Areeda Schneider Stampley

CBS Records; Author

Areeda Howell Schneider- Stampley grew up on a big farm in tiny Rogersville, Alabama. After moving to Nashville to attend college, she landed a spot on the popular WSIX-TV show, Noel Ball's Saturday Showcase, where she for three years, lip-synced hit records of the day by artists such as Connie Francis and Patti Page.

Landing her first job in the music industry, at Columbia Records, Areeda logged 27 years with the music industry TV giant. After taking a hiatus to rear her sons, she returned to Columbia in 1975 as marketing coordinator and assistant to Rick Blackburn, president of the label. Epic Records joined the Columbia family, and the name of the label changed to CBS Records. Areeda was promoted to manager of administration as CBS/ NY established the Nashville office as a profit center.

In 1980, in cooperation with Middle Tennessee State University, she initiated the Music Row Student Internship Program. While director of administration and operations, and responsible for financial budgets, Areeda initiated the review and reclassification of job titles, descriptions and salaries to better align with CBS/NY personnel. She was actively involved in the planning of artist showcases, CBS conventions, industry/ community efforts such as Fan Fair, golf tournaments and charitable events.

In 1991, she played an intricate role in the administrative process of CBS/Nashville's transition to new owner Sony Music.

In 1997, Areeda left CBS/Sony and plunged into various projects including a writing career, authoring her best-selling cookbook Areeda's Southern Cooking, and winning numerous blue ribbons for her baking.

In 2001, she and former CBS/Epic artist Joe Stampley ran into each other at EMI Publishing's annual Hot Dog Day on Music Row and eventually married. Both remain active in the music industry.