In the dozens of videos posted to YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, Buddy Mercury, a beagle-basset hound mix, stands on his hind legs next to a piano, taps the keys with his two front paws, then tilts his head back and howls.
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"There's actually people making videos of their beagles listening and singing along," Glen Wolfe said.
His owners, Laurie and Glen Wolfe, from Ronkonkoma, said they never taught Buddy Mercury -- named after their favorite singer and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury -- how to play piano. He's self-taught and plays by (floppy) ear.
Still, the pup gets a treat after most performances.
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The rescue dog's first brush with fame came after a video posted to YouTube in February 2017, but he reached a new, younger audience when his talents were put on display on the video-sharing app TikTok in April.
Just like any other contemporary celebrity, Buddy Mercury has an Instagram page, blog, and, yes, even merchandise. But it's all for a cause.
"We want to help more animals get rescued," Laurie Wolfe said. "We only have so much space in our home. We can't keep bringing them here."
And while Buddy has a clear fan base, he also has some versatility -- even if it's more "Hairy" Connick, Jr., than Harry. Still, he's certainly the heart and soul of his home.
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