Robert Armbruster

John Robert Sommers Armbruster (October 9, 1897 – June 20, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, pianist and songwriter. He also recorded piano rolls under the pseudonyms of Henri Bergman, Edwin Gabriel, Robert Romayne, and Robert Summers.

Biography Armbruster was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When he was 8 years old, Armbruster began performing professionally in Philadelphia. Blue Ribbon Town, The Cass Daley Show, Cavalcade of America, The Charlie McCarthy Show, Coronet on the Air, Cousin Willie,, The Cuckoo Hour, A Day in the Life of Dennis Day, The Electric Hour, The Great Gildersleeve, The Groucho Marx Show, Hawthorne TBA, The Kraft Music Hall, The Nelson Eddy Show, The Old Gold Program, Red Ryder, Sara's Private Caper, and Western Caravan.

In 1948, Armbruster was musical director, conductor and solo pianist for the Kraft Music Hall program starring Nelson Eddy. A fine pianist, he was featured each week in classical piano solos. The program had an excellent orchestra of about 35. Regular arrangers included Billy May and Nelson Riddle. In the sixties, Armbruster was head of the music department at MGM Studios.

He died in Santa Monica, California on June 20, 1994, at age 97.