WILLIAM (BILL) F. LUDWIG III
THE FAMILY LEGACY IS BACK!
By Alexander MacDougall
The name Ludwig is synonymous with fine family name has meant so much to me over the the phones simply start ringing off the hook the
drums. The Ludwig brothers began designing years. On February 9, 1964, I became aware next day on Monday morning?
and manufacturing drums in the early 1900’s, of your name because along with 73 million following the success of their early bass drum viewers, I saw The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan [Bill Ludwig] We didn’t know about it in
pedal and Chicago drum shop called Ludwig Show, and Ringo was playing Ludwig drums! advance, and it was quite amazing for me also.
and Ludwig. The history of William F. Ludwig, As a 12-year-old kid I remember thinking, “Oh I think I was in fourth grade and I was interested
William F. Ludwig II, and William (Bill) F. Ludwig my gosh. This is the coolest thing that I’ve ever in drumming, I hadn’t started taking lessons
III, spans over 14 decades and has profoundly seen! What does Ludwig mean? Are those yet but it was around that time. My Father’s
influenced music English drums? Are they German?” That night Dad always had famous drummers over to
educators! Bill III, (B3), has recently introduced
musicians,
music,
and
was a turning point in my life because it was the house when they would come and play
some truly remarkable innovations to the way at that moment, I decided that I wanted to Chicago, Dad would take them to the factory
drums are constructed and marketed. As a play drums, and Ringo’s Ludwig Black Oyster for a tour and then to the house for dinner or to
drummer myself, it was an incredible honor to Pearl kit was my dream drum set. Your father hang out. We had a drum set in the basement
visit with Bill and hear first-hand, about Bill’s and grandfather must have had their minds and they would always go down to look at the
new venture, WFLIII Drums. blown with the promotional fallout from this drum set, and they would play and I would just
historic event. Do you remember if they knew be fascinated watching them play. Joe Morello
in advance of the television broadcast, or did was at the house all the time during the Dave
[WM] Bill, it’s such a privilege to meet you. Your
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January 2020
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