Fred Gerlach was an American folk singer, 12-string guitarist, and luthier from Detroit, Michigan, born on August 26, 1925. In the early 1950s, he performed in the Jewish Young Folksingers chorus conducted by Robert De Cormier. Gerlach was among the first folk artists to adopt the 12-string guitar, an interest inspired by his mentor Lead Belly. He released his debut studio album, Twelve-String Guitar, in 1962 through Folkways Records. The record featured the song "Gallows Pole", which Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page credited as the inspiration for the band's later version. As a luthier, Gerlach constructed instruments for musicians including Pete Seeger, Leo Kottke, and Dick Rosmini. His discography also includes the albums Songs My Mother Never Sang (1968) and Easy Rider (1993). Gerlach died in San Diego, California, on December 31, 2009.
