Robert Armbruster

American pianist, conductor, composer and songwriter.
Born October 9, 1897 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Died June 20, 1994 (age of 97) in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Uncle of actress/pianist .

At the age of eight he appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and as a teenager he recorded hundreds of classical and salon-type performances for the Aeolian Companies Duo-Art reproducing pianos that were turned into piano rolls. He graduated from West Philadelphia High School. He studied piano with Constantin von Sternberg.

From performing he moved on into conducting and composing. He worked in radio, and later in film and television. His radio work was varied and intertwined with his recording work. If Nelson Eddy was performing on the radio somewhere, chances are he had Robert Armbruster and his orchestra as his Musical Director.His television credits include The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and National Velvet. In the 1960's he headed the music department at MGM Studios. His songs include "Cuddle Up", and "High Barbaree". His works include "Western Ballet" and "Variations in Miniature on Chopsticks".

In 1965 he, Leo Arnaud, Jack Elliott, Jack Hayes, Calvin Jackson, and Leo Shuken were nominated for an Oscar for the Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment for their work on The Unsinkable Molly Brown They had stiff competition that year. It was Warner Brother's My Fair Lady that got the nod.