CALEDONIA, Wis. - Some of the most sought-after handcrafted cowbells in the country are made in a Caledonia garage by the hands of Ulisis Santiago – or "Uli," as he is known to his close friends.

The cowbell, modeled here by Swiss bovine Sophia, is, in many ways, rock and roll's secret weapon. Sometimes, it's just what a song needs to go from good to great. Credit: Photo by Maria Feofilova.

Whether you’re looking for a new percussion instrument or to keep track of your cattle, you’ve got lots of options for a good old-fashioned cowbell. Dating back to the Iron Age, bells were worn around ...

Ulisis Santiago perspires as he bangs on a steel form gripped by a steel jig with a ball-peen hammer in 90-degree heat. The ear-splitting sound rings obtrusively through the intense heat as Santiago ...