RIP Ervin Drake

By Wenn.Com

January 15, 2015

Legendary American songwriter Ervin Drake has died at the age of 95. Born Ervin Maurice Druckman in New York, he had his first track published at the age of 12 and scored his big break in 1942, when he came up with the English lyrics for Brazilian instrumental Tico-Tico. He also put words to Juan Tizol's composition Perdido and went on to write American Songbook standards such as I Believe and It Was a Very Good Year, which was originally written for Kingston Trio folk star Bob Shane and famously covered by Frank Sinatra. His other well-known tunes include Quando Quando Quando, Father of the Girls, Castle Rock, A Room Without Windows and jazz standard Good Morning, Heartache, which has been recorded by the likes of Billie Holiday and Diana Ross. Drake served as the president of the American Guild of Authors and Composers from 1973 to 1982 and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. Sharing the news of his passing with Twitter.com followers on Thursday (15Jan15), his friend, veteran singer/actor Robert Davi, writes, "one of the Great American Songwriters and my friend Ervin Drake has died... join me in paying tribute to a Great Artist." Actress Leslie Uggams also paid tribute to Drake online, tweeting, "So very sad to hear of the passing of Ervin Drake. He was a great friend and songwriter. My condolences to his family", and musician Michael Feinstein adds, "So sad to hear about the passing of Ervin Drake". Further details about Drake's death had yet to be released as WENN went to press.

Born: 4/3/1919, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 1/15/2015, U.S.A.

Across the Wide Missouri - 1951