Horace Gerlach

American jazz songwriter, musician and bandleader, known for his work with [a38201].

Born: March 6,1909 Died: April 15, 1984 (75 years old). Known as "Dutch".

Gerlach worked as a pianist and bandleader in Philadelphia before becoming the ghostwriter and principal arranger for Armstrong. He also wrote some of Armstrong's autobiography, "Swing That Music".

He's charted 4 times on the U.S. charts, three of those times for the song "Daddy's Little Girl ", co-written with [a1176136]. It was #5 for The Mills Brothers and #11 for Dick Todd in 1950, and #2 adult contemporary ($42 overall) for Al Martino in 1967. "If We Never Meet Again" also charted in the U.S., in 1936 (#18 for Nat Brandwynne & His Stork Club Orchestra). "Daddy's Little Girl" is now often played at formal weddings while the bride dances with her father.

Singer Tony Bennett said of an Armstrong-Gerlach song "One timely song is 'If We Never Meet Again', which 1 think is up there with 'As Time Goes By' — but written a little better." ASCAP IPI #11706525.