The Syracuse Area Music Awards is now accepting submissions for consideration in the 2021 SAMMY Awards. From now until Jan. 6 Syracuse area musicians are encouraged to submit recordings — commercially released albums or EPs released in the 2020 calendar year.
A change in this year’s submissions is that all entries will be accepted online only here and must be available on Apple Music, Spotify or Tidal. No physical recordings will be accepted. Submissions will be open until Jan. 6. Artists will choose one category to be judged in. Categories are subject to change at the discretion of the judges.
The SAMMY Awards will be streamed live on March 5 from SubCat Studios in Syracuse. The stream will be free and include performances by area musicians. Awards will be presented in 12 recording categories along with the People’s Choice Awards in four categories, the Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist, the Jack O. Bocchino Spirit of the SAMMYS Award and the Community Spirit Award.
Last year’s winners included:
| Best Pop | 2020 | Stephen Phillips – Big Eyes & Rosy Cheeks |
| Best Country | 2020 | Whiskey Hollow Rush – True Stories |
| Best Jazz | 2020 | Melissa Gardiner – Empowered |
| Best Hip-Hop or Rap | 2020 | Slick Fashionz_ – Purple |
| Best Blues | 2020 | Diana Jacobs – What She Needs |
| Best R&B | 2020 | Gary Carpentier – LUCID |
| Best Americana | 2020 | Off the Ground – Cleared for Takeoff |
| Best Alternative | 2020 | The Action! – 20 Years Alive |
| Best Rock | 2020 | Chris Eves and the New Normal – One Spark |
| Best Hard Rock | 2020 | Kris Wiechmann – The Heaviest Tenderness |
| Best Jam Band | 2020 | Vaporeyes – Vaporeyes |
| Best Other Style | 2020 | Josh Dekaney – All the Americas |
| Best Singer/Songwriter | 2020 | Cam Caruso – Up Above & Down Below |
| Best Electronica | 2020 | Ruby C. – Ruby C. |
| Founder’s Award | 2020 | U A D |
| Jack O Bocchino Spirit of the Sammys Award | 2020 | Marge Nolan |
| Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist | 2020 | Stephen Phillips |
| People’s Choice Best Artist | 2020 | Long Time Coming |
| People’s Choice Best Festival or Music Series | 2020 | Village of Phoenix Locktoberfest |
| People’s Choice Academic or Musical Organization | 2020 | Baldwinsville Marching Band |
| People’s Choice Best Venue | 2020 | Lock 1 Distilling Co. |
| Lifetime Achievement | 2020 | Garland Jeffreys |
| Hall of Fame | 2020 | Tim Fox |
| Hall of Fame | 2020 | Seth Marcel |
| Hall of Fame | 2020 | Judy Mareiniss |
| Hall of Fame | 2020 | Moss Back Mule Band |
| Hall of Fame Music Educator | 2020 | Casey Vanderstouw |
Follow the Syracuse Area Music Awards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information, contact Liz Nowak at info@syracuseareamusic.com. 315 Music is a supporting sponsor for this event.
Check out a performance by Stroke at the first SAMMY Awards from May 7, 1993 below.
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