Latin Percussion
American percussion-instrument brand specializing in Latin, ethnic, and world percussion.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Latin Percussion, commonly known as LP, is an American brand of percussion instruments with a particular specialization in Latin, ethnic, and world percussion. The company was founded in New York City in 1964 by Martin Cohen. Its early development was closely associated with the growing visibility of Latin music in the United States and with the practical needs of working percussionists, who required dependable instruments that were not always readily available through mainstream American musical-instrument channels. LP expanded from a focused Latin-percussion business into a broader manufacturer, importer, exporter, and distributor of percussion products. Its catalog has included instruments and accessories associated with Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, Brazilian, and other international musical traditions, while also serving popular music, jazz, education, studio recording, and general-purpose percussion markets. The brand's importance lies not only in the breadth of its catalog but also in its role in bringing instruments rooted in regional traditions into standardized commercial production and global distribution. The company is particularly associated with congas, bongos, timbales, and related percussion hardware, as well as with several product concepts that became widely recognized beyond strictly Latin-music settings. Instruments and sound-producing devices credited to LP include the vibraslap, jam block, and granite blocks. These products helped broaden the role of hand percussion and auxiliary percussion in drum kits, recording sessions, live performances, classrooms, and popular music arrangements. LP's corporate history includes several ownership changes. In 2002, Kaman Music Corporation acquired the company. Latin Percussion continued to operate as an independent subsidiary within Kaman's music-distribution segment, preserving its distinct brand identity while benefiting from the resources and channels of a larger musical-instrument organization. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation acquired LP in 2008. Drum Workshop subsequently purchased the brand in 2014. Under Drum Workshop ownership, Latin Percussion remains positioned as a specialist percussion brand within a larger professional musical-instrument portfolio. Its identity continues to center on culturally specific percussion instruments, professional-grade construction, recognizable designs, and a product range that serves both traditional Latin-music applications and broader contemporary performance contexts. The available reference material does not establish a separate current corporate headquarters, current executive roster, or detailed recent financial performance for the brand.
History
Latin Percussion was established in New York City in 1964 by Martin Cohen. The company emerged during a period when Latin music and its associated instruments were becoming increasingly visible in the United States, while many traditional percussion instruments remained difficult for musicians to source through conventional American musical-instrument channels. LP developed a business around supplying these instruments and gradually built a broader catalog of Latin and ethnic percussion. As the company grew, it added imported product lines and developed export activity. This expansion gave LP a role beyond that of a local or specialist retailer: it became a commercial bridge between percussion traditions from different regions and musicians in international markets. The brand's catalog came to encompass instruments used in Latin, Caribbean, Brazilian, jazz, popular, educational, studio, and live-performance settings. LP is associated with the commercialization and popularization of several percussion designs that later became common in many styles of music. Among the instruments and devices credited to the company are the vibraslap, jam block, and granite blocks. These products extended the brand's reach beyond traditional hand drums and helped make distinctive auxiliary-percussion sounds available to drum kits, recording artists, arrangers, educators, and general-purpose percussionists. The company also became known for a broad range of established Latin-percussion instruments, including congas, bongos, and timbales. Its product identity combined culturally recognizable forms with repeatable manufacturing and distribution. That approach allowed musicians to use instruments associated with particular regional traditions in professional and commercial contexts around the world. In 2002, Kaman Music Corporation purchased Latin Percussion. The brand was retained as an independent subsidiary within Kaman's music-distribution segment rather than being absorbed into an undifferentiated product label. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation acquired LP in 2008. In 2014, Drum Workshop purchased the brand. These ownership changes placed Latin Percussion successively within three larger musical-instrument organizations while preserving its specialist brand identity. The available reference material does not provide a detailed account of later product launches, manufacturing locations, annual financial results, or a current named executive team. The brand's documented historical profile nevertheless remains clear: LP developed from a New York-based Latin-percussion company into an internationally distributed percussion brand, and it continues to be associated with Latin, ethnic, and world percussion as well as widely used auxiliary instruments.
- 2014
Drum Workshop acquisition
[1]Drum Workshop purchases Latin Percussion and adds the brand to its musical-instrument portfolio.
- 2008
Fender acquisition
[1]Fender Musical Instruments Corporation purchases Latin Percussion.
- 2002
Kaman Music Corporation acquisition
[1]Kaman Music Corporation acquires Latin Percussion and operates it as an independent subsidiary in its music-distribution segment.
- 2001
Martin Cohen receives industry recognition
[1]The International Latin Music Hall of Fame presents Cohen with a Special Recognition Award for his contribution to the music industry.
- 1964
Latin Percussion is founded in New York City
[1]Martin Cohen establishes Latin Percussion, creating a company focused on Latin and ethnic percussion instruments.
Products and positioning
A specialist, internationally distributed percussion brand combining Latin and world-percussion traditions with standardized manufacturing, professional performance use, and broader contemporary music applications.
Latin hand drums
Congas
Congas are among the central instruments associated with Latin Percussion. LP's conga offering represents the brand's core connection to Afro-Cuban and broader Latin-percussion traditions, while also serving professional performers, ensembles, recording musicians, educators, and contemporary popular-music players.
Latin hand drums
Bongos
Bongos are compact paired hand drums widely used in Latin, Caribbean, jazz, and popular music. Within LP's catalog, they form part of the brand's established Latin-percussion foundation and support both traditional playing contexts and general-purpose performance.
Latin percussion drums
Timbales
Timbales are shallow, metal-shelled drums strongly associated with Cuban and other Latin musical styles. LP's timbales contribute to its specialist identity and are suited to rhythmic performance, ensemble work, live sound, and recording applications.
Auxiliary percussion
Vibraslap
The vibraslap is a distinctive auxiliary percussion instrument credited to Latin Percussion. It produces a recognizable rattling effect and has been used beyond narrowly defined Latin styles, including in popular music, studio arrangements, live performance, and educational percussion settings.
Block percussion
Jam Block
The jam block is an LP-associated block percussion design that provides a durable, consistent rhythmic sound. Its practical form helped make block-based auxiliary percussion useful in drum setups, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, recording sessions, and a wide range of contemporary musical styles.
Block percussion
Granite blocks
Granite blocks are among the percussion products credited to Latin Percussion. They represent the company's expansion from traditional Latin hand drums into auxiliary instruments designed to add distinctive percussive tones to ensembles, drum kits, and recorded music.
Brand decisions
2014
Drum Workshop acquisitionM&ABackground
Latin Percussion had undergone two prior ownership changes while retaining recognition as a dedicated percussion brand.
Action taken
Drum Workshop purchased Latin Percussion.
Aftermath
The brand entered Drum Workshop's broader musical-instrument portfolio and remained associated with Latin and world percussion.
2008
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation acquisitionM&ABackground
Latin Percussion was an established percussion brand with a catalog spanning Latin, ethnic, and auxiliary instruments.
Action taken
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation purchased Latin Percussion.
Aftermath
LP became part of Fender's musical-instrument business before its later transfer to Drum Workshop.
2002
Kaman Music Corporation acquisitionM&ABackground
Latin Percussion had expanded its catalog through imported lines and export activity and was operating as a specialist percussion brand.
Action taken
Kaman Music Corporation purchased LP and retained it as an independent subsidiary within its music-distribution segment.
Aftermath
The acquisition connected Latin Percussion with a larger music-distribution organization while maintaining its separate brand identity.
Recent events
- 2014
Drum Workshop purchases Latin Percussion[1]
M&A
Drum Workshop acquired Latin Percussion, placing the percussion brand within its musical-instrument portfolio.
- 2008
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation purchases Latin Percussion[1]
M&A
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation acquired Latin Percussion as part of the brand's ownership transition.
- 2002
Kaman Music Corporation acquires Latin Percussion[1]
M&A
Kaman Music Corporation purchased Latin Percussion, which continued to operate as an independent subsidiary within Kaman's music-distribution segment.
- 2001
Martin Cohen receives a Special Recognition Award[1]
Other
The International Latin Music Hall of Fame recognized founder Martin Cohen for his contributions over nearly four decades in the music industry.
Sources3 sources
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