Pro-Mark

Promark

Company type	Private
Industry	Musical instruments
Founded	1957 (1957)
Founder	Herb Brochstein
Headquarters	Houston, Texas , United States
Products	drum sticks, rebounder pads
Parent	D'Addario
Website	promark.com

Promark is a Houston, Texas-based American drum stick company. Since 2011, it is part of strings company D'Addario. Promark is a widely known stick company generally played in drum set, drum and bugle corps and concert bands.

History

Promark was founded in 1957 by percussion instructor and shop owner Herb Brochstein in Houston, Texas. It was the first company to introduce Japanese Shira-Kashi white oak into the American market, and the only company to successfully market oak sticks in the United States. The wood provided for Promark is supplied by Japanese trader Tatsuo Kosaka. In recent years, Promark has moved to use of non-endangered wood and a "green" finishing process to make their sticks and manufacturing processes safer to the player and the environment.

In 1985, Promark patented a rute for drum kit use, introducing it as the Hot Rod. Several similar models followed, both from them and other manufacturers.

Notable products

Promark offers many signature products from notable players and endorsees, such as System Blues by the Blue Devils for field marching, and the Todd Suchermans (Styx) for stage playing. Other autographed models are by Dave Lombardo, Phil Collins, Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy, Chris Adler, Marco Minnemann, Jason Bonham, Joey Jordison, Paul Wertico, Bill Bruford, Jason Bittner and Charlie Adams.

External links

• Official website
• Herb Brochstein Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2004)
• Maury Brochstein Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2006)