not include, by design, is an open door to the tabloid churn.
A Household That Chooses Privacy Over Pageantry
At 18, Dexter Henry Lorcan Macmanus has no public career or credited creative releases. That is its own kind of statement. While fan corners occasionally spark speculation about future musical endeavors, credible information points to a young adult moving deliberately, shielded by parents who have navigated fame long enough to understand its cost. Financially, the family’s success affords security; culturally, the household hums with the kind of everyday music—practice pianos, humming guitars, vinyl on a turntable—that can seed a vocation or simply nurture an abiding love for the art.
Milestones and Moments by the Numbers
- 1954: Elvis Costello is born.
- 1964: Diana Krall is born.
- 1975: Matthew “Matt” MacManus is born.
- December 6, 2003: Elvis and Diana marry.
- December 6, 2006: Dexter and Frank are born in New York City.
- 2009: The twins’ brief onstage cameo.
- 2011: The family mourns the passing of Ross MacManus.
- 2018: Elvis recovers from cancer surgery, reaffirming family resilience.
- 2021: Lilian Alda Ablett passes at 93.
- 2025: Dexter turns 18.
Family Snapshot: People and Roles
| Relative | Relation to Dexter | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Elvis Costello | Father | Prolific songwriter; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2003); genre-crossing career |
| Diana Krall | Mother | Grammy-winning jazz pianist and vocalist; global touring artist |
| Frank Harlan James MacManus | Twin Brother | Low public profile; shared early media glimpses |
| Matthew “Matt” MacManus | Half-Brother | Musician; contributed to his father’s work |
| Ross MacManus | Paternal Grandfather | Trumpeter and singer; Joe Loss Orchestra alumnus |
| Lilian Alda Ablett | Paternal Grandmother | Singer; remembered for deep maternal bond |
| Adella A. Wende | Maternal Grandmother | Educator; encouraged early piano discipline |
| Stephen James “Jim” Krall | Maternal Grandfather | Accountant; steady support for family life |
| Ronan, Kieran, Ruari, Liam MacManus | Paternal Uncles | Musically inclined, part of a wider performance lineage |
| Michelle Krall | Maternal Aunt | Former RCMP officer; symbol of service and grounding |
Recent Visibility: Echoes, Not Spotlights
Mentions of Dexter in 2024–2025 tend to appear as footnotes in retrospectives of his parents’ relationship and careers, rather than as stand-alone news. Social media chatter recycles birth anniversaries and family anecdotes; archival concert clips reaffirm the nostalgic charm of that 2009 cameo. In a culture addicted to immediacy, this scarcity of updates reads like intentional silence—a cultivated rest between notes.
The Name, the Date, the Thread
Dexter’s multi-part name nods to a family that values lineage and texture. December 6 recurs like a refrain: wedding in 2003; twins’ birth in 2006; yearly anchor points where family life and artistic legacy intertwine. If his future unfolds in music, it will hardly surprise; if he chooses another path entirely, it will still feel true to a household that celebrates both art and autonomy.
FAQ
Who are Dexter Henry Lorcan Macmanus’s parents?
He is the son of Elvis Costello, the English singer-songwriter, and Diana Krall, the Canadian jazz pianist and vocalist.
When and where was he born?
He was born on December 6, 2006, in New York City.
Does he have siblings?
Yes, he has a twin brother, Frank Harlan James, and an older half-brother, Matthew “Matt” MacManus.
Is he pursuing a music career?
There is no verified public career information as of mid-2025, and speculation from fan sites remains unsubstantiated.
Why is he rarely in the media?
His parents have prioritized privacy, limiting public appearances and media exposure.
Where does the family live?
They split time primarily between New York and Vancouver.
Are there recent public updates about him?
Recent mentions are sparse and mostly appear in broader features about his parents, with no new personal developments reported.
How does his family background influence him?
He grows up amid strong musical traditions and supportive, grounded relatives, creating a balanced environment rather than public pressure.
What was notable about his birth date?
He shares December 6 with his parents’ wedding anniversary, a date that recurs as a family milestone.
Has he appeared onstage?
Only briefly as a toddler in 2009, during a lighthearted family moment at one of his father’s concerts.
