(b. 19 June 1948, Burma, d. 25 November 1974)

Born into an upper middle-class background, Drake was raised in Tanworth-in-Arden, near Birmingham. FIVE LEAVES LEFT was a mature, melodic collection which invoked the mood of Van Morrison’s ASTRAL WEEKS or Tim Buckley’s HAPPY SAD.  By contrast BRYTER LAYTER was altogether more worldly, and featured support from emphatic, rather than intuitive, musicians.  Indisputably Drake’s most commercial album, the singer was reportedly stunned when it failed to reap due reward. On 25 November 1974, Nick Drake was found dead in his bedroom. Although the coroner’s verdict was suicide, relatives and acquaintances feel that his overdose of a prescribed drug was accidental. Interest in this ill-fated performer has increased over the years and his catalogue contains some of the era’s most accomplished music. Drake is now seen as a hugely influential artist.