Robert Schmertz

American architect and folk musician (born March 4, 1898 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – died June 7, 1975 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Schmertz graduated in architecture from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1921, worked as an architect for more than thirty-five years, and taught at Carnegie Tech for more than thirty years before retiring in 1965. A self-taught banjo player, Schmertz became an influential writer of folk songs, many focused on early Pittsburgh lore. His song "Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord" was recorded by Burl Ives, Tennessee Ernie Ford, the Statler Brothers, Bruce Low, and Gary Crosby. His song "Monongahela Sal" was covered by Pete Seeger. As a student, Schmertz also wrote the Carnegie Tartans' fight song, "Fight for the Glory of Carnegie." Schmertz himself only began recording in 1949 when family and friends bought him time in a local recording studio. Only 300 copies of the resulting 78rpm album, "Songs by Robert Schmertz," were produced, but they helped to spread his reputation as the "Stephen Foster of Pittsburgh." In 1955, Schmertz released a second album, "Robert Schmertz Sings His Songs," this time on LP. Two other albums followed, "Sing Oh! the City Oh!: Songs of Early Pittsburgh" (Folkways Records, 1959) and "Ladies Beware of an Architect: Songs for Architects and Their Girlfriends" (1960).