The City of Syracuse has provided the backdrop for musicians like rapper Post Malone, the late Lou Reed and, most recently, Clairo to develop and hone their craft. Venues across the city — like a waffle joint with a stage or an intimate music hall — have fostered a community for rising musicians and start-up garage bands alike to share their talents.

To celebrate these achievements in music, Syracuse established the Syracuse Area Music Awards in 1993, which recognize local performers across more than a dozen musical genres. The weekend kicks off with the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que on Thursday, followed by the full awards ceremony at the Palace Theatre on Friday.

Local artists are encouraged to submit projects that were released in the past year for consideration. Hundreds of submissions are then narrowed down to a select few in each of the 13 categories. Musicians, along with members of the community, will gather to honor locally-created albums that, one day, might be up for a Grammy Award.

But unlike the Grammys, submissions for The SAMMYS are judged by a panel of industry professionals and educators who vote based on the album’s merit, not financial success.

“It’s not a popularity contest and it’s not based on record sales or popularity,” said Joe Whiting, former executive board member for The SAMMYS’ judging.

For nominees like Whiting, who’s nominated this year as a member of Jukin’ Bone for “Best Rock” album, The SAMMYS are about celebrating the local music community — regardless of who wins.

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With multiple awards under his belt, Whiting is already a decorated musician. But for him, a victory for “Best Rock” would be “a nice cap” to Jukin’ Bone’s journey.

Lead vocalist Whiting, lead guitarist Mark Doyle, bassist John DeMaso Miralles, second guitarist George Egosarian and drummer Tom Glaister formed the band, then known as Free Will, in 1968. They released two albums with RCA Records, but by 1973, Whiting said “internal squabbles and bad decisions” plagued the band and it dissolved.

In 1993, Jukin’ Bone was approached by The SAMMYS organizers to perform. The bandmates agreed — despite not having talked for 20 years. Whiting said it felt good to be onstage once again as a group. For the first time since 1973, four of the original members recorded their now nominated album, “Unfinished Business.”

“When you’re young, you don’t really appreciate what is going on,” Whiting said. “Now I appreciate the gift of talent and that people are still interested.”

Another SAMMYS veteran is Irv Lyons Jr., who’s competing in the “Best R&B” category. Embarking on a solo career paid off for Lyons when, in 2017, his album, “Wonderland” gained national recognition after one of its tracks, “Doing It All,” was nominated for a Native American Music Award.

His nominated record, entitled “Sisters & Brothers,” is based on life experiences and features other local musicians. Lyons said he is especially proud of this album because it was the first one he produced with a record label: SubCat Studios.

“It was a community effort,” Lyons said. “And it’s just an honor to be recognized in your community.”

Lyons said he has a sound reminiscent of “Steely Dan meets Sting meets Santana.” He is nominated this year for both his solo venture as well as his album, “Live at SubCat Studios,” with The Ripcords, an Americana roots band that won in 2009.

Syracuse native, Jaquiel THEVOICE, now known as Ihy Feel, is nominated for SAMMYS’ “Best R&B” album. Courtesy of Ihy Feel

This year, the nominees include both previous winners and first-time nominees. One of the younger nominees is 28-year-old Jaquiel THEVOICE, now known as Ihy Feel, who is also vying for “Best R&B” album.

Ihy Feel’s music career kicked off at the apex of his education: law school. His internal conflict about which path to pursue ultimately resolved last November when he fully committed to making music, declining admission to law school.

“(It’s) been a life-changing experience that started with me taking a leap of faith,” Ihy Feel said.

This is not Ihy Feel’s first venture into music though. Previously, he was in a rap group called “2 Tall” with friend and current nominee for “Best Hip-Hop,” G-Netics.

Ihy Feel, a native of Syracuse’s South Side, said his debut album, “The NATURAL ProJect,” was made “by one man and his MacBook.” The project explores the “lows you experience in Syracuse with such a high poverty rate,” he said.

Also jockeying for his first recognition at The SAMMYS is Darryl Rahn, who’s nominated in the “Best Singer/Songwriter” category for his record “Making Strangers.”

Classic rock drew Rahn to the guitar, but by senior year of high school, he said his inspiration shifted, and singer-songwriters like John Mayer inspired him to focus more on his lyrics.

Splitting his time between Utica and Brooklyn, Rahn said that his latest album differs from his earlier ones. Now, his songs are inspired by things he reads in books and stories, as well as short conversations he hears, rather than his own life.

“I treat every song as its own album,” Rahn said.

Darryl Rahn was nominated for “Best Singer/Songwriter” this year. Courtesy of Darryl Rahn

Despite being based only a few hours away from Canada, The Moonshine River Band said they are in “good company” for the “Best Country” category.

Vocalist and lead guitarist Joe Battles said The Moonshine River Band has a sound reminiscent of Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line. The group is comprised of Battles, bassist Mark Ramsden and drummer Angelo Depasquale.

The bandmates, who had all played in other rock bands previously, came together in 2013 to form a modern country band. And now, they have their second SAMMYS nomination for “Bad Habit.”

“Just being nominated for original music is great,” Battles said. “If we win, that would be awesome, but just being in good company is great.”

Although the band is nominated for their original recordings, they also perform covers of songs by Johnny Cash and Eric Church, in addition to classic rock hits by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band has a busy year ahead of them — Battles said the band has more than 60 upcoming shows scheduled in the central New York area.

In addition to the traditional music awards, The SAMMYS will also present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Syracuse University graduate Lou Reed. After a successful run with the now-iconic rock group The Velvet Underground, along with a solo career spanning decades, Reed will be honored for his contribution to the music sphere.

Anthony DeCurtis, a contributing editor for Rolling Stone and author of the new biography “Lou Reed: A Life,” said he had no idea how it took so long for Reed to receive the award.

In Reed’s case, Whiting said, the lack of recognition in the Syracuse community was likely not seen as a “diss,” because Reed was already inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“He wasn’t discovered in the same way as other winners,” Whiting said.

A tribute band including Whiting and other SAMMYS victors will perform a tribute to Reed during the ceremony. Regardless of whether a nominee is dubbed a winner at the end of the night, what will endure is a growing music scene sponsored by a community willing to listen.

Published on March 3, 2019 at 9:58 pm