THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE:“The exact relationship between Henry (T Bone Burnett) and Howard Coward (Elvis Costello) remains ambiguous. They often referred to themselves as “one and a half brothers,” which might hint at their height difference — or imply they were not actually siblings but were involved in an elaborate ruse.
As the fictional story goes, the Cowards’ partnership was initiated by Smiley “Doc” Snipson, who discovered Henry in 1956 and signed him for a U.K. tour. The brothers’ hit single, My Baby Just Squeals (You Heel), was followed by less successful records and a controversial Cold War-themed song. To preserve their fading fame, Snipson orchestrated their supposed death in a plane crash, but they were actually in hiding on a Caribbean island, secretly recording music and sending it back to Snipson. When their funds ran out, they returned to Miami and made sensational claims about writing famous songs, leading to a brief stint as songwriters for Bill Bogguss. They resumed recording, but their partnership eventually fractured, leading to years of estrangement.
The reality: Costello and Burnett have used the Cowards as occasional noms de plume, dating back to the 1980s. But not until now did they turn the pseudonymous singing siblings of their imaginations into fully fledged characters. The duo’s first recorded appearance came when two of their songs surfaced on the bonus disc for a reissue of Costello’s 1986 album The King Of America — which Burnett produced in the wake of several tours with Costello. Their music, from early rock ’n’ roll hits to later, more introspective songs, is compiled in the album The Coward Brothers. It was recorded at Electric Lady Studios and 12th Street Sound (New York), East Iris Studios and Blackbird Studios (Nashville), The Village Studio Z (Los Angeles), Musikhuset Dressing Room (Aarhus), Brown’s Hotel (London) and the Peabody Hotel Presidential Suite (Memphis).
The colourful fictional tale has also been explored in a radio program, revealing the complexity of their relationship and their enduring bond. Despite their tumultuous history, their music remains a testament to their unyielding spirit. The original radio play The True Story Of The Coward Brothers is directed by Christopher Guest, and stars Costello, Burnett, Harry Shearer, Edward Hibbert, Rhea Seehorn, Stephen Root and Kathreen Khavari.”
