b. 23 February 1964, Monaca, Pennsylvania, USA. As a small child Drake heard music on record and radio, mainly bluegrass and country. He began singing while still in school and at the age of 16 was singing and playing drums with local bands. He took a regular job, playing evenings and weekends and gradually building a loyal local audience. In 1993 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he again played whenever he could while working a non-musical job: here he delivered pizzas whereas back in Pennsylvania he had been in air traffic control. Meanwhile, Drake wrote songs and began attracting attention and, eventually, secured a recording contract.
Drake’s songwriting finds him exploring traditional country music themes, and stylistically maintaining that same tradition while reflecting latterday changes in music. His songs have found favour with several singers, some of whom, such as Mark Chesnutt, have put them on record. Drake recorded with Neal McCoy and sang ‘Heaven Can’t Be Found’ on The Songs Of Hank Williams Jnr.: A Bocephus Celebration. A 2002 tour with Brooks And Dunn’s Neon Circus Tour attracted a great deal of favourable attention and his self-titled debut album from 2003 met with similar approval.
