{{Infobox musical artist | background = Singer, actor, television presenter, producer | honorific_prefix = | name = Benny Schnier | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Hans-Jürgen "Benny" Schnier | alias = Benny | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|4|28}} | birth_place = [[Rahden]], [[Westfalen]], Germany | origin = | death_date = | death_place = | genre = | occupation = Singer, actor, television presenter | instrument = Voice, guitar | discography = | years_active = 1970s - present | label = [[Hansa Records|Hansa]], Akasa Records, | current_member_of = | past_member_of = | spouse = | partner = | website = | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}
'''Benny''' aka ''' Benny Schnier''' is a German singer and actor who had a number of hits during the 1970s. The hits include "Du bist 16", "Amigo Charly Brown", "[[Skateboard (Uh-ah-ah)]]" and "Bin wieder frei". ==Background== He was born Hans Jürgen "Benny" Schnier in [[Rahden]], Germany. He has been a DJ, pop singer, radio and television presenter, program director, music director and actor.<ref>''Radioszene'', 30.04.2025 - [https://www.radioszene.de/202272/benny-schnier-interview-2025.html Benny Schnier: „Größte Herausforderung für die Radio- und Musikbranche ist der Umgang mit KI“ - Michael Schmich]</ref>
He was just sixteen years old when producer [[Frank Farian]] discovered him.<ref>''Radiozene'', 06.02.2019 - [https://www.radioszene.de/130096/benny-schnier.html Benny Schnier: Mehr Individualismus und Persönlichkeiten ans Mikrofon! - Michael Schmich]</ref>
His greatest success was in 1976 with the song "Amigo Charlie Brown" which reached number 14 in the German charts. Producer [[Frank Farian]] is responsible for some of his success.<ref>''Radioszene'', 30.04.2025 - [https://www.radioszene.de/202272/benny-schnier-interview-2025.html Benny Schnier: „Größte Herausforderung für die Radio- und Musikbranche ist der Umgang mit KI“ - Michael Schmich]</ref>
==Career== ===1970s=== Working with producer [[Frank Farian]], Benny recorded the song "Du bist sechzehn" ("Du bist 16") which was composed by [[Hans-Ulrich Weigel]], [[Robert B. Sherman]], and [[Richard M. Sherman]]. Released on [[Hansa Records|Hansa]] 13 232 AT, it spent a week in the German charts, peaking at no. 43.<ref>Schweizer Hitparade - [https://hitparade.ch/song/Benny/Du-bist-sechzehn-138396 Benny – Du bist sechzehn]</ref>
He recorded the song, "Amigo Charly Brown". It was released on Hansa 16 639 AT in 1975. It peaked at no 14 and stayed in the charts for seventeen weeks.<ref>Schweizer Hitparade - [https://hitparade.ch/song/Benny/Amigo-Charly-Brown-28355 Benny – Amigo Charly Brown]</ref>
Skateboard was a song that came about as a result of Roland Kaiser seeing kids riding around on skateboards. Kaiser suggested to Frank Farian that a song should be made about the activity. The idea appealed to Farian and with Kaiser, Fred Jay and Hans-Ulrich Weigel, Farian composed Skateboard.<ref>''schlagerprofis.de'', 24/01/2024 - [https://schlagerprofis.de/frank-farian-auch-sein-duo-kumpel-aus-alten-zeiten-ist-tot-hit-dank-roland-kaiser/ FRANK FARIAN: Auch sein Duo-Kumpel aus alten Zeiten ist tot – Hit dank ROLAND KAISER, FRANK FARIAN: Duett-Kumpel aus Anfangszeit mit „LES COPAINS“ ebenfalls verstorben, 1978: Großer Hit mit „Skateboard“ mit Duo „LES COPAINS“]</ref> According to the 29 December 1978 issue of ''[[Bravo (magazine)|Bravo]]'', Benny hadn't had a good hit since "Amigo Charlie Brown". At first he was skeptical about it,<ref>''Bravo'', 29 Dec - [https://archive.org/details/bravo-1991-01/BRAVO%201978-01/page/57/mode/2up?q=%22Frank+Farian%22Skateboard%22 Page 63 Benny Warum seine erste große Liebe platzte]</ref> but he went ahead and recorded the song, "[[Skateboard (song)|Skateboard (Uh ah ah)]]" which was released on Hansa 11 397 AT in 1977. The song peaked at no. 40 during its ten-week run in the German charts.<ref>Schweizer Hitparade - [https://hitparade.ch/song/Benny/Skateboard-52055 Benny – Skateboard]</ref> After the success of the song, Benny was glad he recorded it.<ref>''Bravo'', 29 Dec - [https://archive.org/details/bravo-1991-01/BRAVO%201978-01/page/57/mode/2up?q=%22Frank+Farian%22Skateboard%22 Page 63 Benny Warum seine erste große Liebe platzte]</ref>
In 1978, Benny Schneir had his first role in a feature film. The film was ''Popcorn und Himbeereis''. He acted alongside [[Olivia Pascal]] and [[Zachi Noy]].<ref>''Radiozene'', 06.02.2019 - [https://www.radioszene.de/130096/benny-schnier.html Benny Schnier: Mehr Individualismus und Persönlichkeiten ans Mikrofon! - Michael Schmich]</ref>
Benny recorded the song "Bin wieder frei which was produced by Thomas Meisel. Backed with "Ich sitz' auf einer Kokosnuß" it was released on Hansa 15 528 AT in 1978. It did well and had a nineteen-week run in the German charts where it reached no. 18.<ref>Schweizer Hitparade - [https://hitparade.ch/song/Benny/Bin-wieder-frei-14825 Benny – Bin wieder frei]</ref>
===1980s - 1990s=== In 1984, Schneir was working at Radio M1 Munchen.<ref>''Euro Tip Sheet'', No 32 - Week OF November 5th, 1984 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1984/M&M-1984-11-05.pdf Page 10 CORRESPONDENTS GERMANY, RADIO M1 - Munchen - Benny Schnier- progr. coord]</ref>
In 1991, Schneir was head of music at Radio Xanadu in Munich.<ref>''Music & Media'', July 13, 1991 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-07-13.pdf Page 21 STATION REPORTS, RADIO XANADU/Munich Benny Schnier - Head Of Music]</ref>
==Later years== According to the 21.July 2022 edition of '' Westfalen-Blatt'', a 65-year-old Schnier made an impromptu appearance at the Levern Schlager Party at the E-Center. He was pictured with host Matthias Lutz.<ref>''Westfalen-Blatt'', 21.07.2022 - [https://www.westfalen-blatt.de/owl/kreis-minden-luebbecke/ich-bin-immer-noch-ein-rahdener-2601890?pid=true&ueg=default Gastspiel in Stemwede weckt bei Benny Schnier schöne Erinnerungen<Br> "Ich bin immer noch ein Rahdener!"]</ref>
It was reported by ''Radiozene'' on 02.August 2022 that Schneir was now with Radio Schlagerparadies. The next Sunday, 7 August at 10:00am, he was to commence his role in hosting the "Wünsch dir was" (Make a Wish) show. The show was described as being of four hours of music where Schneir responds to requests and sends greetings to loved ones from Flensburg to Garmisch.<ref>''Radiozene'', 02.08.2022 - [https://www.radioszene.de/166055/benny-schnier-schlagerparadies.html „Amigo Charly Brown“ Benny Schnier moderiert bei Radio Schlagerparadies]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * Discogs - [https://www.discogs.com/artist/523069-Benny-4 Benny] * Imdb - [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0774179/ Benny Schnier] * Regio-tv.de, Do., - [https://www.regio-tv.de/mediathek/video/folge-255-benny-schnier-saenger-dj-und-moderator/ Folge 255: Benny Schnier, Sänger, DJ und Moderator]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schnier, Benny}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:German pop singers]] [[Category:German actors]] [[Category:Hansa Records artists]] [[Category:Philips Records artists]] [[Category:German radio presenters]] [[Category:German talk radio hosts]] [[Category:German television presenters]]