Born Ervin Maurice Druckman in New York City, Ervin Drake, the legendary songwriter who penned the Frank Sinatra classic “It Was A Very Good Year,” died on January 15th. According to reports, Mr. Drake had been suffering from bladder cancer. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
He was one of the last survivors from the golden age of Jewish-American songwriters who composed much of what’s come to be known as the American Songbook.
Drake wasn’t in a league with Irving Berlin or the Gershwins, but his extensive output included several memorable songs, including “It Was a Very Good Year,” “Good Morning Heartache” and “I Believe.”
He wrote “It Was a Very Good Year” for a 1961 Kingston Trio album. It became a signature for Frank Sinatra after Sinatra recorded it for his 1965 “September of My Years” album.
Read the full story: Ervin Drake, ‘It Was a Very Good Year’ songwriter, dead at 95
Drake was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983.
