Universal Children’s Audio, the child of business partners David Antony Clark and Radha Sahar, formally started in 1987. David had professional experience as a radio technician for Radio New Zealand and Radha’s background was in kindergarten teaching. She was also a singer song-writer concerned by the lack of New Zealand children’s music.
It was a natural step for Radha to write for her children. Her first album, One Big Family, was released on vinyl and cassette in 1980 by Kiwi Pacific Records. More songs followed as Radha gained experience as a music therapist at Nelson Hospital and as a tutor at the Nelson School of Music. She was developing a unique method of working in the field of preschool music when people began asking when her next album was going to come out.
Around this time, David was setting up a small studio, recording community projects and experimenting with sequencers; radical new technology at the time. Radha was pleased when David offered to record her song, One People One Planet, composed for the United Nations International Year of Peace. They really ‘clicked’ working together and a creative partnership was born.
Radha moved to Wellington and for over a year David travelled back and forth to work with her on experimental recordings. By the end of the year they’d completed two kids’ albums, Tots, for 2-3 years, and Growin’ Ups, for 3-4 years.
They speculatively sent one of each album to one hundred early childhood organisations, with a letter inviting purchase or return. Only one package was sent back, Universal Children’s Audio was on the map, and David moved to Wellington to join Radha working full time.
The company was formed in 1987 – New Zealand’s first record company dedicated to children’s music. The rest is history
Last Updated: September 19, 2007