William F. Ludwig II

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 th

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 made along the way, for which there were many.

Brooke Ludwig Amling remembers her grandfather, William F. Ludwig, working around the factory, inspecting drums and insisting on a quality product. She also remembers the day her father, William F. Ludwig II, took her to meet the Beatles when he presented Ringo Starr with a snare drum. Brooke has a lifetime of memories connected to the music products industry, including many with her late husband, Bill Crowden, who once owned the famed Drums Ltd. shop in Chicago. In 2015, Brooke married Larry Amling, adding another special chapter to her life.

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.