These local music award nominees beat out a record-breaking pool of submissions

More than 40 local musicians who help bring life to the music scene in Central New York were nominated for SAMMY awards on Tuesday. This year, the Syracuse Area Music Awards received a record breaking 161 artist submissions.

Tom Kenny, best known for his voicing of Spongebob Squarepants, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award. Kenny has also appeared on late-night shows with David Letterman and Conan O'Brian.

Robert Tousignant, better known as "Bobby T," was inducted into the hall of fame. Tousignant toured with bands such as The Buckinghams and performed with Crazy Horse and Neil Young. Once a part of the band Music Explosion, Tousignant
was part of the cover of the song "A Little Bit of Soul," which sold over 5.5 million copies.

All 161 submissions were reviewed by an independent panel of music artists and educators throughout Central New York, as well as musicians from around the country.

Awards will be given for "People's Choice" categories including best artist, best event, best venue, best organization, and best new artist. The winner for best new artist will receive six hours of recording time at Subcat Studios in Armory Square in Downtown Syracuse. Voting for these awards is free and open to the public through Feb. 28.

The event will take place on March 4 at the OnCenter Crouse-Hinds Theater in Syracuse. Tickets are available as well as a virtual viewing option.

Below is the list of the 2022 SAMMY nominees:

Best Jazz:

1. Bob Holz: Live in New York And L.A.
2. Chuck Lamb & Peter Mack: Exit 33
3. E.S.P.: Ready or Not
4. The Pietra Group: People Chain

Best Americana:

1. The Dirty Doves: Pure & Simple
2. Gegorge Mann: A World Like This
3. Harmonic Dirt: Rhode Island Street
4. Len Widdekind: Highway of Time
5. Nashua Robb: Sunroom Sessions: About Time
6. The Ripcords: Unmasked

Best Hard Rock:

1. Gainer: Cold Case
2. Less Than Hate: Less Than Hate
3. Unwanted Ghosts: The End is a Gift
4. Void Emperor: Void Emperor

Best R&B:

1. Anna Shelay: Unlinkable
2. Diana Jacobs Band: Love Each Other, Love Our World
3. Free Boody Institute: Myths, Legends & The Hard Truth
4. Lamar Lamb: Love & Pain

Best Alternative:

1. The Leaps: Spinning the Wheels
2. Mike Gibson: Feb6: Grief & Nonsense
3. Outside Voices: Grind
4. Trauma Cat: Prepare to Apologize

Best Other Style:

1. Alex Seubert: Works from Space
2. Asael: Moment
3. Fritz’s Polka Band: The Hands of Time
4. Jeff Tripoli: Rhythm Cadence for the New Renaissance
5. Paul Davie: Half and Half

Best Jam Band:

Count Blastula: Strange Mutations
Ramshki Alley: Ramshki Alley

Best Pop:

1. AK Kastro: College Rd.
2. Brett Puglisi: So Familiar
3. Coral Blue: Paris is Burning
4. The Jess Novak Band: A Thousand Lives
5. River Westin: Candy Cigarettes
6. Stoyan: Cancel Me

Best Rock:

1. Everneau: Revolution
2. Jeff Gordon: Local Boy
3. McWray: Thunderin
4. Not Robots!: Not Robots
5. Steve Romer: Slow Demise
6. Tommy Gunn: Chulo

Best Hip-Hop/Rap:

1. Coughlin: Miles
2. Exoticz: For the Love of Music
3. VinnyVeg:1104 Vol. 2 The Leader Of Real Shhh

Best Country:

1. Jon Rogalia: Twenty Eight
2. Whiskey Hollow Rush: Torn Up from the Corn Up

Hall of Fame:

Russ Tarby
Robert Tousignant
Los Blancos
Jeff Stockham
Music Educator: J. Avery Head
Lifetime Achievement: Tom Kenny