Fred Gerlach
Fred Gerlach | |
|---|---|
| Born | Fred Gerlach August 26, 1925 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 2009 (aged 84) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | Singer, 12 string guitarist, luthier |
| Children | David Gerlach |
| Relatives | Jesse Lee Kincaid (nephew) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1962–2006 |
| Labels | Folkways Records, Eyrie Records, Takoma Records |
Fred Gerlach (August 26, 1925 – December 31, 2009) was an American folk musician and luthier. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page credited his recording of Lead Belly's version of the song "Gallows Pole" with inspiring his own band's version.
Background
[edit]In the early 1950s, he sang in the Jewish Young Folksingers chorus conducted by Robert De Cormier. Gerlach was among the first folk artists to adopt the 12 string guitar as his medium. A friend of fellow folk musicians Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, his first album was even called Twelve-String Guitar. Led Zeppelin covered its flagship song, "Gallows Pole". Guitarist Jimmy Page said:
"I first heard it ('Gallows Pole') on an old Folkways LP by Fred Gerlach, a 12-string player who was, I believe, the first white to play the instrument. I used his version as a basis and completely changed the arrangement[1]
Gerlach was inspired to adopt the 12 string by his mentor and one-time roommate Lead Belly, a blues guitarist famous for using the instrument.[citation needed] At the time, Gerlach became interested in the instrument, it was rarely used. He later related:
"I went into one of the largest musical instrument stores in the country, and the manager assured me that no such instrument existed. On another occasion, a maker of fine 12-string lutes (nylon strings) pictured for me a nightmare of explosive force required to hold twelve steel strings in proper tension. He envisioned bits of guitar and guitarist flying asunder. I have combed New York City pawnshops and music stores and have received a variety of comments ranging' from 'Sorry, we're out of them now. Won't a six-string guitar do? to 'Have you got rocks in your head, buddy?' In fact, it took me about a year after I had first decided to play a twelve-string before I found one. It wasn't a concentrated search, but it nevertheless indicates the general unavailability of the instrument."[1]
Because of the difficulty in finding 12 string guitars, Gerlach began to make his own, for himself and his peers. Pete Seeger, Leo Kottke, Dick Rosmini, who along with other well known folk musicians came to use his instruments.[2]
Gerlach is the uncle of Jesse Lee Kincaid who was a member of the Rising Sons, a 1960s blues band.[3]
Career
[edit]Gerlach recorded his Twelve-String Guitar album which was released on Folkways FG 3525 in 1962. It was given a three-star rating by Billboard in the magazine's 17 March 1962 issue.[4][5]
It was mentioned in the 25 May 1963 issue of Billboard that Gerlach, the Sherwood Singers, and the Mad Mountain Ramblers. etc. were set to appear on shows by talent coordinator Russell Giguerre.[6]
On 18 August 1963, Gerlach, along with The Sherwood Singers, Fred Thompson, The Willow Creek Ramblers, The Steeltown II, David & Michaela, LeSesne Hilton with John MacQuarrie, Randy Boone and the Calimbo Steel Band appeared at Pasadena's 1st Annual Folk Festival which was held at 568 East Mount Curve Avenue, Altadena, Los Angeles County.[7]
In 1968, his album Songs My Mother Never Sang was released on the Takoma label.[8]
It was reported in the 16 March 1977 issue of Walrus! that Gerlach's record was getting heavy airplay at WSAC-FM in Kentucky.[9]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Compilations
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Fred Gerlach, American Music biography
"I first heard it ('Gallows Pole') on an old Folkways LP by Fred Gerlach, a 12-string player who was, I believe, the first white to play the instrument. I used his version as a basis and completely changed the arrangement." - ↑ Folksinger Fred Gerlach – Venice – circa 1969
Fred’s reputation as a guitar maker was well known. He made 12 string guitars for Pete Seeger, Leo Kottke, Dick Rosmini and others. Once when he was in San Diego He walked into a Music Store and saw a guitar he had made on the wall with a $10,000 price. When he asked why it was so expensive, the owner said “This is an original Gerlach! He’s dead.” Fred said “Oh!” and left. - ↑ Billboard, March 5, 1966 - Page 5 With Bob Dylan, The Byrds and Simon and Garfunkel on your label, what do you do for an encore?
- ↑ Smithsonian Folkways Recordings - CATALOG, Twelve-String Guitar: Folk Songs and Blues Fred Gerlach
- ↑ Billboard, March 17, 1962 - Page 32 Reviews of New Albums Continued from page 30, MODERATE SALES POTENTIAL, FOLK, *** TWELVE STRING GUITAR Fred Gerlach. Folkways FG 3525
- ↑ Billboard, May 25, 1963 - Page 18 FOLK MUSIC, Things Crackling at the Ice House
- ↑ Bruno Ceriotti Rock Historian - Sunday, August 18, 1963: ‘Pasadena 1st Annual Folk Festival
- ↑ CKUT 90.3 FM - The Sleepy King Favoriting: Playlist from March 26, 2025, Fred Gerlach Slide Favoriting Songs My Mother Never Sang Takoma Records 1968
- ↑ Walrus!, Issue # 206 March 16, 1977 - Page 10 RADIO, SOUTH, FT. KNOX, KY., WSAC-FM, HAPPY DAZE CREW, HEAVY AIRPLAY: *Fred Gerlach
- ↑ Fred Gerlach – Twelve-String Guitar
- ↑ Fred Gerlach – Songs My Mother Never Sang
- ↑ Various – The Twelve String Story, Volume 1
- ↑ Takoma Eclectic Sampler, Vol. 2
External links
[edit]- Discogs - Fred Gerlach
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1925 births
- 2009 deaths
- American folk guitarists
- American male guitarists
- American folk singers
- American people of German-Jewish descent
- American Ashkenazi Jews
- Jewish American musicians
- Jewish folk singers
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century American male musicians
- 20th-century American Jews
- 21st-century American Jews
- Folkways Records artists
- Takoma Records artists