Bouddi Peninsula local and singer-songwriter, Melinda Schneider, has celebrated a new milestone in her career with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) officially certifying her album in ode to Doris Day with a GOLD status.
ARIA’s certification of the ‘Melinda Does Doris’ album signifies 35,000 sales.
Schneider said there is no time more fitting with this album accreditation, as Doris would have celebrated her 100th birthday this month.
“When my record label, Universal Music gave me the news that my ‘Melinda Does Doris’ album had reached Gold status, I was over the moon,” Schneider said.
“This Doris project has been a labour of love and a dream come true for me and to be able to celebrate this Gold album on what would have been Doris’ 100th birthday makes the news even more special.”
With millions of fans around the world, none were bigger than Schneider who has spent the best part of the past twelve years celebrating the life and the songs of Doris Day.
What started as a homage to one of her musical heroes, soon turned in to a successful capital city season of her theatre stage show DORIS, and sell-out tours of her concert production Melinda Does Doris: A Tribute to Doris Day (2015 – 2018) and A Farewell To Doris (2019 – 2022) across regional Australia.
“Performing her classic songs and writing a stage show about her incredible life and career, as well as being able to bring it to huge venues all around Australia, including the Sydney Opera House are special times that will make me forever proud,” she said.
Released in 2010, Melinda Does Doris debuted at #1 on the ARIA Jazz and Blues chart, remaining there for 9 weeks.
Schneider will perform one more ‘A Farewell to Doris’ concert performance at Cremorne’s Orpheum Theatre on May 8 for a special Mothers’ Day matinee performance then moving on to touring her Love Songs Tour.
The tour is said to be inspired by the unconditional love Schneider has found with her long-time partner, Mark Gable, whom she will marry in September 2022.
In the performance, she will perform a selection of her own original love songs spanning her 40 years in entertainment together with some timeless classics from the likes of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton and more.
Schneider will also preview new songs from her forthcoming 15th studio album to be released later in 2022.
The tour kicks off at Tamworth Country Music Festival on April 22.
Maisy Rae