Ervin Drake (born April 3, 1919 in New York City) is an American songwriter. He was active in the United States throughout much of the '40s, '50s and '60s as a composer of pop and jazz numbers. Among his best known songs are I Believe, introduced by Jane Froman which became a top ten hit for Frankie Laine in 1953, and It Was a Very Good Year, recorded by Frank Sinatra which became a top ten hit in 1966. Drake is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Work on 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"
