Horace Gerlach

Horace Gerlach, known as Dutch,[1]: 181  was a songwriter and musician, known for his work with Louis Armstrong and the song "Daddy's Little Girl".

Early life

Gerlach was educated at Upper Darby High School.[2]

Music career

At 25 years old, Gerlach was working as a pianist and bandleader in Philadelphia.[1]: 181  He became the ghostwriter and principal arranger for Louis Armstrong,[1]: 181  and stayed in the position until 1940.[3] However, trombonist Jimmy Archey criticised him as being "nothing much as an arranger".[1]: 181–2 

In 1949, Gerlach wrote the song "Daddy's Little Girl" with Bobby Burke. It quickly became popular and was covered by several artists throughout its release year.[4]: 212 

Swing That Music

Gerlach wrote sections of Armstrong's autobiography, Swing That Music, namely the section on the history of swing music.[5]: 38  He was the cowriter of the song "Swing That Music" with Armstrong, which was composed especially for the book.[5]: 17 

Gerlach was criticised by William Kenney for having "clumsy intrusions" within Armstrong's autobiographical voice and negotiation of the biracial jazz world.[6]: 151  A focus of his analysis was the "ongoing rhetorical struggle" between Armstrong and Gerlach within the text.[6]: 156  Scholars like Christopher Harlos have questioned the autobiographical authenticity of the text and the influence of Gerlach, especially in relation to the text's views on the relationship between jazz and conventional European music.[6]: 158 

Discography
  • "If We Never Meet Again" (1936) with Louis Armstrong
  • "Keep Away From My Doorstep" (1936)
  • "Swing That Music" (1936) with Louis Armstrong[5]: 17 
  • "I've Got a Heart Full of Rhythm" (1937) with Louis Armstrong[1]: 207 
  • "What is This Thing Called Swing?" (1939) with Louis Armstrong[1]: 225 
  • "Daddy's Little Girl" (1949) with Bobby Burke[4]: 212 

References
  1. Riccardi, Ricky (2020). Heart Full of Rhythm: The Big Band Years of Louis Armstrong. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-091411-0.
  2. "Horace Gerlach At Leone's Keyboard". Philadelphia Daily News. June 29, 1965. p. 43. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  3. Nelson, Nels (July 7, 1971). "'He Loved Life'". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 5. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  4. Bastin, Bruce (1 August 2012). The Melody Man: Joe Davis and the New York Music Scene, 1916–1978. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-61703-277-6.
  5. Stein, Daniel (3 May 2012). Music Is My Life: Louis Armstrong, Autobiography, and American Jazz. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-05180-9.
  6. Gabbard, Krin (1995). Representing Jazz. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-1594-0.
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