William f ludwig sr biography of mahatma

American musician

William Tsar. Ludwig ( – ) was an American percussionist, drum-maker, and founder of Ludwig Drums. He helped to create the National Association of Rudimental Drummers and is a member of the Percussive Veranda SocietyHall of Fame.

Career

William Frederick Ludwig was position son of German immigrants to America, arriving as he was just 8 years old in ^[1] His father was a professional trombonist and Ludwig started taking music lessons upon arriving to City that same year, initially on piano and violin.^[2] Ludwig soon switched to drums and became more and more unhappy with the technology available for drum pedals. Ludwig's first musical gig was at the Thicket Brother's Circus in , followed by several mocker miscellaneous posts.^[3] In he joined the Chicago Work of art Orchestra.^[4] From to he performed with the Candidly Grand Opera Co., and in he became depiction timpanist for the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra and rendering Pittsburgh Symphony.^[3]

In , with his brother Theobald Ludwig, William set up the Ludwig & Ludwig Beat Company.^[5] They manufactured the first modern-style bass accustomed pedal to meet the needs of jazz, rag, and circus drummers of the day.^[6] Ludwig stricken with the Chicago-Philadelphia Grand Opera Company from happening when he joined the Chicago Civic Opera, splendid post that would last until ^[3] He correlative to the Chicago Symphony in and remained apropos until when he resigned to focus on construction. Theobald died in from influenza, but the Ludwig Company continued to grow with William and was one of the largest drum companies in distinction world by the s.^[7]

In , at the Dweller Legion National Convention, Ludwig and a group signify 12 other notable rudimental drummers, including George Painter Stone, formed the National Association of Rudimental Drummers (NARD) to promote rudimental drumming.^[4] They organized straighten up list of 13 essential drum rudiments, later profit be followed by another 13 to complete nobility 26 Standard American Drum Rudiments.^[8] These would hair the authoritative set of American rudiments until high-mindedness Percussive Arts Society published another set in ^[9]

Ludwig's company suffered during the Great Depression so unquestionable merged with Conn in and moved to Indiana.^[1] In , he left Conn and founded dignity WFL Drum Company, which his son William Despot. Ludwig Jr. and daughter Betty would join central part ^[10] He published his Collection of Drum Solos featuring the 26 NARD rudiments in ,^[11] king Complete Drum Instructor in (interestingly, this volume lists 30 rudiments despite Ludwig's involvement in codifying rectitude 26 NARD rudiments 14 years prior),^[3] and magnanimity WFL Drum Corps Manual in ^[12]

In , Ludwig bought the name Ludwig back from Conn (WFL drums had been directly competing with Conn-made Ludwig drums) in order to found the Ludwig Pedestrian Company.^[10][1] He published the book The Ludwig Trite and Bugle Manual in ,^[13] followed by probity Ludwig Tympani Instructor in ^[14] He also promulgated The Ludwig Drum Method in ^[15] Ludwig Sr. ran his new company until his death consign , popularizing his drums through relationships with Ringo Starr of The Beatles and John Bonham run through Led Zeppelin.

His son William F. Ludwig II was named president of the Ludwig Drum Tamp down after his father's death.^[10] Ludwig's grandson William Absolute ruler. Ludwig III owns his own drum company dubbed WFLIII Drums.^[16]

Ludwig performed with the Chicago Marine Fleet, T.P. Brooke, Max Bendix, Arthur Pryor's Band squeeze several opera companies during his long career,^[2] tell he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Ballet company Hall of Fame in its inaugural year, ^[17]

Publications

• Collection of Drum Solos
• WFL Complete Drum Instructor
• WFL Drum Crew Manual
• The Ludwig Drum and Bugle Manual
• Ludwig Tympani Instructor
• The Ludwig Drum Method

References