Paul and Donna Christensen were recently honored to learn the UNT Music Library had solicited recordings and papers from their 51 year career working with over 300 artists in the music and entertainment business.
The University’s Music Library and Ozier Sound Recording Archive will become the long-term home for almost 300 recordings, many of which were created in the early growth years of the rock, pop, blues and country music industry. The collection of live recordings, from the early 70s and four-plus decades after, represents a cultural snapshot of performances by many of the major artists who helped build the industry.
The library and associated papers represent a microcosm of changing technology and the methods of recording and preserving masters. The collection contains a myriad of analog and digital formats as technology impacted the industry. The materials will be used for study by students, faculty, musicians and outside researchers interested in the music from this historic period.
Paul Christensen, President of Omega Productions stated, “Donna and I want to thank the University and Mark McKnight, Head of the Music Library and the Ozier Sound Recording Archive, for honoring us and our company, Omega Productions. We are excited to know these important recordings and documents will have a permanent home.”
The first contributions to the Omega Productions Collection 1974-2003 can be seen online at the UNT Music Library Special Collections – https://bit.ly/3Qys11L
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Below is an excerpt from the forward to The UNT Music Library at 75: Selections from Its Special Collections, edited by Mark McKnight, Head of the UNT Music Library and Ozier Sound Recording Archive.
“A secret pleasure of working at the UNT Music Library-which I had the great privilege of doing three decades ago, is observing the astonishment of visiting scholars and performers as they realize that one of the finest academic music libraries in the world is in Denton, Texas.” “The depth and breadth of the Music Library’s special collections are remarkable.” “Congratulations on seventy-five years!”
Michael Cogswell
Executive Director
Louis Armstrong House Museum
Queens College, CUNY
Update: Paul and Donna Christensen are currently creating a database of almost 1,000 project files reflecting the company’s 51-year history. The database, as well as thousands of documents, pictures, and links, will be available online for research and viewing. The Christensens anticipate being able to complete this additional work for the Collection in 2024. Stay tuned for more to come.
Paul and Donna wish to thank the University of North Texas (UNT) Music Library for the opportunity to submit our materials for this collection. We hope the collection will faithfully reflect a unique period of change in the music and recording industry landscape, both in cultural impact as well as technical evolution.
