Gene's first Jazz Organ Combo was led by tenor saxophonist, Sonny Stanton. Later, he switched to another quartet led by Gene Barr. Gene, like so many others was forced to take piano gigs and play synthesizers during the eighties just to survive. It was in 1969 that Gene got a chance to record with Sonny Stitt. This musical education for Gene came as organist, Don Patterson was leaving Sonny's band. Gene co-led this group with PatMartino and worked up and down the East Coast. His work with Sonny Stitt would cover only a year's time, he gladly comments: "It was one of the fondest memories of my career". Once back in Pittsburgh, Gene hooked up with multi-reed talent, Bill Easley and later Walt Maddox before more limelight was cast upon him in the form of Arthur Prysock. Gene would go on the road with Prysock in 1974 and once again in 1979, all the time supporting local groups and vocalists in his home town when he could.
 
Gene appeared at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and made numerous stops in and around the Eastern cities. In fact, soon after Don Patterson passed away in 1988, Gene performed in Don's birthplace, Columbus Ohio where Don was honored posthumously. Gene even accepted the award on his behalf and handed it over to Don's mother. He played the next year with Hank Marr in Columbus and then began organizing his own Jazz Organ Jams in Shadyside (Pittsburgh area).
 
With the release of Gene's 1998 CD titled "Back on the Track" came a resurgence of fresh energy. His career has once again moved forward in both recording and touring on a national basis. Four other CD's have since been released, "Soul Serenade" in 2000, "The Groove Organization" in 2002, "Hands On" in 2004 and "Live in Las Vegas" in 2006. All of Gene's recent work has been praised for its energy and hard driving groove. Live performances have also kept Gene busy. He has appeared at the 2001 San Francisco Jazz Festival; Birdland in NYC; and the 2003 Stanford Jazz Festival for the Stanford Jazz Workshop; the Newark Museum of Art Summer Jazz Series (2004) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (2006). Of particular note, however, was his re-union concert with his original trio of guitarist, Jerry Byrd and drummer, Randy Gelispie that took place in Cleveland in the fall of 2004 and three nights of concerts in the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City in February 2006.
 
For Gene Ludwig, the Hammond organ never really left the scene... He has been and will continue to be one of this country's most passionate exponents of Jazz Organ.
 
partially taken from a biography written by Pete Fallico
 
Gene passed away on 14 july 2010.