Mary Schneider

Although mostly known for the country music genre, the sisters wrote and performed Australia's first original rock 'n' roll single. Aside from recording and touring, Schneider 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.

• Name — Mary Schneider • Honorific Suffix — AM • Born — 25 October 1932 • Birthplace — Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia • Genre — Country, yodelling • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • Years Active — 1945–present • Past Member Of — The Schneider Sisters

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 a 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.

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. Although a little-known fact, the Schneider Sisters 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 song, titled "Washboard Rock 'n Roll", was written and recorded by the duo in the 1950s. They wrote the song because they needed a fourth track for their Rockin' With The Schneiders EP. The sisters attended Our Lady of Victories School in Bowen Hills. During the final year of the Second World War they entertained troops in Brisbane at a concert party, after which Schneider auditioned for Dick Fairs Australian Amateur Hour radio show. She was initially passed over, but was accepted after returning with her sister Rita as a singing duo. They made their first professional appearance on radio on 4BH on the program Smokes for Sick Soldiers. They were signed to EMI's Regal Zonophone label in 1950 and toured with Mack's Revue Company. In 1957 they toured and entertained troops stationed in Korea and Japan. In 1970 they toured South East Asia for American troops. The sisters were staples on radio and TV shows, appearing on early ABC series Seeing Stars and also local TV in Brisbane on variety shows, singing harmony for stars such as the Bee Gees.

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.

List of albums, with Australian chart positions • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • AUS • The Magic of Yodelling — * Released: 1981 * Format: LP, Cassette * Label: K-Tel (NA 614) — 33 • Can't Stop Yodelling — * Released: 1983 * Format: LP, Cassette * Label: K-Tel (NA 656) — 70 • Australia's Queen of Yodelling — * Released: 1986 * Format: LP, Cassette * Label: Colstal Music (MARY 101/2) — – • Yodelling the Classics — * Released: 1997 * Format: CD * Label: Koch Crossover Music (3-6650-2) — – • Yodelling the Classics II — * Released: 2001 * Format: CD * Label: Musigal Music (RMGRO434) — – • Ultimate Collection — * Released: 2002 * Format: CD * Label: Rajon Music Group (R0067) * Compilation album — – • The Great Mary Schneider – Australia's Queen of Yodelling — * Released: 2005 * Format: 3x CD * Label: Rajon (CDR0425) * Compilation album — –