Eric Schneider

Eric Schneider was born and raised in the Chicago area. A prodigy, he was able to play melodies on the piano at age three. He started piano lessons at six, clarinet lessons at ten and saxophone lessons at sixteen. After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois, he moved back to Chicago to join Jim Beeb's Chicago Jazz Band. Hearing Earl Fatha' Hines was looking for a sax/clarinet player, Eric sent Erly an audition tape that resulted in a four-year worldwide engagement and the album Eric and Earl (Hines insisted on second billing).

With Hines' blessing, Eric accepted an offer to join The Count Basie Orchestra and toured with Basie for two years. He recorded three albums, including the Grammy Award-winning 88 Basie Street. He has recorded two other albums as a leader, many others as a side person, and has also recorded for movies and countless television and radio commercials.

After six years of more than forty weeks per year of traveling, Eric stopped leading the nomadic life, but not before also working with Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mel Torne, Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney and Billy Eckstine.

These days, by choice, Eric works primarily around Chicago in a myriad of musical settings. Touring again is not out of the question, especially if golf or skiing can be incorporated in the tour.