Itsa国际传媒檚 been a rewarding year of long overdue awards for Trooper that included famous Chemainus keyboardist Frank Ludwig during the rock bandsa国际传媒檚 heyday.

Following the bandsa国际传媒檚 induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in Calgary during May, another honour bestowed upon the group Sept. 28 was inclusion on Canadasa国际传媒檚 Walk of Fame with a Rock of Fame ceremony in Toronto. But that was not without controversy.

Ludwig, Doni Underhill, Tommy Stewart and Harry Kalensky (who was replaced by Underhill) were foremost among the groupsa国际传媒檚 members during its chart-topping time in the mid-to-late 1970s. But only Ra McGuire and Brian Smith were invited to the Walk of Fame function, although McGuire did not attend.

sa国际传媒淚 would have liked to have networked with some people there,sa国际传媒� conceded Ludwig.

Trooper has continued throughout the years with numerous different musicians, but never attained anywhere near the success of the early performers. The confusion for the younger generation has stemmed from more recent members of the group ultimately stealing the thunder of Ludwig and the guys who made the band famous.

sa国际传媒淭he hits came from us,sa国际传媒� Ludwig pointed out.

sa国际传媒淐urrent Trooper management told us that everything was in place and that Tommy, Doni, Harry and I would not be involved even though we had expressed interest. Tommy tells me that inductees each received a small memento of the occasion and is hoping someone will keep us in mind.sa国际传媒�

Ludwig pointed out he received a note from Lee Aaronsa国际传媒檚 drummer and husband John Cody saying many present at the event felt it wasnsa国际传媒檛 right. Cody was the drummer in Ludwigsa国际传媒檚 post-Randy Bachman band.

sa国际传媒淚 may have been just as happy not to do the long plane trip, but it was nice to see that all original Prism members were honoured and they included members holding a nice photo of the singer Ron Tabak (RIP),sa国际传媒� Ludwig added. sa国际传媒淚t shows that some people know how things should be done.sa国际传媒�

Hesa国际传媒檒l be meeting up with Cody next week on Saturday, Oct. 21 at The Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Vancouver during the F**K Cancer Concert 2. Stewart, Underhill and Ludwig will be performing some sa国际传媒�70s hits under the moniker Trooper Hot Shots.

sa国际传媒淭he band will also include Ray Roper and David Wills of Stonebolt,sa国际传媒� Ludwig indicated. sa国际传媒淚t should be fun and is a significant cause.sa国际传媒�

Ludwig, who turns 76 in December and lives in Delta, remains very active on the music scene today, making the rounds (Round Round We Go) at many locations and energizing musicians with his presence.

It took a month after the Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction before he received his individual statuette on June 16. After that, Ludwig and the statuette popped up at the Richmond Orchestra & Chorus concert, then at the Vancouver Concert Bandsa国际传媒檚 outdoor concert on June 21 when Ludwig did a Trooper medley.

The exclusion from Troopersa国际传媒檚 induction into Canadasa国际传媒檚 Walk of Fame at the Rock of Fame event at Massey Hall in Toronto was disappointing for Ludwig, but hesa国际传媒檚 focusing on his other projects. Check out his website for all the details.

Ludwig has been staying especially busy in his studio, assembling tunes for his sa国际传媒楽parkssa国际传媒� album, with the opening track titled sa国际传媒楽till Some Life Left in Me.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 hoping for Christmas,sa国际传媒� he said of the planned release. sa国际传媒淚 think Isa国际传媒檝e finally got that opening track where I want it. Itsa国际传媒檚 not your regular tune.sa国际传媒�

The process of aging but still producing quality music has become a clever recurring refrain for Ludwig that included another recent single, sa国际传媒極ut To Pasture.sa国际传媒�

Participants in the Sept. 30 Georgina Falt Memorial Music Trivia Tournament in Duncan had a chance at some rare Trooper and Ludwig collectibles. Ludwig donated a bobble head doll of himself (only 10 in existence) plus Trooper and Ludwig T-shirts, and a collection of cassettes and CDs that fetched a total of $250 for the cause sa国际传媒� the Alzheimer Society of BC sa国际传媒� during a live auction conducted by Cam Drew.

Chemainus residents are hoping one day Ludwig will get a chance to revisit the community sa国际传媒� where he graduated from high school and spent many of his formative years sa国际传媒� to come and show off his Hall of Fame statuette in person.