LP Bongo Drums: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This drum was made by Latin Percussion Inc. in Garfield, New Jersey, in 1999. It is a set of Bongos, Valje Armando Peraza Series, made of cherry wood shells, with chrome rims and lugs.

As indicated in an LP brochure from the period, “These LP Valje® Armando Peraza Series Bongos many two great music traditions: the well-known LP Valje name and the legendary Armando Peraza. The bongos retain the authentic Valje contoured shell, traditional rims and Cuban style steel bottoms combined with sonically superior North American Cherry wood with an attractive satin finish. The center block is shorter to bring the drums closer together to better accommodate the seated player. The 7-1/4” and 8” rawhide heads are hand selected and are matched to fit each set of bongos. They are available with chrome hardware, 5/16" diameter tuning lugs and are perfectly matched to the updated LP Valje® Armando Peraza Series Congas.”

Armando Peraza (1924– 2014) was a Latin jazz percussionist and a member of the rock band Santana. Peraza played congas, bongos, and timbales.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1999
• maker: Latin Percussion
• Object Name: Drum
• Object Name: drum
• Physical Description: cherry wood (overall material)
• Physical Description: metal (overall material)
• Physical Description: animal skin (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 19.5 cm x 47 cm x 23 cm; 7 11/16 in x 18 1/2 in x 9 1/16 in
• Measurements: overall: 7 1/2 in x 18 in x 9 3/8 in; 19.05 cm x 45.72 cm x 23.8125 cm
• place made: United States: New Jersey, Garfield
• ID Number: 2000.3039.15
• nonaccession number: 2000.3039
• catalog number: 2000.3039.15
• Credit Line: Transfer from Smithsonian Institution Center for Latino Initiatives (through: Dr.Refugio l. Rochin,Director)
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.