 No
question, Gordon “Specs” Powell is
unanimously acknowledged as a leading figure in American music. What is less
known is Specs' seminal influence on Martin Cohen, who steered LP from a boutique
style enterprise manufacturing durable, good sounding percussive devices to the
world's largest producer of percussion instruments that addressed the needs of
both indigenous folkloric and modern musicians.
While jazz players have always spoken in glowing terms about Specs
Powell, the issue came into sharp focus at winter NAMM. There Specs was
presented with the NAMM Support Music Award in respect of his lifetime achievements.
The relationship of Specs Powell and LP Founder Martin
Cohen goes back to 1963, when Specs was staff drummer on The Ed Sullivan
Show and also one of the busiest studio percussionists in NYC. In fact, the
late bassist Milt Hinton, in his book Bass Line, recalls Specs and him breaking
the color barrier on a studio gig, The Woolworth Hour, in which they were
the only blacks in a sixty-man orchestra.
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| The bongos Martin Cohen
created for "Specs Powell" |
At any rate, Martin and Specs became fast friends. “My family and his,” recalls
Martin, “spent countless weekends at his summer place in Westbrookville,
New York. One day, Specs asked me to build him bongos but
insisted it be placed on a stand.
While a departure from the traditional way of playing bongos between the knees,
his request made sense. He needed the mounting to facilitate the rapid transition
from marimba, timpani, kit, and orchestral bells. This led me to develop the
first bongo mounting system. It also led to a new designation, the 'fusion
percussionist', who now plays in every form of band from rock to world music.”
The new bongo mount placed LP in a one-horse-race to explore modern applications
of traditional instruments. In doing so, LP revived many hitherto unavailable
instruments, preserving their authentic tonality but enabling their integration
into modern set ups.
LP salutes Gordon “Specs” Powell and
applauds the decision by NAMM to
confer a special award honoring the drummer's lifetime achievements and contributions
to music. At LP, Specs will always have a special place in our heart. He is
truly at the center of our inner circle.
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