Ervin Drake ( April 3 , 1919 -- January 15 , 2015 ) , birth name was Irving Maurice Druckman , was an American songwriter whose works include such American Songbook standards as `` I Believe '' and `` It Was a Very Good Year '' .
Ervin Maurice Druckman ( April 3 , 1919 -- January 15 , 2015 ) , better known as Ervin Drake , was an American songwriter . His works include such American Songbook standards as `` I Believe '' and `` It Was a Very Good Year '' .