Biography

2022

• guest stars in the Theater Dortmund production of “Berlin Skandalös”, directed by Gil Mehmert.
• “The Colorful World of Frida Kato” is published by Nigthingale Books, the children’s book division of Pegasus Books of London with illustrations by Helen Schneider
• Starts a new clothing line called URUBURU, inspired by Pan Asian designs

2021

• performs in “Der Koschere Himmel” at the Hamburg Kammerspiele
• illustrates cover for the book “Lenny’s Summertime Adventures” , first prize winner of the Center for Basque Studies Literary Contest
• Lieblingsfilm “Into the Beat” joins the top #10 movies in Europe, South America and the USA on Netflix…  #3 movie on Netflix worldwide

2020

• Guest stars in the ZDF series “Ku’damm 63”

2019

• premieres her show “Innovators” at the Kurt Weill Fest in Dessau
• premieres her show “The Singer, her Songs and the Orchestra” with the Bremen Philharmonic Orchestra
• finishes the final concert tour of “Movin’ On“ in Germany and Austria
• guest stars for Lieblingsfilm in the upcoming film “Into the Beat”
• performs at the annual Aids Benefit Gala in Hannover

2018

• performs the finissage for the Springmann Gallery’s exhibition of the artist “Faile”
• revives her roles in “Diven” and “Der Ghetto Swinger” in Hamburg
• tours the concert program “Movin’ On“ throughout Germany
• joins the staff of the Stage School in Hamburg as a teacher of “Song Interpretation”

2017

• May, 15, 2017 – releases the new CD and vinyl record „Movin’ On“ on SPV!
• shoots the music video “Haze” with Anatol Kotte
• performs with Til Brönner at the Classic Open Air Festival in Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin
• tours the concert program “Movin’ On“ with Jo Ambros on guitar and special guest Oli Potratz on contrabass throughout Germany
• performs the closing concert at the Bad Herfeld Festival
• revives her role of Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard” for Theater Bonn with the final performance on Sylvester, 2017!!

2016

• begins recording „Movin’ On“, a new record of original songs, written by Jo Ambros and Linda Uruburu, produced by Sandi Strmljan
• tours the concert program “Collective Memory“ with Jo Ambros on guitar
• travels throughout Germany with „Der Ghetto Swinger“, „Verwandlungen“; and „Die Reifeprüfung“
• stars in “Diven”  at the Kammerspiele in Hamburg – a new theater piece directed and conceived by Konstantin Moreth, written by Axel Schneider
• revives the role of Master of Ceremonies in „Cabaret“ in the Bad Hersfeld Summer Festival, directed by Gil Mehmert

2015

• releases the new CD „Collective Memory“
• records an album of original songs, written for her by Jo Ambros and Linda Uruburu, produced by Sandi Strmljan
• signs a new record deal with SPV
• stars as the Master of Ceremonies in a new production of „Cabaret“ in the Bad Hersfeld Summer Festival, directed by Gil Mehmert

2014

• stars in “End of the Rainbow” at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Austria, directed by Aron Stiehl – the tragic musical theater piece focusing on the last performance of the great Judy Garland

2013

• stars in “Die Reifeprüfung” as Mrs. Robinson, directed by Eva Hosemann, at the Altonaer Theater in Hamburg

2012

• stars in “Der Ghetto Swinger”, a new theater piece directed and conceived by Gil Mehmert, based on the memoir of German jazz-legend and concentration camp survivor Coco Schumann
• travels throughout Germany with her trio in „Juke Box Blues“
• stars in “Verwandlungen” at “Die Rampe” in Stuttgart – a theater piece created for her and directed by Eva Hosemann, featuring the poetry of the Pulitzer Prize winning American Anne Sexton

2011

• releases the CD “The World We Knew” featuring the music of the legendary Burt Kaempfert, produced and arranged by Chris Walden
• stars in a new production of “Sunset Boulevard” at the Bad Hersfeld Summer Festival directed by Gil Mehmert, co-starring Helmut Baumann
• receives for the second time the “Great Hersfeld Prize” by the German press

2010

• stars in the new show “Hello I’m Johnny Cash” in the lead role of June Carter Cash opposite Gunther Gabriel as Johnny Cash.

2009

• tours the concert program “Dream a Little Dream“ with her trio throughout Germany

2008

• releases the CD „Dream a Little Dream“ which entered the German Jazz Charts at number 2

2007

• releases the CD „Like A Woman“;
• together with her longtime friend and colleague, Linda Uruburu, co-authors two children’s books, “Helen Schneiders Tiergeschichten für Kinder” and “Maximilian Schnecks wunderbarer Regentag”, published by Baumhaus Verlag

2006

• is awarded the “DIVA – Deutscher Entertainment Preis” Hall of Fame Award for her outstanding career in the entertainment business in Germany

2005

• stars opposite Helmut Bauman and Hardy Rudolz in Henry Mancini’s musical „Victor/Victoria“ at the „Bremer Theater“ in Bremen

2004

• forms her trio „M’Jobi“ with Mini Schulz, Jo Ambros and Obi Jenne, and tours Germany with the show „Just Like A Woman“
• performs with the well-known “Swing Legends – Max Greger, Paul Kuhn and Hugo Strasser and the SWR Big Band”

2003

• performs at the prestigious Kurt Weill Festival Kuratorium in Dessau and accepts the position of “Chairwoman” of the Festival
• performs an evening of Charles Ives music with the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester under the direction of Dennis Russell-Davies

2002

• as special guest donates her performance in the “Cinema for Peace” gala at the International Berlin Film Festival to benefit UNICEF

2001

• releases the CD of her show “A Voice and A Piano” and the CD “Cool Heat” featuring the songs of Ellington, Arlen, Mercer and Porter
• performs at the prestigious Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall in New York featuring the music from „Cool Heat“

2000

• stars in the European musical premiere of „Frida: The story of Frida Kahlo“ at the „Schauspielhaus“ in Vienna

1999

• writes and stars in the award winning autobiographic show „A Voice and A Piano“, with performances in Austria, Germany and New York

1998

• stars in the Bad Hersfeld Summer Festival production of „Evita“, selling out all performances in two weeks and receiving the “Great Hersfeld Prize for Artist of the Year 1999″ by the German press
• records an original opera, written exclusively for her by Eberhard Schoener, based on the short-story „The Revenge“ by Isabel Allende
• performs for 700,000 people at the opening of Potsdamerplatz in the “former” East Berlin

1997

• receives the award „Best Musical Theater Artist of the Year“ by the readers of the European theater magazine Musicals

1996

• releases the CDs „Right as the Rain“ and „Helen Schneider/Songs of Kurt Weill“
• records the CD „Sunset Boulevard“

1995

• opens the German production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s „Sunset Boulevard“ in the starring role of Norma Desmond at the „Rhein-Main-Theater“ in Wiesbaden

1994

• performs in the German television series „Havelkaiser“
• performs in concerts with the „WDR Big Band“

1993

• stars in the Cole Porter musical „Anything Goes“ directed by Helmut Baumann at the „Theater des Westens“ in Berlin

1992

• stars in the musical-drama „Frida: The Story of Frida Kahlo“
• is nominated by the drama critics in New York for Drama Desk Award for „Best Actress in a Musical“

1991

• releases the album „Vagabond“

1990

• performs as international guest star at closing gala of Berlin Film Festival

1989

• releases the album „A Walk on the Weill Side“
• stars in the Broadway production of „Ghetto“ at Circle in the Square Theater in New York

1988

• records and releases the album „Back On Track“ in Germany
• tours the USA with „Schneider sings Songheim“ and „Schneider sings the Music of Kurt Weill“
• is awarded „Outstanding Female Vocalist“ award 1988 by Back Stage magazine in New York City for „Schneider sings Sondheim“

1987

• stars as Sally Bowles in a production of „Cabaret“ with Hildegard Knef and Wolfgang Reichmann directed by Helmut Baumann at the „Theater des Westens“ in Berlin

1984 – 1986

• devotes this time to study acting in New York

1983

• releases the albums „Smuggled Out Alive“, „Breakout“ and „The Best of Helen Schneider“

1982

• releases the album „Exposed“
• becomes the first American to receive the „International Artist of the Year“ award by the „German Phono-Academy“
• becomes the first foreign artist invited to perform in East Germany at „Palast de Republik“
• stars in the American cult movie „Eddie and the Cruisers“

1981

• releases the album „Schneider With A Kick“ including the top ten hit „Rock’n’Roll Gypsy“
• is awarded Best Female Singer in „Musikmarkt“
• shares the Goldene Europa Award as „Artist of the Year“ with John Lennon
• is awarded „Singer of the Year“ awards by four German magazines: Musik Express, Bravo, Pop Rocky and the German Rolling Stone

1980

• releases first rock’n’roll album „Crazy Lady“, followed by a tour with Udo Lindenberg and his „Panik Orchester“

1978

• stars in personality television special “Helen Schneider: Ein Mädchen Aus New York” which later becomes West Germany’s entry in the Montreaux Film Festival
• first European tour and first German recording „Helen Schneider – Live in Hamburg“

1977

• releases the album “Let It Be Now“
• performs in Las Vegas, on television and in music clubs throughout the USA
• debuts in Los Angeles at Studio One and becomes a return guest star on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
• participates in NBC’s First Annual Rock ‘N Roll Olympics with Michael Jackson and Rod Stewart

1976

• releases her first album „So Close“

1971 – 1976

• performs with a blues band in clubs throughout New England

Soloist in youth choir with the New York Symphony

Studied classical piano with Roberta Berlin in New York

Born December 23, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York City