Al Stillman
was born in New York City on June 26,
1906.
Stillman collaborated with several
composers, including George Gershwin,
Fred Ahlert, Percy Faith, and Paul
McGrane.
Songs from the Stillman catalogue include
“The Breeze and I”, “I Believe”,
“Chances Are”, “It’s Not For Me to Say”
“Moments to Remember”, “You Alone”,
“And That Reminds Me”,
“Baby, Don’cha Go ‘Way Mad”, “Bless
‘em All”, “In Spain They Say ‘Si Si’”,
“No, Not Much”, “A Room With a View”,
“My One and Only Heart”, “When I Am
With You”, “Taboo”, “You and I Know”,
“If Dreams Come True”, “My Heart
Reminds Me”, “Enchanted Island”,
“There’s Only One of You”, ‘Jukebox
Saturday Night”, “Song About Love”,
“Every Step of the Way”, “I Love You
and Don’t You Forget It”, “The Great
Escape March”, “Teacher, Teacher”,
“There’s Nothing I Can Say”, “Truly,
Truly, True” and “Happy Anniversary”.
Ervin Drake
Composer and lyricist was born Ervin Maurice Druckman in New York City on April 3, 1919.
His first success came in 1942 when he wrote the English lyric to "Tico-Tico", a popular Brazilian instrumental by
Zequinha Abreu. In 1944 he wrote words to Juan Tizol's instrumental "Perdido". "I Believe", a religious song written in
1953 with Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl, and Al Stillman, was a huge hit, selling some 20 million copies in its various
recordings.
Other songs were "A Room Without Windows" (words and music), which was recorded by Steve Lawrence;
"Across The Wide Missouri" (with Jimmy Shirl); "Castle Rock" (lyric, with Al Sears and Jimmy Shirl); "Quando Quando
Quando" (English language lyric to an Italian song by Elio Cesari and Alberto Testa); and "Father Of The Girls", which
was a success for Perry Como in 1968.
One of his two best known songs was 1946's "Good Morning Heartache" (for which he wrote the lyric, with Irene
Higginbotham and Dan Fisher), which was recorded by Billie Holliday.
His other best known song was 1961's "It Was A Very Good Year", for which he wrote both words and music, and which was
a hit for Frank Sinatra in 1965.
In television, he wrote, composed, and produced some 700 programs. which included Sing It Again, Songs for Sale, The
Jane Froman Show, The Frankie Laine Show, The Mel Torme/Teresa Brewer Show. He also produced the Timex Comedy Hour.
He was writer and producer of some 40 specials for such stars as Ethel Merman, Gower Champion, Julie Andrews, Ginger
Rogers, Eddie Cantor, Nat "King" Cole, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka, Yves Montand, Gene Autry, Jayne Mansfield, Tony Bennett,
Perry Como, and Gene Kelly.
I Believe
Words & music by:-
Al Stillman, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl & Ervin Drake
I believe, for every drop of rain that falls,
A flower grows...
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night,
A candle glows...
I believe for everyone who goes astray,
Someone will come, to show the way,
I believe, I believe...
I believe, above the storm the smallest prayer,
Will still be heard...
I believe, that someone in the great somewhere,
Hears every word...
Everytime I hear a newborn baby cry,
Or touch a leaf, or see the sky,
Then I know why, I believe!
I believe, above the storm the smallest prayer,
Will still be heard...
I believe, that someone in the great somewhere,
Hears every word...
Everytime I hear a newborn baby cry,
Or touch a leaf, or see the sky,
Then I know why, I believe!