The Mike Schneider Polka Band

The Mike Schneider Polka Band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a Slovenian-style polka group who performs approximately 100 events annually in Wisconsin and throughout the United States. The band was started in 1996 by founder Mike Schneider. The band is a four-time award winner and 16-time nominee from such organizations as the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame, the Wisconsin Polka Boosters, the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Fame [http://www.wisconsinpolkahalloffame.com/inductees.html Wisconsin Polka Hall of Famers] , wisconsinpolkahalloffame.com, retrieved on September 3 2007] , the Wisconsin Polka Music Awards [http://www.wisconsinpolkamusic.com/awards.html Annual Wisconsin Polka Music Awards] , wisconsinpolkamusic.com, retrieved on September 3 2007] , and the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI).

The Mike Schneider Polka Band was the featured subject of the September 15, 2005-edition of Positively Milwaukee with Carole Meekins on WTMJ-TV for their work on the Wisconsin Polka, a benefit project for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The band was featured on "Food Nation with Bobby Flay" on the Food Network in 2002. Bandleader Schneider was the subject of the lead story "Kids Dig Polka" in the October 24 1997 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Mike Schneider Polka Band was influenced musically by Frankie Yankovic and Verne Meisner. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6578912.html "Kids Dig Polka] , [http://www.mikeschneiderband.com/Bio.html] Meg Kissinger, October 24, 1997 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, page 1, Retrieved September 3 2007] .

Awards and Nominations

* Winner, Wisconsin Polka Hall Of Fame First Annual Young Band Of The Year (1997))
* Nominee, Wisconsin Polka Hall Of Fame Band Of The Year Nominee (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007)
* Nominee, National Cleveland Style Polka Hall Of Fame Best New/Young Band (1999, 2000)
* Nominee, Wisconsin Area Music Industry Best Polka Band Nominee (1999, 2000, 2001)
* Winner, Wisconsin Polka Boosters Distinguished Service Award Recipient (2006)
* Winner, Wisconsin Polka Music Exceptional Achievement Award (2007)
* Winner, Wisconsin Polka Music Recording of the Year Award (2007)

Full-Length Recordings

* "First Impressions" (1995)
* "Second Thoughts" (1996)
* "The Pursuit Of Polka’s Lost Frontier" (1998)
* "Polka Visions" (2002)
* "A Stretch of the Imagination" (2004)
* "The Mike Schneider Band Live!" (2006)

Single Recordings

* "Star Spangled Banner" for WTMJ (AM) (2000)
* "Happy Birthday Polka" (2001)
* "Bill Michaels Polka" for WTMJ (AM) (2004)
* "Polka Parade Theme Song" for WJYI (2004)
* "Sabrina's Songs" (2005)
* "The Wisconsin Polka" (2005)

Compilations Featuring The Mike Schneider Polka Band

* "Polkasound Potpourri" (1997)
* "Parade Of Blue Chip Polkas, Volume 5" (1998)
* "The Best of Polka Parade" (2003, 2005, 2006)

References

External links

* [http://www.mikeschneiderband.com Official Website]