Through a lifetime in the music business, Frank Ludwig has kept his wits about him. And one of Chemainus Secondary SchoolB次元官网网址檚 most famous graduates known for the time he spent as keyboardist with the legendary Canadian rock band Trooper from 1975 to 1979 has also maintained his quick wit over the years.
The 75-year-old, looking ahead to turning 76 in December, said itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渢ime to buy another trombone.B次元官网网址�
The reference, of course, is to the show tune Seventy-Six Trombones. But if that requires an explanation, it canB次元官网网址檛 be a very good joke, he concedes.
Nonetheless, some semblance of a sense of humour is a necessity to survive in the industry and Ludwig went through plenty of great times and not so great with the band and in the ensuing years since then.
Many would say itB次元官网网址檚 been a long time coming, but Trooper was finally inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame located at Studio Bell in Calgary May 18 with a ceremony attended by Ludwig and nine other either former band members or current musicians continuing to perform under the group name.
B次元官网网址淵eah, a lot of people would seem to think so,B次元官网网址� said Ludwig of the recognition.
He isnB次元官网网址檛 big on awards as a means of verifying the bandB次元官网网址檚 impact or his own personal contribution, but admits it was nice to be honoured.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like everybody and his dog gets inducted into the Music Hall of Fame,B次元官网网址� Ludwig said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never been in it for the glory. IB次元官网网址檓 in it for the music and still making music.B次元官网网址�
In TrooperB次元官网网址檚 heyday, band members were on top of the world. Ludwig, Ra McGuire (vocals, guitar), Brian Smith (guitar), Doni Underhill (bass) and Tommy Stewart (drums) were a dynamite combination during their time together, churning out hit after hit. Other 2023 inductees joining Trooper were: Terri Clark, Diane Dufresne and Oliver Jones.
B次元官网网址淎pparently, we stole the show,B次元官网网址� chuckled Ludwig. B次元官网网址淭ommy brought all his relatives. We had a pretty good rooting section.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame is on Level Five of Studio Bell, with the entire floor dedicated to celebrating and recognizing Canadian music creators and artists who have left their mark on the country and beyond. Plaques are displayed with the names of more than 50 legendary Canadian artists.
B次元官网网址淭he complex also includes a museum with a wonderful collection of instruments,B次元官网网址� added Ludwig.
Having so many folks of his generation acknowledging what their music meant to them and still picking up newer younger fans who obviously werenB次元官网网址檛 around in those days is satisfying.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 nice people are still getting enjoyment out of those songs,B次元官网网址� Ludwig conceded. B次元官网网址淚t has meaning for people in their lives and still does.B次元官网网址�
Immediately after Ludwig joined Trooper, the band recorded the B次元官网网址楾wo For The ShowB次元官网网址� album in a Toronto studio, with the title track and B次元官网网址楽anta MariaB次元官网网址� becoming top 10 singles.
Ludwig became known for his vocals on the songs he wrote while in the band, especially B次元官网网址楻ound Round We Go.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t was the first one that broke the Toronto market for us,B次元官网网址� noted Ludwig.
He also sang lead on Moment That It Takes and shared the lead vocals with McGuire on Gypsy Wheeler.
The roots of the band were on the Lower Mainland, but they soon branched out to capture a Canada-wide market and, in fact, caught on internationally with the 1978 hit Raise A Little Hell cracking into the famous Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 59.
All good things eventually come to an end and Ludwig was the first to leave the group. He said thereB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渟ome angst happening still.B次元官网网址�
Stewart, Underhill and Ludwig have remained friends and were happy to reunite during the Hall of Fame induction activities that included a chance for inductees to perform at King Eddy, a restored country bar across the street from the Studio Bell complex, after the main show.
At King Eddy, Ludwig, Underhill and Stewart played Here For a Good Time, and Raise a Little Hell with Smith and McGuire, but it also involved the current bass player and the former guitar roadie who is now the guitarist, playing Boys in the Bright White Sports Car, followed by a repeat with Smith coming back on.
The best part of the induction for Ludwig is the $25,000 that goes in TrooperB次元官网网址檚 name toward a music program in Alberta schools.
As a retired music teacher, B次元官网网址渢his is such a big deal to me,B次元官网网址� he conceded.
Meanwhile, Ludwig continues to produce music of distinction. Following the release of his song The Day They Closed The Old Mill Down in 2021 with direct reference to Chemainus, he has released a new song Out To Pasture that relates to his time with Trooper.
B次元官网网址淚t shows my perspective on all it,B次元官网网址� Ludwig said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of saying we donB次元官网网址檛 appreciate the knowledge of elders, we put them out to pasture.B次元官网网址�
The song is available by clicking or by going to his website . HeB次元官网网址檚 inviting everyone to view the video and the song on YouTube and leave a comment.
B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 tried to change to suit the times,B次元官网网址� Ludwig reinforced. B次元官网网址淚 still want to write songs that have a melody and a message. I think itB次元官网网址檚 a fun song and a fun video, too.B次元官网网址�
His previous music with Trooper continues to gain new life. The Richmond Orchestra and Chorus, a 40-voice choir, will be premiering his arrangement of B次元官网网址楻ound Round We Go (Orchestral Fantasy)B次元官网网址� on June 17 at a Richmond church.
Ludwig said heB次元官网网址檇 do an arrangement, but not like a pop song. He treated it as an orchestral fantasy and had to redo it to make it work for the choir.
Ludwig said his mission was to B次元官网网址渘ot try to make it sound like the Trooper version.B次元官网网址�
However, he has done a medley of Trooper songs to be released in a week or two on YouTube.
Like so many musicians of his era, Ludwig isnB次元官网网址檛 going to be put Out To Pasture anytime soon.
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
Like us on and follow us on .
