Roger Schmelzer

Praised for "easy-going charm," "exceptional range," "a wacky sense of humor" and "the ability to tenderly caress a ballad,"

Roger Schmelzer brings a crisp, fresh sound to both standards and underperformed cabaret songs, underscoring both with an appreciation for the journey of the song and its composer.

He applied that approach to his debut CD, "About Now," coupling familiar pop classics such as "Just 'n' Time" and "This Guy's in Love" with work by New York cabaret mainstay Brian Gari and Indianapolis composer David Lips. The result is both intimate and surprising, "like being in the same room during a wonderful concert," according to one listener.

His respect for the classic American songbook comes straight from his parents' stereo which was permanently stacked with a steady diet of Robert Goulet, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Bobby Darin records. Today, Roger's iPod is loaded not only with the artists of his youth, but also the aforementioned Tyrell and Feinstein along with Peter Cincotti, Tony DeSare and Michael Buble. He is also a huge fan of Gari's, Craig Carnelia, John Bucchino, Jason Robert Brown, Amanda McBroom, Julie Gold, Lina Koutrakas and Rick Jensen outstanding talents who create and perform the material that fuels cabaret music today.

Roger starred in several musical revues at the former Raleigh's Dinner Theater in Indianapolis where he conceived and directed the hit show, LifeSongs, featuring Brian Gari's music. In July 2004 he performed in HeartSongs: A Romantic Cabaret, with Laura Lockwood, Jerry Hacker and Deb Farmer before a sold-out audience at the Villa Restaurant. From October 2005 through March 2006, Roger performed his solo cabaret show They're Playing My Songs at the Indianapolis Liederkranz and the Villa Restaurant. He returned to the Liederkranz in October 2006 with his new show, Standards and More.

A multiple Encore Award nominee, Roger's musical theater credits range from the Tinman in The Wizard of Oz to Harold Hill in The Music Man. Other shows include The Scarlet Pimpernel, My Favorite Year, Into the Woods, Of Thee I Sing, My Fair Lady, 1776, Lil Abner, Rags, Gypsy, Fame, Merrily We Roll Along, The Sound of Music, The Goodbye Girl, She Loves Me, Annie Get Your Gun and Babes in Toyland. Non-musical credits include The Philadelphia Story (both male leads, 15 years apart), Tweedles, Lend Me a Tenor, Mary, Mary and Sylvia.

In 2000 Roger co-starred as the "befuddled everyman" in the motion picture 587: The Great Train Robbery. He has also been a television commercial spokesperson for the Indiana Brick Council and Centex Homes and has done industrial films for Purdue University, Best Access Systems and the Lutheran Church.

Roger is father to two sons. By day he leads a national membership support organization based in Indianapolis.