Snaer was born, in New Orleans, Louisiana and there studied with Paul Chaligny.
He worked on riverboats on the Mississippi River in the 1920s, playing in the bands of Fate Marable, Dewey Jackson, and George Augustin.
He played in the Excelsior Brass Band before moving to New York City in 1928.
In the 1930s Snaer played with Andy Kirk and Leroy Smith, but spent most of his time as a member of Claude Hopkins's orchestra.
In the middle of the 1950s he moved to San Francisco, where he played with Big Boy Goudie.