Alfred Drake was born on October 7, 1914 in Manhattan, the son of John M. and Elena Teresa (Maggiolo) Capurro.

His given name was Alfred Capurro. As a child he was a member of the choir of Brooklyn’s Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. “Our choirmaster,� says Drake, “was a Scotsman, and we sang many original and unorthodox masses by Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms. It was very exciting; and I learned a lot there.� Later he continued with his music in the glee club at Brooklyn College during his teacher-training courses.

In 1935 Drake auditioned for a summer season of Gilbert and Sullivan. He performed with the group as an understudy and chorus boy for nine weeks, then he and his older brother Arthur finished up the summer singing with the Steel Pier Opera Company in Atlantic City. “We were damn good,� said Alfred, “but nobody listened.�

That fall he went back to Brooklyn College to complete his course in education, although singing had gotten into his blood. After graduation he again sang through the next summer with the Atlantic City opera company. Following that, as a chorus boy and understudy at the Center Theatre in the musical spectacle White Horse Inn, his break came when one of the stars became ill and Drake was rushed into the part.

The following April he performed for 44 weeks in the Rodgers and Hart Broadway musical Babes in Arms, unstarred, but getting himself established. Climbing right on up the ladder of success he starred in many musicals including Oklahoma, Kiss Me Kate, Gigi and The King and I. For Kismet he won a Tony in 1954. In 1990 he was awarded a special Tony for his contribution to the theater world. In addition to his Broadway career, Drake also had his hand in writing and composing. He was emcee on the radio show “Broadway Matinee� (1943-44).

A Cue magazine reporter once said that Drake had an “engaging air … also more energy, erudition, and entertainment value� than that reporter had seen in a long time. Alfred Drake died on July 25, 1992. — Vernon Parker

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