AndrÀ (Volkmar) papers, 1950s;1971-1990, bulk 1978-1989

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Volkmar AndrÀ papers
Dates:
1950s;1971-1990, bulk 1978-1989
Creators:
AndrÀ, Volkmar and VEB Deutsche Schallplatten (Berlin, Ost)
Abstract:
Volkmar AndrÀ (b. 1944) was a music producer and editor in East Germany, working for the state-controlled recording company, VEB Deutsche Schallplatten (circa 1954-1990). From 1972 to 1996, he worked for AMIGA (1947- ), the popular music division of VEB Deutsche Schallplatten. The AMIGA label encompassed many different musical styles, including rock, pop, Schlager (easy listening), entertainment, children's songs, folk, jazz, chanson, and political songs. Artists on the Amiga label include the Puhdys, Karat, and Stern Combo Meissen. This collection contains materials from AndrÀ's time working for AMIGA/VEB Deutsche Schallplatten beginning with his employment at AMIGA (1972) through the unification of Germany in 1990. Documents contained here include: licensing and legal agreements, promotional materials from various East German artists, planning documents for music festivals, documents relating to album releases, minutes, VEB Deutsche Schallplatten internal labor organization documents, and budgets. There are also a number of personal materials, such as correspondence, and vacation planning.
Extent:
1.4 Linear Feet 2 boxes (1 archives box, 1 document box)
Language:
Materials are predominantly in German with some materials in English, Russian (Cyrillic text), Czech, French, Italian, Korean, Polish, Spanish, Hungarian, Arabic and Latvian.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Volkmar AndrÀ papers, 2006.900.601. Archive. Wende Museum.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes business and personal documents amassed by Volkmar AndrĂ€ during his tenure at VEB Deutsche Schallplatten/AMIGA Records. Includes licensing and legal agreements with bands like Stern Combo Meißen and Falco, promotional materials from various East German artists, planning documents for music festivals, documents relating to album releases, meeting minutes, VEB Deutsche Schallplatten internal labor organization documents, and budgets. There are also a number of personal materials, such as correspondence, and vacation planning. The majority of the materials are dated from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.

Biographical / historical:

Volkmar AndrÀ

Born in 1944 Volkmar AndrĂ€ studied musicology, cultural studies, and German literature. In 1966 he founded the Hootenanny-Klubs (renamed the Oktoberklub in 1967) and was a member until 1968. From 1968 to 1972 he worked for DDR-Fernsehen (GDR television) as an editor in the entertainment division. He was responsible for the programs "Schlagerstudio" and "Notenbank." From 1972 to 1996, he worked for AMIGA (the popular music division of VEB Deutsche Schallplatten, the GDR's state-controlled record company) as a music editor. In that capacity, he produced a number of GDR pop and rock sampler LPs, such as "Kleeblatt", "Hallo", "Rythmus", and "Die großen Erfolge". He also served as producer on a multitude of albums from East German musicians, including the following: Veronika Fischer & Band, Petra Zieger, Gaby RĂŒckert, Herbert Roth, Elektra, Berluc, Helga Hahnemann, Stern Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen), and many more. With Stern Meissen, he was a producer on the albums: Weises Gold (1978), Der Weite Weg (1979), and Resies Zum Mittelpunkt Des Menschen (1980). Before leaving VEB Deutsche Schallplatten, AndrĂ€ founded the Firma GTM, a label dedicated to the release of light and folk music (from Herbert Roth to De Plattfööt) of the newly reunited German states.

AMIGA Records

Founded in 1947 by the singer/actor Ernst Busch, Amiga became part of VEB Deutsche Schallplatten in 1954. The label encompassed many different musical styles, including rock, pop, Schlager (easy listening), entertainment, children's songs, folk, jazz, chanson, and political songs. The most successful artists on the Amiga label were the Puhdys, Karat, and Stern Combo Meissen. Volkmar AndrÀ acted as producer for some of these albums. In 1994, Amiga was absorbed by BMG Berlin Musik GmbH.

VEB Deutsche Schallplatten

In addition to Amiga, this record company included five other labels: Litera (literature and spoken work), Eterna (Classical music), Nova (new and avant-garde music), Aurora (worker's songs and Ernst Busch productions) and Schola (instructional and academic recordings). After the Wende, the company became Deutsche Schallplatten GmbH.

Acquisition information:
Immediate source of acquisition unknown. Found in the Museum's collection.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series:

Artists and musicians:

This series includes contracts for recording, promotional and biographical materials; lyrics and playlists for individual recordings; foreign licensing agreements.

Festivals:

This series includes planning materials and meeting notes for festivals such as the Pyongyang Weltfestival and special concerts held at the Palast der Republik.

AMIGA:

This series includes materials related to the record label, including legal documents, general meeting minutes, project notes, budgets, and memos.

Personal:

This series includes correspondence, medical documents, vacation requests, plans for parties, and other personal items of Volkmar AndrÀ.

Undetermined:

This series includes materials within the collection that were found loose within the boxes and not noticeably assigned to a specific series.

Physical / technical requirements:

This collection contains audio cassettes. Special equipment is required to access these materials. If you have questions about these materials please email collections@wendemuseum.org.

Physical location:
Stored onsite at the Wende Museum.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Lindsay Hansen and John Ahouse
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-12-10 01:16:17 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for access, however, items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Some materials in the collection are restricted; consult repository for details.

Terms of access:

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Property rights to the physical object belong to the Wende Museum. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where the Wende Museum does not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Volkmar AndrÀ papers, 2006.900.601. Archive. Wende Museum.

Location of this collection:
10808 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90230, US
Contact:
(310) 216-1600
info@wendemuseum.org
Website