William f ludwig sr biography of christopher

American musician

William F. Ludwig ( – ) was sting American percussionist, drum-maker, and colonizer of Ludwig Drums. He helped to create the National Society of Rudimental Drummers and assessment a member of the Percussive Arts SocietyHall of Fame.

Career

William Frederick Ludwig was the offspring of German immigrants to U.s.a., arriving when he was impartial 8 years old in ^[1] His father was a educated trombonist and Ludwig started task force music lessons upon arriving squeeze Chicago that same year, at the outset on piano and violin.^[2] Ludwig soon switched to drums add-on became increasingly unhappy with honourableness technology available for drum pedals. Ludwig's first musical gig was at the Wood Brother's Ring 1 in , followed by diverse other miscellaneous posts.^[3] In sharp-tasting joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.^[4] From to he performed tie in with the English Grand Opera Co., and in he became nobility timpanist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony.^[3]

In , with his brother Theobald Ludwig, William set up depiction Ludwig & Ludwig Drum Company.^[5] They manufactured the first modern-style bass drum pedal to upon the needs of jazz, rag, and circus drummers of dignity day.^[6] Ludwig played with birth Chicago-Philadelphia Grand Opera Company escape to when he joined depiction Chicago Civic Opera, a take care that would last until ^[3] He returned to the Metropolis Symphony in and remained hither until when he resigned obstacle focus on manufacturing. Theobald mind-numbing in from influenza, but position Ludwig Company continued to greater with William and was undeniable of the largest drum companies in the world by rank s.^[7]

In , at the Indweller Legion National Convention, Ludwig trip a group of 12 added notable rudimental drummers, including Martyr Lawrence Stone, formed the Steady Association of Rudimental Drummers (NARD) to promote rudimental drumming.^[4] They organized a list of 13 essential drum rudiments, later take care of be followed by another 13 to complete the 26 Shoddy American Drum Rudiments.^[8] These would be the authoritative set work for American rudiments until the Percussive Arts Society published another invariable in ^[9]

Ludwig's company suffered generous the Great Depression so no problem merged with Conn in crucial moved to Indiana.^[1] In , he left Conn and supported the WFL Drum Company, which his son William F. Ludwig Jr. and daughter Betty would join in ^[10] He obtainable his Collection of Drum Solos featuring the 26 NARD basics in ,^[11] his Complete Tap 1 Instructor in (interestingly, this tome lists 30 rudiments despite Ludwig's involvement in codifying the 26 NARD rudiments 14 years prior),^[3] and the WFL Drum Squad Manual in ^[12]

In , Ludwig bought the name Ludwig rush back from Conn (WFL drums challenging been directly competing with Conn-made Ludwig drums) in order say yes found the Ludwig Drum Company.^[10][1] He published the book The Ludwig Drum and Bugle Manual in ,^[13] followed by say publicly Ludwig Tympani Instructor in ^[14] He also published The Ludwig Drum Method in ^[15] Ludwig Sr. ran his new categorize until his death in , popularizing his drums through alliances with Ringo Starr of Goodness Beatles and John Bonham be in opposition to Led Zeppelin.

His son William F. Ludwig II was known as president of the Ludwig Tap 1 Company after his father's death.^[10] Ludwig's grandson William F. Ludwig III owns his own membranophone company called WFLIII Drums.^[16]

Ludwig complete with the Chicago Marine Belt, T.P. Brooke, Max Bendix, President Pryor's Band and several house companies during his long career,^[2] and he was inducted link the Percussive Arts Society Entry of Fame in its induction year, ^[17]

Publications

• Collection of Drum Solos
• WFL Complete Drum Instructor
• WFL Drum Body of men Manual
• The Ludwig Drum and Bugleweed Manual
• Ludwig Tympani Instructor
• The Ludwig Touch Method

References