On November 10, Latin Percussion
founder Martin Cohen was inducted into
the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. The distinction was conferred
in a ceremony held during the PAS annual gathering in Austin, Texas. For
Martin Cohen it was a validation of a long voyage into uncertain terrain.
Armed with his father's basic business tenets and his own passion for Latin
music, he transformed a humble basement operation, crafting much-needed
percussion instruments for his Latin mentors, into the world's largest
manufacturer of percussion instruments.
At one time, many years ago, it seemed that Cohen's struggle for financing
and credibility would be forever an uphill battle. Yet his persistence
in satisfying the rigorous demands of New York's Latin community has been
rewarded by the acclaim of musicians around the globe-and it has earned
him the Percussive Arts Society's highest honor.
As he spoke at the PAS gathering, Martin recalled his early days in the
industry, and captivated listeners with an account of his relentless pursuit
of sonic innovation, faithfulness to indigenous instruments, and unparalleled
durability.
When asked later to comment, Martin reflected, “It seems at times
like a blink of an eye, the journey from a crazy idea of making my living
building bongos that was hatched in August 1964 to the success of Latin
Percussion today. My passion for the music that my percussion instruments
serviced, and the great players who used these instruments, made me realize
that there was no other career that I would ever be happy doing.”
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