Mary Schneider AM (born 25 October 1932) is an Australian singer and performer, known as "Australia's Queen of Yodelling", she is a master at the classic Swiss Alpine style and is best known for yodelling the works of various standards by many a classic composer. Her repertoire has covered everything from yodelling of classical music pieces to marches and European folk music tunes and big band. As a performer, she started her career establishing duo "The Schneider Sisters", with her sister Rita, and the sisters, although most known for the country music genre, wrote and performed Australia's first original rock 'n' roll single. Schneider aside from recording and touring is well known for her many television appearances both locally and internationally. She is the mother of Melinda Schneider, a country music singer-songwriter, musician and actress.

Biography

Early life

Mary Schneider was born to George Frank Schneider and his wife Amelia, one of five, she is of Bavarian descent. Her family where all musical, with her brother Alan being a Jazz guitarist, whilst her sister Rita, whom she performed alongside early in her career was a singer, writer, record producer and song compiler and publisher, who also worked briefly as an dramatic actress and was a noted presence on radio and television, most especially appearing alongside Mary. Rita also worked as a talent and copyright supervisor for 17 years with the Seven Network.

The Schneider Sisters

Australia's First Rock record

She started her performing career in 1945, when with her sister Rita Schneider (1928–2009) they formed the duo The Schneider Sisters who in 2002 were inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown. The sisters also received honours with the ACE Awards Lifetime Achievement Award The Schneider Sisters, although a little known fact were actually the first Australian act to write and perform Australia's first original Rock n' Roll song, although this distinction is normally attributed to Johnny O'Keefe with his 1958 hit Wild One. The mentioned song titled 'Washboard Rock 'n Roll' was written and recorded by the duo in the 1950s, they had wrote the song because they needed a fourth track for their EP 'Rockin' With The Schneiders'. Mary attended with her sister Our Lady of Victories School in Bowen Hills, and during the final years of the Second World War years entertained troops in Brisbane at a concert party, after which Mary auditioned Dick Fairs Australian Amateur Hour radio show, she was initially passed over, but after returning with her sister Rita, as a singing duo, they were accepted. They made their first professional appearance at radio on 4BH on program "Smokes for Sick Soldiers", and were signed to EMI's Regal Zonophone label in 1950 and toured with Mack's Revue Company. In 1957 they toured entertaining troops stationed in Korea and Japan, and later in 1970 toured South East Asia for American troops Mary and her sister were staples on TV shows appearing on early ABC series Seeing Stars and also local TV in Brisbane on variety shows, performing harmony basis to such stars as The Bee Gees

Media appearances

She has appeared on numerous radio and TV programs locally and internationally including the Don and Mike Show, The Howard Stern Show and National Public Radio in the US, Spicks and Specks and Enough Rope on ABC TV and Eurotrash in the UK.

Honours

Schneider was recognised in the Queens Birthday Honours in 2012, with the Order of Australia (AM)

Discography

Albums

Awards and honours

Australian Roll of Renown

The Australian Roll of Renown honours Australian and New Zealander musicians who have shaped the music industry by making a significant and lasting contribution to Country Music. It was inaugurated in 1976 and the inductee is announced at the Country Music Awards of Australia in Tamworth in January.

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Mary Schneider won five awards in that time. (wins only)

Tamworth Songwriters Awards

The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) is an annual songwriting contest for original country songs, awarded in January at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They commenced in 1986. Mary Schneider has won two awards. (wins only)