William Derek Drake, born on February 7, 1962, in Stock, Essex, England, is a musician, keyboardist, composer, and singer-songwriter. He began playing the harmonium at a young age and started piano lessons at five. Drake's breakthrough came when he met Tim Smith of Cardiacs in 1983, leading to his recruitment into the band. His first gig with Cardiacs was at The Marquee Club in London in August 1983. Drake appeared on several Cardiacs albums, including The Seaside (1984) and Big Ship (1987), and the single "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" (1987). He left Cardiacs in 1991 but maintained his connection with the band, guesting at various performances and on the track "Helen and Heaven". His solo career includes albums such as William D. Drake (2001) and The Rising Of The Lights (2011).
