Ludwig Drum Company

 John Aldridge has become one of the leading experts on the history of drums, percussion companies, and their products.  As a publisher and editor, John established the magazine “Not So Modern Drummer” and dedicated its pages to the vintage drum, the history of which otherwise might have been lost.  John has been instrumental in preserving important percussive collections and documentation to ensure the material could be accessed by those interested.  John’s NAMM Oral History interview was

Jim Catalano loved playing drums as a small boy but never imagined a life in music. Jim jumped at the chance to work for the Ludwig Drum Company in the early 1980s. There he became known throughout the industry at trade shows and conferences promoting music education materials as well as the company’s innovative products. During his long association with the company, Jim became very close to William F. Ludwig II, the son of the company’s founder. Mr. Ludwig and Jim had a well-noted respect for each other, which gave Jim a deep sense of pride, not only with the company, but with the Ludwig family.

Bill Cooper is an independent sales representative whose background includes a great many experiences that have helped Bill best serve his dealers. Bill, who played French horn in school, taught college, owned a chain of music stores in Ohio and worked for St. Louis Music for 17 years before becoming an independent sales rep. Bill provides dealers with more than a list of products; he works to help the store grow by providing services and suggestions, which have proven to be appreciated by most of his long time dealers/friends. 

Karl Dustman, the founder of Dustman and Associates, is one of the country’s foremost experts on drums. Having worked for Ludwig and Gretsch along with others, Karl put his love for drums to use in creating new markets. For years he has also been a strong supporter of the Percussive Arts Society and was key in the Ludwig display, which they hosted for two years at the PAS offices in Oklahoma. Karl has been a long supporter of encouraging music makers and has been an arts advocate for most of his career. 

Peter Erskine has played a very visible role within the music industry as a noted drummer, author of method books and in designing several percussive products. He is also a welcomed sight at the NAMM Show where he can be found happily posing for photographs and checking out the latest gear. His impressive playing career included touring and recording with Stan Kenton as well as performing with Weather Report and Steely Dan. Peter has appeared on over 600 albums and has provided clinics in music stores around the world.

Harold Jones has toured with Tony Bennett for over three decades, topping off a solid career as a jazz drummer with a flare for singers. Harold worked with Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald as well as Carman McCrae. His association with the music industry goes back to the 1940s when he endorsed the Zildjian Company. Since that time he has also worked with Remo and the Ludwig Drum Company for which he tested products in the 1960s. In fact, it was a Ludwig kit that Harold played in the White House for President John F. Kennedy in 1961.
 

William F. Ludwig II was proud of the company his father started, largely based on the 1909 patented bass drum pedal, which allowed the drummer to sit down for the first time. Bill followed in his father’s footsteps by leading the company, overseeing the company’s reorganization following World War II, the Beatles boom of the 1960s, and supervising a noted innovative product line of the 1970s. Bill seemed most proud of the friends he has made along the way, for which there were many.

 Brooke Ludwig Crowden remembers her grandfather, William F. Ludwig, working around the factory inspecting drums and insisting on a quality product.  She remembers the day her father, William F. Ludwig II, took her to meet the Beatles on the occasion of her father presenting Ringo Starr with a snare drum.  Brooke has a million memories about the business, including many with her husband, Bill Crowden, who once owned the famed Drum Ltd. Shop in Chicago.  Brooke shared some of these memories in her NAMM Oral History, which took place with her brother, William F. Ludwig III, by her side.

William F. Ludwig III, known within the industry as B3, sat next to his sister Brooke as the two reflected on the Ludwig Drum Company’s 100th anniversary for the NAMM Oral History program.  He spoke of his father and grandfather, the company founder, and the impact they had on the music products industry.  B3 also spoke of his own role within the company and his focus on marketing the product line.  In recent years he wrote and published historic articles on the drum business.