Hal Leonard Mourns Passing of Art Jenson

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MILWAUKEE - Music print publishing veteran Art Jenson passed away on September 3 in La Cruces, New Mexico at the age of 81. A native of Nebraska, he began his career in the mid-1960s, writing and editing music for Charles Hansen Publications. In 1969, he joined the editorial staff of Zeb Billings Music Publishing in Milwaukee. The following year, Art left Zeb Billings and formed a partnership with fellow employees Keith and Don Mardak. The trio formed Learning Unlimited, which became a division of Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation whose sales soon eclipsed its parent company. Learning Unlimited pioneered several print industry innovations. One of their biggest breakthroughs was packaging cassettes with books; they created Learning Unlimited book/cassette methods for band and guitar, as well as instruction courses for most organ manufacturers. These editions paved the way for the popular book/CD packages of today. Art left Hal Leonard in 1976 to found Jenson Publishing, which became one of the largest educational music publishers focusing on band and choral works. In 1989, he sold his company to Hal Leonard, which had been purchased by Keith Mardak and associates four years earlier. Art stayed on with Hal Leonard and played a vital role in creating Essential Elements, which is still the bestselling band method in the world. He retired in 1991 and enjoyed many years of travel and adventure with his wife Donna. The Jenson Family has requested that donations in Art's name be made to the Hal Leonard Scholarship Fund at Winona State University. Checks should be made payable to the WSU Foundation (specifying the Hal Leonard/Edstrom/Busdicker Family Scholarship) and mailed to: WSU Foundation Attn: Debbie Sing PO Box 5838 Winona, MN 55987