The Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMYs) announced 2026 Hall of Fame inductees and award nominees, with the Hall of Fame Induction dinner taking place Thursday, March 5 and the awards show Friday, March 6 at the Palace Theatre on James Street.
The events honor Syracuse-area musicians across 13 recording categories and multiple special awards.
The Hall of Fame Induction dinner, presented by Meier’s Creek Brewing Company, takes place Thursday, March 5 at Middle Ages Brewing Company from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.). Tickets are $35 and available here. Free online streaming will be available on the SAMMYS Facebook page.
The awards show will take place Friday, March 6 at the Palace Theatre at 7 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.) with tickets available for $25. Performances will feature Brass Inc., London McDaniel, Nate Gross, New York Flyers and Stephen Douglas Wolfe. Awards will be presented in 13 recording categories plus People’s Choice awards for Best Artist or Band, Best Event or Music Series, Best Academic or Musical Organization and Best Venue, and the Brian Bourke award for Best New Artist.
Inductees:
Multi-instrumentalist Ian Cattell, who has performed more than 2,700 concerts across 51 countries, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Syracuse-based musician has spent over 20 years touring globally with Aussie Floyd and currently with Brit Floyd, performing on stages including Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall. Syracuse officials declared March 26, 2024 “Ian Cattell Day” in recognition of his contributions to the global music scene.
New York Flyers, formed in 1975 by Chris Tso and Phil Dalessandro, will also be inducted. With a legacy spanning over 2,000 shows across 15 states and Canada, the band shared stages with Pat Benatar, Eddie Money and The Marshall Tucker Band. The group remains the only active Central New York band to achieve such extensive regional reach.
Brothers Don and Dave Martin will be inducted posthumously for their over 60 years as pillars of the Syracuse music scene. Don gained prominence in the early 1960s as a founding member of The Concepts, which opened for The Animals at the Onondaga War Memorial in 1964, before transitioning into jazz. Dave was a versatile bassist who mastered genres ranging from country and R&B to jazz and rock, performing with national legends including Bill Doggett and Murali Coryell.
Awards:
Erin Althen will receive the Music Educator of the Year award for her 23 years with the Westhill Central School District, where she serves as Director of Bands and Chair of the Fine Arts Department. Althen is founder and co-conductor of the Syracuse Youth Wind Symphony and was selected as a Semifinalist for the 2025 and 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award.
The Music Center will receive the Lifetime Achievement award for over four decades as a part of the Central New York music community. Originally established in 1981 by Chuck Cavallaro, the business is now operated by Buke Babikian, longtime drummer for the band Stroke.
An independent panel of music industry professionals and educators led by Jim Elenteny reviewed submissions from 212 artists who submitted 279 recordings.
Nominees:
Best Jazz
Bob Holz
Honoring Larry Coryell
Cheri Giraud
All My Tomorrows
Jeff Martin
Roots & Legacy
Jesse Collins Quartet
Soul Eyes
Salt City Voices 2025
Sweet Happy Life
Best Americana
Autumn Sun
Autumn Sun
Cielle On Solid Ground
Cielle On Solid Ground: 3 Song EP
Golden Soul Revue
Golden Soul Revue
J. Schnitt & the Colluders
Use Your Collusion
Jessie Elizabeth
To Go and Grow
Best Other Style
Grupo Pagán
POWER
Jeff Tripoli
Natural Habitat
Pocket Bandits
Nine by Pocket Bandits
Tom Rasely
Gallery
Best Jam Band
One Man. The Band
Peaks and Valleys
Slug
25
Tim Herron and the Great Blue
Lift That Stone
Transient Kicks
Begin Again
Vaporeyes
Still
Best Pop
Dan Volpe and the Drifters
Favorite Records
The Jess Novak Band
Tattoo
PHEN
KID
Best Rock
4 Word Days
Just a Dragonfly
Dylan Michael
Lorem Ipsum
The Penetrators
High School Memories
Plastic Sunface
Good Intentions
violet.
with love.
Best Hard Rock
Design/Fracture
ACCOUNTABLE
Masons Revolt
Camp
Sent From Beyond
Anaconda Da Vida
VØID EMPERØR
Marauders
With Teeth
1001
Best R&B
E Washington
Patiently Waiting
Tyjhier
Bloom Where You’re Planted
Best Hip-Hop or Rap
Amier
Into the Abyss
Christenelle Diroc
The Cancer They Found 722
Christenelle Diroc
The Last Son
ENAJYRAM
Gas Can & Match: The Final Chapter
Trappin Quik
I95 MUZIK
Best Blues
The Shylocks
“A Highfalutin’ Blues Bender II” LIVE
Todd Shuffler with Mark Doyle and the Maniacs
Stoned and Lonesome, a Celebration of The Rolling Stones – Early Years
Best Alternative
Boustrophedon
WINTER // STEEL (Remixes)
Clove
after everything
mistrials
The Culture Cool-Aid EP
Porch Couch
Free
Tame The Giant
Second Hand Sound
Best Country
Christian Parker, Earl Poole Ball, Patrick Cleary
American Cosmic Revival, Vol. 1: Back At Home (feat. Jaydee Maness)
The Dust Devil Band
Better With Age
The Endless Mountain Derelicts
Life Moves Fast
Harvey Fonda
Guild Songs
Jon Rogalia Ft. Whiskey Hollow Rush
This Side Of Heaven
Best Single
AK Kastro
Played Like A Fool
Atlantus
Tired of running
Brandon Gambill
Craving
SAME HUSTLE D-ROC
DO SHE LOVE ME
Zak G
Lines (Made To Be)
Additional Awards
Susan Coleman
Jack O Bocchino Spirit of the Sammys Award
Jeremy Kennedy
Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist
Karen Mihalyi
Community Spirit Award
People’s Choice voting is free, open to the public and continues through Monday, March 2 here.
Founded in 1992, the Syracuse Area Music Awards has honored musicians who contribute to the local music scene for over three decades, with the first awards ceremony held in 1993.
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