This year marks a milestone for Fred Gretsch, whose six decades of leadership within the Gretsch family business continue to shape the brand’s place in music history. On March 2, 1965, Gretsch joined the company started by his great-grandfather in 1883. Sixty years later, his involvement has helped guide one of the most recognized names in drums through both tradition and transformation.
The Gretsch name had already been associated with instrument manufacturing for decades before Fred entered the business. But it was during his time that the focus on drums sharpened, and the company’s reputation for tone and craftsmanship solidified.
From the mid-20th century to now, some of the most well-known drummers have chosen Gretsch kits. Tony Williams, Charlie Watts, Phil Collins, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Taylor Hawkins are just a few of the names tied to the brand through recordings and live work. Their associations weren’t short-term endorsements but often long-standing connections rooted in the sound and response Gretsch drums were known for.
Throughout changing trends in music and manufacturing, Fred Gretsch’s leadership emphasised continuity. While other companies shifted directions or exited the drum market altogether, Gretsch doubled down on identity. The drums kept their signature sound, with shell construction and finishes that still nodded to earlier decades even as materials evolved.
Even as the company expanded into new models and collaborated with younger artists, the approach stayed consistent. The goal wasn’t to chase trends but to refine what had always worked.
Fred Gretsch’s role extended beyond product design too. The company’s archives, artist relationships, and manufacturing approach all reflect a respect for the roots laid down generations earlier, roots that Fred has worked to preserve while steering the company through modern shifts in the music business.