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October 6, 2009

The Fox keeps the beat going

Tony 'The Fox' Auer still playing percussion for local bands at 75

By KELLI CATANA

MORRISONVILLE — The jazzy sound of drums and bongos emanated from the interior of Cocktails in Morrisonville into the parking lot, inviting listeners in to the world of Tony "The Fox" Auer.

Auer, 75, sat on the edge of the stage, clenching his bongos in his lap, drumming along with Shameless Strangers percussionist, Bill Bougill. The two were rhythmically consistent, with a jazzy edge as the band joined in.



TALENTED FAMILY
The Fox picked up his first gig in Rome, Italy, in 1949 with American jazz pianist Charlie Beal, known for his work with Louis Armstrong. Then 15, Auer practiced his rhythm brushes on a telephone book, backing the pianist.

"That was my first time playing in front of an audience," Auer said.

The Fox continued to play percussion with well-known jazz musicians around the world. He sat in with Benny Goodman, Zoot Sims and Ed Shaughnessy, all in Switzerland, and he played with Ronnie Scott in England. "In the beginning, it was overwhelming playing with all stars," the Rouses Point man said. "The fact they liked what I was doing made me keep playing, and that's when I realized I had talent."

Talent runs in the Auer family. His great-grandfather was violinist Leopold Auer, and his father was motion-picture star and comedian Mischa Auer, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role of Carlo in the classic comedy "My Man Godfrey" and played the Russian ballet-master in Frank Capra's "You Can't Take It With You."

GIFTED MAN
And so The Fox grew up in the presence of greatness.

"Bogart told me my first R-rated joke, and it didn't have one four-letter word," Auer said. "I was 8 years old."

His skills as a musician live up to his lineage, and the bongos are a big part of Auer's lifestyle.

"We met because of the bongos," said Auer's lady friend, Wanda Gamache, also of Rouses Point. "You wouldn't know he's 75 years old. He's the most gifted man there ever was, and I go to gigs with him all over."

Auer plays every Tuesday at the Lincoln Inn in Essex, Vt., and has performed two gigs to date with the Shameless Strangers, a Plattsburgh band.

"Playing with the Shameless Strangers was a profound experience in good rock music," Auer said. "I rate them one of the best rock bands I've ever worked with, and Bill is the best jazz drummer I know today.

"And I know a lot of them."

E-mail Kelli Catana at: kcatana@pressrepublican.com
Kcatana@pressrepublican.com

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