Milton Drake
American lyricist and performing rights administrator
About Milton Drake
Lived 1912 – 2006 (aged 94). Milton Drake was an American lyricist, songwriter and composer.
Milton Drake (August 3, 1912 – November 13, 2006) was an American lyricist and performing rights administrator.
As a child, he performed in vaudevilles, in films and on radio. Later he wrote special material for theater and nightclub revues, including "Cotton Club Parade", "Riviera Follies", "Paradise Parade", and "Latin Quarter Revue". Drake's musical collaborators included Oscar Levant, Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston, Louis Alter, Ben Oakland and Con Conrad, among others.
Drake was a member of the American Guild of Authors and Composers for 28 years, and for 5 years was the chairman of the AGAC council. In August 1962 he resigned from AGAC in protest, criticizing the lack of progressive leadership at the organisation, and their relationship with music publishers. His brother was songwriter Ervin Drake (1919-2015).
Notable songs "Java Jive" (1940) "If It’s You" (1941) "Mairzy Doats" (1943) "Fuzzy Wuzzy" (1944) "Nina Never Knew" (1952) "She Broke My Heart in Three Places" "My Dreams are Gone with the Wind" "Has Hitler Made a Monkey Out of You?"
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Important facts
People in Milton Drake's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Milton Drake's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Milton Drake?
American lyricist and performing rights administrator (1912–2006)
When was Milton Drake born?
Milton Drake was born on 3 August 1912.
When did Milton Drake die?
Milton Drake died on 13 November 2006.
What was Milton Drake's occupation?
Milton Drake was a lyricist, songwriter and composer.
What nationality was Milton Drake?
Milton Drake was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Milton Drake. https://biography.guide/milton-drake/
MLA: "Milton Drake." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/milton-drake/.
Chicago: "Milton Drake." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/milton-drake/.
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