Spencer Ludwig

Spencer Ludwig
Josh Stevens and Spencer Ludwig, ca. 2015
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California
Years active	(2011 –present)
Labels	Warner Bros. Records
Associated acts	Capital Cities
Website	SpencerLudwig.com
Notable instruments
Trumpet, Vocals, Keys

Spencer Ludwig is a trumpeter, singer, and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. He is a solo artist signed with Warner Bros. Records and has also performed with Foster the People, Portugal. The Man, Fitz and the Tantrums, RAC, St. Lucia, Cherub, HOLYCHILD and The Wailers. Ludwig is also a former member of the band Capital Cities. He recorded on their platinum debut album In a Tidal Wave of Mystery and toured with them from 2012-2015.

Ludwig is the son of a Filipino mother and Russian Jewish father and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He attended Oakwood School and began playing saxophone in the fourth grade due to his school's support for performing arts. Ludwig grew fond of jazz music and performed in the school's jazz band during his middle school years.

Ludwig learned to play the french horn in high school but decided to apply to college as a trumpet player. He started off by teaching himself how to play the trumpet going into his senior year of high school. He recorded and sent audition CDs to various schools. He was accepted to California Institute of the Arts where he studied jazz. He supported his way through school by playing with local bands from Los Angeles and teaching trumpet part-time at his former high school.

Ludwig was part of the local Los Angeles music scene, performing with numerous bands. He began performing while in college, forming a cover band with guys that graduated from Oakwood School a few years before him. It was in 2012 that Ludwig got his break with a major band.

While playing a music festival with a band called Sister Rogers in 2012, Capital Cities band members Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian watched him perform, later asking him to join the group as its trumpet player. Ludwig shifted his focus to solely playing trumpet, recorded and touring with the group for four years. He recorded trumpet on the group's platinum debut album In a Tidal Wave of Mystery.