John Schneider — Country Free (2013)

«John Schneider is an actor with an extremely well-honed voice and incredibly deep lyrics,” Internet DJ Zack Daggy recently wrote in a review of Schneider’s music. He went on to describe Schneider’s voice as a “rich smooth-toned voice with a nearly-Bono quality.»

“One of the songs — Happy Life — is a mind-blowing and utterly amazing song on his album that deserves to be on the airwaves, the silver screen and your iPod,” Daggy continued. “The vocals soar to incredible heights as John’s rich tones and Laura Baron’s silky smooth voice complement each other perfectly. This and the deeply moving lyrics easily make this not only the best song off of this album, but also quite possibly one of the best songs of the year!» 

Another reviewer, Allen Sale, describes Schneider as a throwback to the 60s and 70s. “Schneider presents an eclectic, (if not interesting), mix with his new album,” he explained. “The arrangements are inventive in most cases showing that John Schneider has an ear for instrumentation.”

Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1949, John Schneider spent much of his early youth playing at the beaches in southern Florida, enjoying fresh air and sunshine, fishing, driving fast, acting in local and regional theater, and working in films, such as “The Eight Daffodil,” produced by Burt Reynolds and many others.

Schneider attended Palm Beach College years while acting for a number of regional theaters and playing in a rock band during weeknights. Early in his career, he formed a band and played drums for “The Electric Harpoons, the opening band for Florida’s first official Love In.” While he started his professional career in music by playing drums, he studied guitar much earlier in his life and also began improvising tunes on his grandmother’s grand piano.

During college, he became friends with Actor Burt Reynolds who had once gone to the same school as Schneider. Reynolds offered to help finance John’s continued training in the art of acting. Schneider soon moved to New York City to study at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. For a brief time, he was managed by the William Morris Agency and performed in a few off-Broadway musicals and plays. 

Recently, Schneider took a page out of fellow singer Garth Brooks’ book of tricks and produced three albums under the pseudonym, «John Nicole,» who can be heard at http://www.JohnNicoleMusic.com. 

John Schneider’s unique style and eclectic array of genres, sounds, spaces and tone, are all reflected in his new album, “Country Free.”