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Joe Morello Ludwig 75th Anniversary Snare
I had just returned from a vacation at the NJ shore and was catching up on what I missed on Ebay while away when I noticed a rather interesting ad. It was for a Joe Morello owned snare drum...but not just an ordinary Joe Morello owned snare (as if any snare owned by Joe could be called ordinary). This drum was a Ludwig 75th Anniversary Commemorative Engraved Brass Super-Sensitive (only 80 of which are known to exist). To make it even sweeter, this drum was No.#4 of the 80. But, my friends, to add to all this, the icing on the cake, was that this drum was presented to Joe by William F. Ludwig II to commemorate his company's 75th birthday but also to thank Joe for his many years of endorsement. I read the ad over and over again. The auction was almost over and I didn't have a lot of time to ask questions but I knew this was a very special snare. I quickly entered a bid and threw in a little extra to boot. There was nothing left to do but wait... Unfortunately, the auction ended without reaching Joe's reserve. Disappointed, I emailed inquiring if I was anywhere close to the reserve Joe had set. I found out that Joe was selling the drum through a friend (Jim Jacobus). Jim told me that Joe's reserve was much higher. I told him that I understood and didn't blame Joe for wanting to keep it. It was obviously a very special drum for him and I wouldn't have sold it either. Jim informed me that Joe still played occasionally at local clubs. I also live in the area and was very interested to find out where. Occasionally some folks from work and my wife and I will go out for dinner and jazz music. It had been about 6 months since we had done this last and it sounded like perfect timing. Joe was playing in our area in a few weeks. I made reservations and emailed Jim back. It turned out that he was going to be there that night also. 'Great', I said, 'I will see you then.' Over the following week I emailed Jim several times with questions about Joe and the drum. I could hardly believe my luck when I read Jim's email of July 18, 2002. Joe had come back with a counter-offer on the drum. If I wanted, I could save on shipping by picking up the drum in person. Not only that but I could meet with Joe and have a picture taken and Joe would sign a letter of authenticity. I couldn't hit the 'Reply' button fast enough. 'Absolutely', I replied to Jim, 'the picture with Joe clinches the deal.'. The next day I over-nighted payment. I wanted to pay for it before Joe changed his mind about selling it. We then made arrangements for me to pick up the drum. Initially Jim thought that I could pick it up at the studio where Joe teaches, but later it was decided that a meeting at a local restaurant would work better. We set a date for the following week. Every year my company (PictureWindow Software) holds a company picnic in July. Since all of the employees and most of my friends play music, the party usually finds its way to my basement studio and we wind up jamming for a couple of hours. This year I had decided to move the jam-fest outside and had even built a stage in my backyard for that purpose. Kind of last minute, I emailed Jim and invited both he and Joe out for the picnic. I warned them that we were rock and rollers though. I told him our plan was to make noise until the neighbors complained (which they never did and I'm not sure why...we made plenty of noise). Unfortunately, Joe couldn't make it but Jim was free that day and he said he would try. I told him to look for the guy behind the grill...that will be me. Sure enough, that's where I was when Jim arrived on Saturday around 2:00PM. We talked for a while and then I turned the grill over to my business partner. I invited Jim to sit in with us and we played double drums to 'Takin Care of Business', 'Evil Ways' and a few other rock classics. I showed him a few of the drums from my collection and then he said he had to go. I told Jim it was nice to meet him in advance of our meeting with Joe, which I was very excited about and (to tell the truth) a little nervous. Finally the big day arrived.... Monday the 29th. I worked a full day at the office but it went very slow as I watched the clock all day in anticipation of our evening out that night. By 3:00 PM I couldn't stare at the clock any more. I left early to take another shower and to get dressed. My wife, Sandy, and I climbed into the Excursion and off we went. We arrived at the restaurant about a half an hour early. I was actually glad. That would give me enough time to go to the bar and have a drink and relax a bit before Joe and Jim arrived. I had brought a nice padded hard case with me but I decided not to bring it in yet. Sandy and I headed to the bar. A very friendly bartender who told us the whole history of the place entertained us. 'Yessirreee, this used to be a hot dog stand when it opened...1932.... that’s right. You know Liberace got his start here. Right over there at that piano. He was 19.' The time went fast. It was now 6:40 and our reservations were for 6:45 so my wife and I decided to be seated at our table. My wife thought she had better powder her nose and left me alone just as Joe and Jim arrived. They were joined by a couple of other friends, Lenny and Don. I stood up to greet them and despite the two very strong Jack and Cokes that I had consumed I was still a bit nervous. My wife returned and we all sat down. Joe and I started talking. I was immediately at ease with him (maybe those JDs were starting to kick in). He talked to me as though we were old friends. He asked me about my work and drum collecting with a genuine interest. He told me several stories about Bill Ludwig including the first time they met. If you haven't heard it before I will try to excerpt it from Mr. Ludwig’s autobiography at the end of this article. It's pretty humorous. Joe and Bill Ludwig became best friends. He used to bounce Billy Ludwig III on his knee when he was a baby. We talked for hours about his life at the drums...auditions with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey...playing with Dave Brubeck and Marian McPartland and many more jazz legends that Joe has worked with. We talked about his teaching and his students. Joe has been a drum instructor for many years. He still continues to travel and play with many artists. Joe had just returned from playing in Maryland with the Army 'Blues' band the week before. It soon became apparent to me that someone needs to write some of these stories down...they're pretty darn good. Someone needs to write the 'Joe Morello Story'. By 9:00PM we had finished dinner and we decided to move to the lobby to take some pictures (see below) of Joe and I and the drum. I had only seen the drum in pictures up to this point. I opened up the case and pulled the heavy brass drum out. Oh my! This drum was dead mint! Beautiful! Gorgeous! Joe and I got posed for the pictures with the drum between us...sort of the 'changing of the guard'. Fortunately I took many pictures with and without flash because only the flash shots came out good. All of the others were blurred. Joe signed a letter of authenticity and then we said our goodnights and many thanks and shook hands. I picked up the snare drum and began walking to the car. The drum felt very heavy in my hands as the weight of responsibility of stewardship of this drum came into focus. My hard case was still in the car...if I trip and fall or drop this snare drum on the way it is going to be ruined. I took very careful steps I can assure you until we reached the Excursion. With both hands still on the drum my wife said, 'Ok, open the doors.'. I was not about to take one hand off this drum. I think you need to dig around in your purse until you find your key.', I said. There was no need to explain. My wife totally understood. She found her key and unlocked the doors. I packed the drum ever so carefully in its padded hard case and off we drove...with me smiling the whole way home. Thanks Joe for giving my wife and I a great evening to remember. You are a class act and deserve everything you have worked so hard for. Thanks for being so gracious to us, and thank you also for this drum. Thanks Jim for setting this all up and for answering the many emails I sent your way. Your help has been most appreciated.
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