LATIN PERCUSSION. WE ARE RHYTHM.
For over half a century, LP has crafted classic percussion instruments as well as patented hundreds of improvements and new designs for musical instruments that meet the exacting standards of professional musicians. Latin Percussion instruments have been featured in thousands of the world’s most famous, chart-topping recordings – from classic salsa – to classic rock. In fact, LP is such an essential part of so many musical genres, it’s nearly impossible to turn on a radio or listen to a playlist and not hear an LP instrument.
In 1956, Martin Cohen, a young mechanical engineer and avid photographer from the Bronx happened upon New York’s famous Birdland jazz club. He walked in and was immediately captivated by the sound and energy of Latin jazz.
Martin Cohen was so taken with the infectious music that he immersed himself in the 1960’s Latin music scene and soon wanted his own set of bongos. Unfortunately, due to trade embargoes, high quality, Cuban-made bongos were unavailable in the United States. So Cohen put his engineering skills to use and created his own set of bongos. After months of study, Martin Cohen had successfully built what would eventually be heralded as, “the finest bongos the world had ever seen.”
In 1964, Martin Cohen founded Latin Percussion (LP) and was soon delivering bongos, cowbells and other instruments in brown paper bags to musicians. Cohen utilized New York’s Latin nightclubs as his research and development labs – utilizing artist’s real world experience playing live music to craft and hone the best possible percussion instruments for live and recorded performance. Cohen’s self-described “love affair” with Latin music established a tradition still practiced at LP; the needs of performing musicians are placed ahead of everything else.
In 2015, LP became part of another great American, family-run business, Drum Workshop®. DW and LP are built on the same principles of passion and continuous collaboration with the world’s top drummers and percussionists. DW Founder, Don Lombardi and his son, President and CEO, Chris Lombardi are committed to carrying on LP’s legacy of combining authenticity of sound with strong modern design to provide the finest percussion products available on the market today.
Today, Latin Percussion instruments are put to the test by professional and amateur musicians around the globe. Year after year, LP’s legacy endures, as our talented research and development team continues working with the world’s greatest artists to create the world’s best percussion instruments.
