Melinda Schneider
Introduction '''Melinda Schneider''' (born '''Melinda-Jane Bean'''; 7 October 1971) is an Australian country music singer. She has been performing since she was three and sang with her mother, yodelling country artist Mary Schneider, on the album ''The Magic of Yodeling'' at the age of eight. Schneider is a multi-Golden Guitar winner at the Country Music Awards of Australia winning her sixth with Paul Kelly for 'Vocal Collaboration of the Year' for their duet "Still Here"  in 2009.
Career Schneider studied dance as a child and made her acting debut on the popular Australian drama ''A Country Practice'' when aged thirteen. She also sang the theme music for the ABC TV series ''Something in the Air''. In 1994, Schneider featuring on Audio Murphy Inc.'s dance track "Tighten Up Your Pants" which peaked at number 39 on the ARIA Chart. The song mixed electronic beats and yodelling. The success of "Tighten Up Your Pants" earned her a three-album deal with Festival Records. Unsure of what kind of singer she wanted to be, Schneider foundered, eventually quitting Festival without making an album.In 1999, Schneider performed the duet "Love Away the Night" with Adam Brand. In January 2000, the song won Schneider her first CMAA Award for Vocal Collaboration of the Year.In 2000, Schneider released her debut studio album ''My Oxygen''. ''My Oxygen'' was recorded with the Nashville-based Australian producer Mark Moffatt.In July 2002, Schneider released her second studio album ''Happy Tears'', which peaked at number 94 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold. ''Happy Tears'' was produced by her husband of five years, Graham Thompson and released on his Compass Bros label.In 2003, Schneider won her the first solo Golden Guitar for Female Vocal of the Year.In May 2004, Schneider released ''Family Tree'', which peaked at number 64 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold. The album earner Schneider her first ARIA Music Award nomination.In 2006, Schneider was invited by Deborah Conway to take part in the Broad Festival project, with three other Australian female artists, they performed their own and each other's songs. With Schneider and Conway were Mia Dyson, Kate Miller-Heidke and Ella Hooper.In 2010, Schneider was a participant on the ABC Television program ''Bush Slam'' and a celebrity contestant on the Channel 7 show ''Dancing with the Stars'' partnered by Serghei Bolgarschii in Season 10.In 2011, Schneider starred in the theatre show ''Doris: So Much More Than the Girl Next Door'', written by Schneider and David Mitchell. The show told the story of her Doris Day's life and at the Twelfth Night Theatre in Brisbane in May 2011.In November 2014, Schneider released ''Great Women of Country'', a collaboration with Beccy Cole. The album became her first to peak inside the ARIA top ten.In 2022, performed a two-hour show titled ''Love Songs'', celebrating unconditional love Melinda has found with her long-time partner, Mark Gable. In May 2022, Schneider released a compilation album of the same name.
Personal life Schneider is the daughter of singer-songwriter and yodeller Mary Schneider.She attended St Joseph's Kogarah (now known as Bethany College) for her high school years.Schneider is married to Mark Gable lead singer of The Choirboys, they were married in September 2022 on Killcare Beach, NSW after 14 years together.
Radio Schneider was the host of her own show 'Love Songs with Melinda Schneider" on Star 104.5 FM, the show aired every weeknight in 2015 from 8 pm. As the title indicates the show was focused on songs of a romantic nature. This was Schneider's first radio show as host.
Discography ===Studio albums=== Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds)AUS''My Oxygen''*Released: 21 July 2000*Label: Compass Brothers / Festival Records (002CDCB) —''Happy Tears''*Released: July 2002*Label: Compass Brothers / Festival Records (009CDCB) 94* ARIA: Gold''Family Tree''*Released: May 2004*Label: Compass Brothers / Festival Records (016CDCB) 64* ARIA: Gold''Stronger''*Released: August 2006*Label: Compass Brothers / Sony (026CDCB) 74''Be Yourself''*Released: July 2008*Label: Be Music / Universal Music (CDR1119) 83''Melinda Does Doris''*Released: August 2010*Label: Be Music / Universal Music (2747553) 24* ARIA: Gold''Great Women of Country'' (with Beccy Cole)*Released: 7 November 2014*Label: Universal Music (4703930) 9 ''Melinda Does Doris...Again – The Movie Songs''*Released: October 2016*Label: Be Music / Universal Music (2747553) 97===Live albums=== Title Album details''Live at Tamworth''*Released: 2010*Label: Be Music (BEMUSIC001/BEMUSIC002)===Compilation albums=== Title Album details''Hits & Rarities''*Released: 25 March 2008*Label: Compass Brothers / Universal Music (044CDCB)''Life Begins At 40: The Ultimate Melinda Schneider Collection''*Released: 21 October 2011*Label: Be Music (BEMUSIC004)''Love Songs''*Released: 8 May 2022*Label: MPower Records===Extended plays=== Title EP details''The Kitchen Table Tapes''*Released: October 2003*Label: Compass Brothers / Festival (011CDCB) ''Melinda Does Elvis''*Released: 4 September 2020*Label: Melinda Schneider ''Be Gentle On Yourself''*Released: 7 October 2020*Label: Melinda Schneider===Charting singles===+List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AUS  "Tighten Up Your Pants" 1994 39
Awards and nominations ===ARIA Music Awards===The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Schneider has been nominated for two awards. 2004 ''Family Tree'' Best Country Album  2008 ''Be Yourself'' Best Country Album ===Country Music Awards (CMAA)===The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival and celebrates recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. Schneider has won six awards. (wins only) 2000  "Love Away the Night" with Adam Brand  Vocal Collaboration of the Year    2003  "The Story of My Life"  Female Vocalist of the Year    2005  ''Family Tree''  Album of the Year    2005  "Real People"  Song of the Year    2008  ''Stronger''  Top Selling Album of the Year    2009  "Still Here" with Paul Kelly  Vocal Collaboration of the Year   ===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.Melinda Schneider won eleven awards in that time. (wins only) 1994 Melinda Schneider Johnny O'Keefe Encouragement Award  2000 Melinda Schneider Female Country Entertainer of the Year   2002 Melinda Schneider Female Country Entertainer of the Year   2003 Melinda Schneider Female Country Entertainer of the Year   2004 Melinda Schneider Female Country Entertainer of the Year   2006 Melinda Schneider Slim Dusty Country Performer of the Year   2007 Melinda Schneider Female Vocal Performer of the Year   2008 Melinda Schneider Female Vocal Performer of the Year   2011 Melinda Schneider Slim Dusty Country Act of the Year  Melinda Schneider Female Vocal Performer of the Year   2014 Melinda Schneider Slim Dusty Country Act of the Year
References
External links * Melinda Schneider, Official website