Buddy Fox

Buddy Fox, whose given name was Norman George Fox, passed away in Maui, Hawaii on September 24th, 2022 at the age of 91.

During a unique nearly 45-year journey in what he called Musicland, Buddy Fox was a club and concert producer and promotor, talent booker, artist manager, and journalist, mostly in New York City. He was semi-retired on the island of Maui, for the last 17 years of his impactful life. His loss is deeply felt by his life partner of nearly 12 years, his loving family, and many, many friends.

THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR BUDDY FOX ON DECEMBER 11TH, 2022 WILL BE BOTH IN-PERSON ON MAUI, AND AVAILABLE VIA ZOOM.

The service will begin at noon in Hawaii, which is at 2:00 pm in California and 5:00 pm in New York. To request the Zoom link or be informed of future ways that Buddy Fox will be honored, please send an email to buddyfoxtributes@gmail.com.

Buddy Fox was born on July 8th, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York to John "Jack" Fox and Dorothy Brown Lissner Fox. He is survived by his loving partner Anne Marie Sternbach, his sister, Phoebe Biscow Brown, his son Quentin Fox and wife Lisa, his daughter Alix Fox Cutrone and husband John, and his four grandsons, Jackson, Ryan, Zeke, and Oliver.

Buddy studied political science and economics at Leicester College Division of Clark University, where he made the dean's list. After 2 1/2 years there, he enlisted in the army, rising to the rank of tech sergeant during the Korean War. Because of his intelligence and analytical ability, Buddy Fox was assigned to the NSA.

Buddy was a music man. After being stationed in Texas and then working in the garment industry out of Dallas in his twenties, he returned to New York City in 1962 and began a long career on the Manhattan nightclub circuit.

Buddy's work at The Limelight and a live music discotheque in New York's Greenwich Village led to him becoming resident manager of the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. There, he put on Procol Harum's first show, Janis Joplin's first Chicago show, and Chicago's first show. The many subsequent firsts at other venues are too numerous to detail here.

Returning to Manhattan in 1968, Buddy took a waiter-bartender job at The Ninth Circle, eventually becoming general manager. He was then invited to be part of the creation of Reno Sweeney in Greenwich Village. Buddy frequently said that managing this cabaret was his greatest professional achievement. He was proud of the ambience that he created, the acts that he booked, the showcases that helped develop new talent, and the clientele that he attracted.

The very special time at Reno Sweeney was followed by two years managing Ones, a Tribeca bar and discotheque. When it was time to move on, Buddy took another bartender job, at the recently-opened Lone Star Cafe -- a Country-Western nightclub on the corner of 5th Avenue and 13th Street. Six weeks later, he was general manager and talent coordinator.

Intuitively realizing that a New York City club would not survive playing Country bands every night, Buddy added Retro, Blues, R&B, and "anything that fell within the realm of Honky Tonk" into the mix. Recognizing a correlation between the two genres, he initially focused on booking Blues acts in addition to Country. Buddy said he had a great ride at the Lone Star for 11 1/2 years. He left the Lone Star some time after the original location closed and it reopened as the Lonestar Roadhouse in midtown Manhattan.

After a year or so doing some consulting work, Buddy became the general manager and talent booker at Manny's Car Wash, a new blues club on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Buddy and Manny's enjoyed a great ten-year run. Manny's Car Wash was twice voted Best Blues Club in America and once Best Nightclub in New York by the New York Nightlife Association.

Buddy was also the MC for NYC's Blues Cruises and several blues festivals. He served on the Board of Directors of the Blues Foundation and the Ziegfeld Alumni Association (which his mother founded in 1935). Proudly, in 2014, he was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame. Buddy received awards from many organizations throughout his life for his community service and his impact on the music world.

An example of Buddy's great generosity was donation of his wealth of music memorabilia, including valuable signed albums, for benefits that he organized for musicians in need and other causes, such as natural disaster relief.

Buddy loved his work and poured his heart and soul into it. A great friend to musicians and music lovers alike, he was known as someone who supported and valued what musicians do. Buddy Fox had a knack for not only finding talented musicians and bringing them together, but also for developing meaningful relationships with artists and their representatives across several musical genres.

Buddy frequently said that the business of managing clubs had been one not just of detail, but of infinite detail. Whether planning menu items such as a watercress and mandarin orange salad, making sure all light fixtures were functioning, doing on-the-fly PA system adjustments, fulfilling performers' requests, or expertly tending bar in a pinch, Buddy was keeping close tabs on what was going on in every corner of a venue.

During semi-retirement on the island of Maui, in Hawaii, Buddy brought his managerial skills, attention to detail, and welcoming presence to caring for a very beautiful vacation property owned by his oldest and best friend. He lived happily in a lovely cottage on the property beginning in 2005. He invited Anne Marie to join him there in 2010, and they remained devoted partners.

Buddy's love of both live and filmed entertainment began in childhood. His mother, who had been a Ziegfeld Follies Girl before his birth, maintained contacts on Broadway, and took him to many shows. Young Buddy was enthralled when Carmen Miranda stroked his chin. Buddy spent many boyhood Saturday afternoons at movie matinees. These experiences were the start of his lifelong interest in -- and a large store of accumulated knowledge about -- many aspects of theater, film, and TV. He had an amazing retention of plots and casting and could often recognize actors by their voices decades after last hearing them.

Buddy attended a multitude of shows and concerts in addition to those that he produced, promoted, and MCed. Having enjoyed straight plays and musicals all his life, he packed in as many New York shows as possible before heading to Hawaii. On Maui, Buddy continued enjoying music and theater events in both intimate and larger venues.

A great cook, Buddy enjoyed sharing meals of his own creation and those served at a variety of eateries. From a taco stand to a luau or an upscale oceanside restaurant, Buddy relished dining out on Maui as he had in Manhattan. Many remember that Buddy loved a good martini (slightly dirty). In recent years he cut down, having a martini or other liquor only very rarely. Martinelli's sparkling cider became his most frequently-imbibed celebratory toast.

Buddy read voraciously... fiction and nonfiction books, the New York Times, New York-related magazines, and more. When printed material became difficult to read, he continued online... New York Times and local news, searches on a wide range of topics, Wikipedia articles, and Facebook posts. Buddy discovered additional online information sources for a project close to his heart: compiling an extensive list of Jews in public life who had changed their names... entertainers, artists in many fields, writers, sports figures, and more.

Buddy had great strength and stamina and enjoyed physical activity, having played handball, basketball, football, and tennis in former years. Through his mid-70s, while still maintaining a heavy work schedule, Buddy power-walked Manhattan streets and frequently went dancing. On Maui, Buddy walked the varied terrain of the property he managed and exercised in the pool as well as in the cottage he lived in. Through much of his eighties, he continued involvement in physical aspects of property management, including watering many of the tropical plants that he loved.

Buddy was an avid and very knowledgeable football devotee, and a loyal fan of the Texas A&M University team and the New York Jets. His spot-on analyses would often precede those of the TV announcers. If asked what team he favored when the Aggies or the Jets weren't playing he often said that he just wanted to see a good game. When there was no football to watch, Buddy often turned to golf, and sometimes tennis or horse or auto races.

Buddy Fox was a true legend. He was an amazing man who had the ability to captivate you with his great stories of the wonderful opportunities and experiences he lived. Buddy was appreciated for his sharp mind, phenomenal memory, unique and sometimes whimsical perspective, and dry sense of humor.

Buddy loved his family and many friends dearly and expressed how grateful he was to have them all in his life.

Immediately upon learning of his passing, beloved friends in the New York music world organized a blues jam in celebration of Buddy's life. This and an outpouring of tributes are testaments to the very positive role Buddy played in the careers of many musicians and others in the music business. Many friends in other fields have similar stories of their love and admiration for Buddy and his welcome influence in their lives.

Buddy Fox is remembered with abundant love and will have a lasting impact on all who knew him.