1. Gene Ludwig was an American jazz and rhythm and blues organist, who recorded as a leader as well as a sideman for Sonny Stitt, Arthur Prysock, Scott Hamilton, Bob DeVos, and Leslie West, and others.
10 Facts About Gene Ludwig
1. 2.
Gene Ludwig became interested in rhythm and blues after hearing Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner and organists Bill Doggett and Wild Bill Davis played by disc jockey Porky Chedwick on WHOD in Homestead.
3.
Gene Ludwig graduated from Swissvale High School in 1955, and studied physics and mathematics at Edinboro State Teachers College.
4.
Gene Ludwig left due to his father going on strike at Westinghouse Electric, and returned to Pittsburgh to work in construction.
5.
Gene Ludwig heard organist Jimmy Smith perform at the Hurricane nightclub in the Hill District, which inspired him to take up the Hammond organ.
6.
Gene Ludwig bought a M-100 organ, then a C-3 model, and finally a B-3 after sharing a bill with Jimmy Smith in 1964 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
7.
Gene Ludwig travelled along the East Coast and to Ohio, performing jazz and rhythm and blues, and released numerous singles and albums as a leader and a sideman.
8.
Gene Ludwig toured with bass-baritone vocalist Arthur Prysock and guitarist Pat Martino.
9.
Gene Ludwig released the album, Now's the Time, in 1980 on Muse Records, and continued to travel and work through the '80s and '90s, regularly performing at Pittsburgh's Crawford Grill and James Street Tavern.
10.
Gene Ludwig married Pattye Zamborsky on September 30,2001, and they resided in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.