Ervin Drake

Ervin Drake is an American songwriter whose works include such American Songbook standards as "It Was a Very Good Year". He has written in a variety of styles and his work has been recorded by musicians from all over the world in a multitude of styles. In 1983, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Born in New York City, New York.  Ervin Drake had his first song published at age 12, in 1931. The son of Max Druckman and Pearl Cohen, he attended Townsend Harris High School in the borough of Queens, New York, graduating in 1935, and went on to receive a bachelor of arts degree in social science from the City College of New York in 1940.  His elder brother, Milton, also became a songwriter, with work including "The Java Jive" and "Nina Never Knew"; and his younger brother Arnold Drake, become a writer for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and others, as well as an author and playwright.

Duke Ellington's recording of Perdido (music by Juan Tizol and lyrics by Ervin Drake) was a highlight in the young composer's career. Besides composing music and lyrics for dozens of pieces he was also a television producer and worked with performers including Jackie Gleason and Milton Berle. Among his best known songs are "I Believe", introduced by Jane Froman which became a number-one hit for Frankie Laine in 1953 and holds the record for number of non-consecutive weeks spent at number one. It has also been recorded by over a dozen other artists including Barbra Streisand and Elvis Presley.

He wrote the words and music for "It Was a Very Good Year" in 1961, when a publisher friend told him that Bob Shane of the folk music group the Kingston Trio would be in the publisher's office the next morning, and the publisher asked Drake to write a song for the group. The band recorded it for the album Goin' Places and other folk performers covered it.  In a 2009 interview, Drake said that in 1965, Frank Sinatra had heard the song on his car radio, and recorded it for the melancholy and introspective album September of My Years.  The Sinatra recording hit the top ten on the charts for 1966. The piece has been recorded in over 10 languages and more than 50 artists on many major labels.  As lyricist, Drake, with composer Irene Higgenbothom, wrote the jazz standard "Good Morning Heartache". It has been recorded by over 100 artists, including Diana Ross for the movie Lady Sings the Blues.

He was president of American Guild of Authors and Composers from 1973 to 1982.

Ervin Drake has received several honorary doctorates and achievement awards, as well as being inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1983.

List of notable songs.

    "Tico-Tico"
    "Perdido"
    "Now I Have Everything"
    "A Room without Windows"
    "Bachelor Girl"
    "I Believe"
    "Good Morning Heartache"
    "It Was A Very Good Year"
    "I Wuv A Rabbit"
    "AL DI LA"
    "Quando Quando"
    "Who Are These Strangers"
    "I am A Card Carrying Bleeding Heart Liberal"
    "One God"
    "Tic-Toc"
    "Hey Mr. Taliban"

Broadway

    Heads or Tails (1947) - play - co-playwright
    What Makes Sammy Run? (1964) - musical - composer and lyricist
    Her First Roman (1968) - composer, lyricist, and bookwriter
    Sophisticated Ladies (1981) - revue - featured songwriter for "Perdido"

Source: Wikipedia