Gerlach, Ed

Ed Gerlach was born in Livingston, Texas in 1920 and began playing the piano at the age of five. An only child, Mr. Gerlach was raised by his grandparents and other extended family members who were extremely supportive of his musical interests. When his grandmother obtained a soprano saxophone for him, she begain learning alto saxophone so she could assist him. When Mr. Gerlack still at a young age, switched over to tenor saxophone, his grandmother had him driven to lessons in Houston to study with Cliff Drescher. It was discovered early on that Mr. Gerlach was a natural talent although he has professed to practicing less than 30 minutes daily at that time.

During his college years Mr. Gerlach attended Texas A&M studying architecture for a brief time before he decided that music was what he would do professionally. He was offered a scholarship to Sam Houston State University to study in the music department and shortly after beginning he was asked to head the college’s dance band.As the band became an independent entity from the school, World War II began. The group, now called Ed Gerlach and the Houstonians, were so dedicated keeping the band together that they enlisted in the Air Force at Ellington Field all at once.

During his years at Ellington Field, Mr. Gerlach performed weekly with his band at the Rice Hotel for cadet graduations. On furlough,he befriended Milton Larkin and Arnett Cobb while frequenting music venues in Houston’s Fourth Ward. Mr. Gerlach developed a deep admiration for these fellow musicians and was asked to join them in playing on occasion. He also was discovered by Hal McIntyre of the McIntyre Band. From that post he was hired by the manager of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

In 1953 Mr. Gerlach resigned from the Miller Orchestra and returned to Texas. At the University of Houston he taught music history and orchestration, while teaching private music lessons and performing. Following his work at University of Houston, Mr. Gerlach began performing locally, primarily at the Shamrock Hotel and the River Oaks Country Club with his band. During that period he also played with performers such as Tony Bennett, Bob Hope and the Manhatten Transfer among many others.

Most recently Mr.Gerlach has operated a successful booking agency for performing artists and continues performing to appreciative audiences throughout Texas as of 2007.

From the guide to the Ed Gerlach Collection MSS 388., 1920 to 1989, (Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library)