The Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater in Syracuse has announced a controversial ban on personal lawn chairs for all shows presented by Live Nation.
Photo via syracuseamphitheater.com
Opening its doors to the people of Syracuse and beyond in 2015, the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview has hosted a wide variety of household acts throughout its career thus far.
Quickly becoming both a local and fan favorite, one of the Amphitheater’s most beloved aspects is certainly its expansive opportunities for outdoor seating beyond its pavilion- though a newly announced policy indicates a major shift in their outdoor concert experience.
Alongside the announcement of country artist Cody Jinks being added to their already impressive 2025 concert roster, the Empower FCU Amphitheater has published disclaimers prior to new ticket sales indicating a new lawn chair policy that has received mixed responses.
In a new pop-up seemingly applicable to all dates including and following Jinks’ show on August 17, The Empower FCU venue has announced a ban on the usage of personal lawn chairs for all shows presented by Live Nation.
“For the safety, comfort and experience of all fans, outside lawn chairs will NOT be permitted inside the venue for Live Nation shows. A limited number of lawn chair rentals will be available for advance purchase online or at the venue on the day of the event, while supplies last.”
– Live Nation
It should be noted that while this announcement comes as a shocking upset to the local community and fans of outdoor live music from beyond Syracuse, it seems to be within the routine policy of all venues in partnership with Live Nation.
It is uncertain how the newly introduced up-charge for venue-provided seating will affect the success and sales of events held within the Amphitheater, as its open lawn typically provides an additional 12,000 tickets for concert goers beyond the pavilion’s 5,000.
With their updated policy, lawn chairs will come at an additional cost to concert-goers. For reference, lawn tickets for Thomas Rhett’s show on August 21 are categorized as either a standard general admission $41.75 ticket or a “Take A Seat – Lawn Ticket + Chair Rental” package for an additional $11.
Photo via syracuseamphitheater.com
While limitations on lawn chair usage are not new to the venue with several sold-out shows instituting the Amphitheater’s 2022 policy similarly banning outside lawn chairs for concerts with attendance above 14,000, a shift to this degree is new and certainly jarring for veterans and folks new to the venue alike who will now experience a large majority of concerts with rental fees in the place of personal belongings.
For more information on the Empower FCU Amphitheater’s events and policies, visit the venue’s official Live Nation page here.
Fast Tony Productions has announced the Sunday Blues Festival at The Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs for February 2, 2025.
Featured Guitarist – Toronzo Cannon
Headlining the festival is world-renowned blues guitarist and vocalist Toronzo Cannon. This isn’t just another night of great live music—it’s a celebration of the blues in a venue that captures the magic of intimate live performances.
If you’re a fan of blues, live music, or just good times, this is shaping up to be a night you won’t want to miss. Cannon has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of electric blues. His unique blend of modern Chicago blues, soulful vocals, and electrifying guitar work has earned him rave reviews from all over. Whether he’s ripping through an emotionally-charged guitar solo or delivering a poignant social commentary through his lyrics, Cannon’s performances leave audiences spellbound.
Fast Tony Productions may be new to Saratoga, but Anthony Mangano-Delaney has already shown his ability to pull off big events. His first show in November 2024, featuring Bywater Call, was a resounding success, drawing a crowd of 150 and setting the stage for continued exciting performances to come. Tony is also eager to see how Fast Tony Productions can carve out its space within the vibrant Saratoga music scene with venues like Caffe Lena, Putnam Place, and SPAC.
Known for its cozy atmosphere, The Parting Glass is the perfect backdrop for one of Chicago’s brightest blues stars. The festival kicks off at 5:00 PM with non-stop music leading into Toronzo Cannon’s headlining set at 7:30 PM.
For ticket information on the February 2, 2025, Sunday Blues Festival at The Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs, click here.
Multi-platinum country artist Cody Jinks has announced his upcoming 2025 North American Headline Tour, Hippies and Cowboys.
The Hippies and CowboysTour sees 23 dates including two in New York: The Rooftop at Pier 17 in NYC on August 13 and Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater in Syracuse on August 17. Special guests Tanner Usrey and Shane Smith & The Saints appear at certain dates along the tour.
The electrifying performer who has sold over 2 million tickets to date is looking forward to another ambitious stage setup as he embarks on this upcoming tour produced by Live Nation and FPC Live. Fans can expect the same kind of big tent, inclusive environment for which Jinks is known for.
The tour announcement dropped alongside his upcoming project, Cody Jinks Sings Lefty Frizzell, a tribute album to the late honky-tonk legend, Lefty Frizzell which includes covers of many fan-favorite tracks including, “If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time.” Giving the songs new life, Jinks takes the music, a cornerstone of traditional country and honky-tonk and makes it his own with the same sincerity and emotional depth that captured fans throughout Lefty’s career. The Hippies and CowboysTour kicks off on March 14 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and wraps up on September 20 in Youngstown, Ohio.
Cody Jinks 2025 Tour Dates:
March 14, 2025–New Orleans, LA–Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts
May 29, 2025–Columbia, MO–9th Street*
May 30, 2025–Franklin, TN–FirstBank Amphitheater*
June 26, 2025–Nampa, ID–Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater*
June 27, 2025–Idaho Falls, ID–Mountain America Center*
June 28, 2025–Casper, WY–Ford Wyoming Center*
July 10, 2025–Wheatland, CA–Hard Rock Live*
July 11, 2025–Stateline, NV–Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys*
July 12, 2025–Berkeley, CA–Greek Theatre UC Berkeley*
July 17, 2025–Kent, WA–accesso ShoWare Center*
July 19, 2025–Airway Heights, WA–Northern Quest Amphitheater*
July 26, 2025–Morrison, CO–Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 7, 2025–Asbury Park, NJ–Stone Pony Summer Stage#
August 8, 2025–Philadelphia, PA– The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark#
August 9, 2025–Baltimore, MD–Pier Six Pavilion#
August 11, 2025–Virginia Beach, VA–The Dome#
August 13, 2025–New York, NY–The Rooftop at Pier 17#
August 15, 2025–Bridgeport, CT–Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater*
August 16, 2025–Boston, MA–Leader Bank Pavilion*
August 17, 2025–Syracuse, NY–Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview*
September 18, 2025–Des Moines, IA–Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park*
September 19, 2025–Indianapolis, IN–Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park*
September 20, 2025–Youngstown, OH–Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre*
*with Tanner Usrey
#with Shane Smith & The Saints
Shane Smith & The Saints
For more information on the upcoming Hippies and Cowboys Tour and to purchase tickets, click here.
Spafford has just announced the first details of their 2025 Spring Tour which comes on the heels of an extensive winter run set to start later this week. The much anticipated run includes stops at iconic venues throughout the Northeast and will feature special guest The Jauntee on select dates. Spafford Spring Tour includes two New York dates as well. The second stop of the tour will be in Saratoga Springs on March 14 with a show at Putnam Place. Four days later the meteoric jam band will visit Buffalo Iron Works on March 18.
The tour also features a first time visit to the ski-mecca town of Killington, VT with a show at the Pickle Barrel. It later wraps up with a three-night residency at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, MA, from April 3-5.
Tickets go on sale Friday, December 6 at 10 AM local time through spafford.net where additional information can also be found.
Spafford Spring 2025 Tour Dates:
March 12-13: Broad Brook Opera House – Broad Brook, CT
March 14: Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY
March 15: Aura – Portland, ME
March 16: Pickle Barrel – Killington, VT
March 18: Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY
March 19: Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH*
March 20: Mr. Smalls – Millvale, PA*
March 21: Moontown Brewing Company – Whitestown, IN
Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio is once again going out on a solo acoustic tour in 2025, his first one in three years. The tour starts on March 8 in Springfield, MA at Symphony Hall and will cover a large swath of the Midwest and Southeast regions of the country through early April. It includes one New York gig on March 12 in Rochester at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. See all tour dates listed below.
Real-time presales begin Wednesday, December 4 exclusively via treytickets.shop.ticketstoday.com. All remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, December 6 – check venues for on-sale times. For complete details, please see trey.com/tour.
TREY ANASTASIO – SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR 2025
MARCH
8 – Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall
9 – Boston, MA – Wang Theatre at Boch Center
11 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – The F.M. Kirby Center
12 – Rochester, NY – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
14 – Columbus, OH – Mershon Auditorium
15 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
16 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center
18 – Chicago, IL – Orchestra Hall
19 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre
21 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
22 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre
23 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
26 – Orlando, FL – Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
28 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
29 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre
30 – Charleston, SC – Gaillard Auditorium
APRIL
1 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
2 – Greenville, SC – Peace Concert Hall
4 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
5 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Center for the Arts
The SAMMYS board has announced the dates of the 2025 Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame Dinner and subsequent Awards Show.
The Syracuse Area Music Awards, more commonly referred to as the SAMMYS, is an annual awards show created to honor and celebrate the works from the brightest musical minds of the Syracuse area.
Newly announced, the 2025 SAMMYS Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Thursday, March 6, and The SAMMYS Award Show will be held the following night on Friday, March 7.
The award show will feature performances by local musicians interspersed throughout awards presented in a wide variety of categories including four People’s Choice Awards, the Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist, the Jack O Bocchino Spirit of the Sammys Award, and the SAMMYS Community Spirit Award.
The SAMMYS People’s Choice online open submission phase will open on January 1. Everyone is encouraged to nominate their personal favorite artist, band, event, music series, academic/musical organization, and live music venue. For more information on how to submit and vote for your favorites, visit here.
From the Central New York area and want to have your work considered for a SAMMY? Online-only recorded submissions will be accepted from December 1- January 3. Each artist must select one category they wish to be judged in, and eligibility for submission is limited to commercially released albums or EPs that were published between January 1- December 31, 2024. The online entry form is live now, accessible here.
We are proud to announce that NYS Music is now a 501(c)(3) charitable organization! This Giving Tuesday, we are looking to raise $1,000 to continue to expand our coverage and support our team across the state.
We’re pushing into our 10th year in 2025 with a renewed focus on music and arts journalism. New York State Music is the ONLY publication that focuses coverage on up and coming bands, rising artists, breaking music news and celebrating music history from every region in New York State.
Support NYS Music’s mission for Independent Music and Arts Journalism across New York State!
NYS Music empowers new and aspiring music and arts journalists with a passion for all things music through coverage of concerts, festivals and live music of all genres. Serving as an incubator for independent journalism is more important now than ever before. NYS Music is proud to help build the next generation of writers and photographers while covering the best music coming from all parts of the Empire State.
Next week we will be previewing what’s to come in our 10th year! The team at New York State Music is grateful for your support. Be sure to check out our merchandise options as well!
The Park Theater Foundation of Glens Falls has announced its end-of-year lineup of shows and events for December.
A non-profit organization dedicated to hosting events that enhance the Glens Falls community, The Park Theater Foundation brings quality and affordable entertainment as well as performing arts educational opportunities to folks within the city and beyond.
With a wide variety of events and entertainments gracing their space, The Park has it all. In preparation for the conclusion of their 2024 schedule, the Foundation has announced its final shows of the year happening throughout December.
On December 5, The Park will present national mandolin championship winner Ethan Setiawan and Fine Ground with opening support from Alan Epstein. The show will begin at 7:00 PM with doors opening at 6:00 PM, and tickets are priced at $20 for early bird attendees or $25 at the door.
A throwback show will take the stage on December 7 featuring Eric Carlin’s Half-Dead- an authentic Grateful Dead concert experience. Tickets are $25 for early bird pricing or $30 at the door. Showtime will be at 7:30 PM, and doors will open at 7:00 PM.
December 19 will host an evening of jazz featuring The Music of Thelonious Monk with the Matt Niedbalski Trio alongside Adam Siegal and Jason Emmond. Tickets for this event are priced at $10, with doors at 7:00 PM and a showtime of 7:30 PM.
Concluding the year and The Park’s 2024 events will be their ‘New Year’s Eve Dinner & Comedy Show’.
Featuring a performance by the highly-acclaimed comedian Sean Donnelly, audience members will be able to enjoy a preliminary cocktail hour, a full three course pre-fixe menu dinner curated by Park Street Hospitality’s executive chef Matthew J. Delos, and a complimentary champagne greeting station along with the night’s entertainment for an all-inclusive price of $99.
Tickets for The Park Theater Foundation’s year-ending events are live now. For ticket purchasing and further information, be sure to visit their official website here.
The New York Philharmonic‘s January schedule has been fully announced and will feature 20 concerts throughout the month from Nathalie Stutzmann, Kevin John Edusei, artist-in-residence Yuja Wang, and many more.
The Wu Tsai Theater at David Geffen Hall will host these performances in January:
From January 2–4 and 7, Kevin John Edusei, in his New York Philharmonic debut, will conduct Samy Moussa’s Elysium, Berlioz’s song cycle Les Nuits d’été featuring mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, and Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra.
On Jan. 8, 9, and 11, Daniele Rustioni, also making his Philharmonic debut, will lead the Overture to Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s The Merchant of Venice, Dvořák’s Violin Concerto featuring soloist Joshua Bell, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
On Jan. 12 at 3:00 pm, as part of the New York Philharmonic Ensembles series at Merkin Hall, Philharmonic musicians will perform Haydn’s String Quartet in G major, Turina’s Piano Trio No. 2, Moszkowski’s Suite for Two Violins and Piano, and Britten’s String Quartet No. 1.
On Jan. 16, 18, and 19, Nathalie Stutzmann, a 2024–25 Artistic Partner, will conduct The Ring Without Words, Lorin Maazel’s orchestral arrangement of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
On Jan. 17 at 7:30 pm, the Bach: From Darkness to Light concert, presented by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, will take place at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. Conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann, the program includes Cantata BWV 56 (Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen) featuring baritone Leon Košavić (NY Phil debut) and singers from Voices of Harlem, directed by Malcolm J. Merriweather, as well as Cantata BWV 51 (Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen) with soprano Talise Trevigne (NY Phil debut). The evening will also feature Bach’s Sonata sopra il soggetto reale from Musical Offering, performed without a conductor.
From Jan. 23–25, pianist Yuja Wang will debut as the Philharmonic’s 2024–25 Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence. Her residency includes a Kravis Nightcap performance on Jan. 25 at 9:30 p.m., featuring choreographer and ballerina Tiler Peck alongside musicians from the Philharmonic. Additional details about her residency will be announced soon.
On Jan. 25 at 2:00 pm, David Robertson will present a program celebrating the centennial of Pierre Boulez, featuring works originally curated by the late NY Phil Music Director in 1974. This Sound On series concert includes J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Schubert’s Symphony No. 2, Webern’s Symphony Op. 21, Boulez’s Pli selon pli: Improvisations sur Mallarmé I and II with soprano Jana McIntyre (NY Phil debut), and Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du soldat Suite.
Finally, on Jan. 29, 30, and Feb. 1, and 2, Marek Janowski, another NY Phil debutant, will conduct Weber’s Oberon Overture, Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring Beatrice Rana, and Schumann’s Symphony No. 3 (Rhenish).
The nominations for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards have been announced and a host of New York artists are among the nominees. Today we take a look at the nominees hailing from across New York State.
One of the most prestigious music awards in the industry, The GRAMMY Awards are held annually to recognize the best of the best in music each year, both on stage and behind the scenes. Now in its 67th year, the Recording Academy has released its nominees ahead of this year’s presentation of awards on February 2, 2025.
To little surprise, several nominees on this year’s ballot hail from the state of New York. With some of the industry’s biggest names rooted in the state and rising stars cropping up each and every day, you can check out our list of this year’s GRAMMY nominees who call New York home below.
A$AP Rocky
Most recognized as A$AP Rocky, Rakin Mayers returns for his third GRAMMY nomination to date with Best Music Video for “Tailor Swif”. Born and raised in Harlem, Rocky’s career was launched within the hip hop collective ASAP Mob- hence his stage name- and has since skyrocketed into the limelight with a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTVU Woodie Award, and an MTV Video Music Award Japan, among several nominations.
The Baylor Project
Husband and wife and musical duo Marcus and Jean Baylor are nominated for Best Jazz Performance for their track as The Baylor Project “Walk With Me, Lord (SOUND | SPIRIT)”. Based in New Jersey, the two will add this nomination to their roster of seven previous nominations, including two for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Béla Fleck
Béla Fleck
With an astounding five nominations for this year’s awards added to his collection of eight wins thus far, banjo virtuoso and New York City native Béla Fleck has an impressive list of accolades and accomplishments under his belt already. Having won in an array of categories already, Fleck’s nominations for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards are Best Jazz Performance, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Arrangement.
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Nominated for the second year in a row for Best Orchestral Performance is the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra alongside conductor and fellow nominee JoAnn Falletta. Founded in 1935, the Orchestra has presented live symphonic music and other adjacent events to the folks of Buffalo and beyond for nearly a century now. With more than 120 classical, rock, pop, kids and youth concerts each year, this nomination marks another major recognition for the already GRAMMY Award-winning Philharmonic.
Cardi B
Born in Manhattan, Cardi B- or Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar- is up for Best Rap Performance with her track “Enough (Miami)”. Cardi was raised in the South Bronx but spent much of her time in her grandmother’s home in Washington Heights, the region she accredits her accent to. She also attended Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & Technology, a vocational high school on the Herbert H. Lehman High School campus.
Catherine Russell
Catherine Russell
Native New Yorker and graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts Catherine Russell is in the running for Best Jazz Vocal Album for My Ideal with Sean Mason. Born into musical royalty, Russell’s father Luis Russell was a lifelong pianist, composer, bandleader, and musical director for Louis Armstrong, and her mother Carline Ray performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver as a pioneering vocalist, guitarist, and bassist.
After graduation, Russell toured and recorded alongside the likes of Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, and more, with a total of over 200 appearances on various albums made thus far in her career.
Cory Henry
A jazz organist, pianist, gospel artist, producer, and musical prodigy, Cory Henry began his musical career at just two years old when he was introduced to the piano and the B3 organ. Performing an astonishing show at the Apollo Theater at just six years old, the Brooklyn-Born artist was first a member of the unit Snarky Puppy before launching into his solo career in 2018. Henry has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album for his collection Church.
Photo: Shervin Lainez
Daniel Nigro
Long Island local Daniel Nigro is nominated for Producer Of The Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media, and if you’re a fan of today’s pop princesses it’s likely you have Nigro to thank. With credits in Olivia Rodrigo’s “girl i’ve always been”, “so american”, “stranger”, and “Can’t Catch Me Now” as featured in the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes soundtrack, as well as the entirety of breakout star and fellow GRAMMY nominee Chappell Roan’s debut album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, Nigro’s impact on the past year’s most popular music cannot be understated.
Raised in Massapequa Park, Daniel took piano, guitar, and voice lessons in his youth and attended Fordham University for philosophy during his college years. Nigro has accrued a total of 16 GRAMMY nominations across his career thus far in addition to winning Best Pop Vocal Album with Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour in 2021.
Photo: Monhand Mathurin
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
Hailing from Brooklyn, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II is up for a Producer Of The Year for his work on tracks like Usher’s “I Love U” and “One Of Them Ones”, Lucky Daye’s Algorithm and “That’s You,” “Power of Two” from Star Wars: The Acolyte featuring the voice of VIctoria Monét, and song of the year nominee “Die With A Smile” with Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
Elaine Martone
Born in Rochester, raised in Long Island, and graduating from Ithaca College with a Bachelors in Music, Elaine Martone is a New Yorker through and through. With a background in the oboe, editing, and recording, Martone has been nominated for Producer Of The Year in the Classical category.
The Harlem Gospel Travelers
Formed with members hailing from throughout the five boroughs of New York City, The Harlem Gospel Travelers gathered originally as members of the Gospel For Teens music education program before launching their own collective rooted in their shared passion for gospel music. The group has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album for their album Rhapsody.
JoAnn Falletta
A decorated musician and conductor, JoAnn Falletta was raised in Queens and spent her college years at Mannes College of Music and Juilliard. Beginning her career as a guitar and mandolin student, Falletta began conducting the Mannes student orchestra in her freshman year despite administrative doubts concerning women in music directorship. JoAnn rose above and beyond these doubts, however, going on to Queens College for her Masters and Juilliard once again for her Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting.
JoAnn’s nominations for Best Orchestral Performance and Best Classical Compendium this year stem from her work as conductor for fellow nominee, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Joe Bonamassa
Blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa has been nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album with his release Blues Deluxe Vol. 2. Born in New Hartford and raised in Utica, Bonamassa began playing the guitar at just age four.
First influenced and taught by his father, Joe would go on to be mentored and trained by American guitar legend Danny Gatton at just 11 years old, and by age 12 he was touring around western New York with his band named Smokin’ Joe Bonamassa and even opened for the likes of B.B. King. Since then, Bonamassa has released a total of fifteen solo albums, with eleven charting number one on the Billboard Blues chart. This year’s GRAMMY nomination will be Joe’s fourth.
Photo: Danielle Neu
Kim Gordon
Rochester native Kim Gordon has earned nominations for both Best Alternative Music Performance and Best Alternative Music Album, for “BYE BYE” and The Collective respectively. Returning to New York after her college years to pursue the arts, Gordon discovered her love for no-wave music and the artistic freedom it offered.
Lady Gaga
Needing little introduction, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta- better known as Lady Gaga– is nominated for Song Of The Year for her collaboration with fellow pop superstar Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”. Born in Manhattan and raised on the Upper West Side, Gaga famously spent her college years at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, playing gigs with her band in the Lower East Side’s club scene as she honed her skill.
Once her solo career as the famed Lady Gaga began to take shape, she played iconic Manhattan venues such as Mercury Lounge, the Bitter End, and the Rockwood Music Hall, slowly developing a following- and the rest is history.
Lakecia Benjamin armed with her saxaphone. Courtesy of ropeadope.com
Lakecia Benjamin
Nominated for Best Jazz Performance and Best Jazz Instrumental Album is Lakecia Benjamin with Phoenix Reimagined (Live). Born and raised in New York City, Benjamin has been writing and performing music since grade school. After winning admission to the Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Lakecia attended the New School for its renowned jazz programming.
At The New School Benjamin studied with veterans of the genre including Billy Harper, Workman, Buster Williams, and Gary Bartz, who proved to be a key mentor in her studies and musical touch. Her deep roots in jazz and reputation for innovation landed her performance opportunities of all kinds, including a touring gig with Anita Baker.
Marc Anthony
The top selling salsa artist of all time, New York City native Marc Anthony has returned to the GRAMMY docket once more with a nomination in Best Tropical Latin Album for MUEVENSE. Raised in East Harlem, Anthony’s career is nothing short of admirable with over 12 million album sales recorded to date. This year’s nomination will sit on the shelf beside his eight Latin GRAMMY Awards, 29 Lo Nuestro Awards, and four GRAMMYs.
Madison Beer
Up for Best Dance Pop Recording is Madison Beer with “Make You Mine”. Born in Jericho, Beer saw a rise to fame after a cover she posted to YouTube was reposted by Justin Bieber. Debuting in 2013 with “Melodies”, Beer has since released two studio albums, the second Silence Between Songs earning her a nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album at the 66th GRAMMY Awards.
Marin Alsop
Marin Alsop is nominated for Best Orchestral Performance for her work with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and it’s little wonder why. As the first woman to win the Koussevitzky Prize for conducting, the first conductor to earn a MacArthur Fellowship, a musical director and chief conductor for several orchestras, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, Alsop has achieved quite a lot in her career thus far.
Born in New York City and raised on the Upper West Side, Alsop attended The Masters School and studied violin at Juilliard’s Pre-College Division, eventually graduating from the school with a Bachelor of Music and Master in violin. While studying, Alsop also played in the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet.
Norah Jones
Awarded singer-songwriter and Manhattan-born musician Norah Jones has been nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her release Visions. Music is practically in Jones’ blood, having been raised by her mother, the concert producer Sue Jones, and father, the Indian Bengali musician Ravi Shankar.
With nine GRAMMY wins already under her belt, over 50 million record sales recorded to date, and the title of Billboard’s top jazz artist of the 2000s decade, this nomination adds to her already impressive collection of accolades.
Pete Rock
Born in The Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, Pete Rock is nominated for Best Rap Performance alongside Common on their track “When The Sun Shines Again” featuring Posdnuos. Having grown up in an environment of live music, Rock was influenced by his father’s part-time DJ gig and extensive record collection, often accompanying him to watch his father perform. His passion was sparked at age seven after his parents bought him a Fisher-Price record player toy.
Post Malone performs onstage during the Global Citizen Festival.(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
Post Malone
Known professionally as Post Malone, Austin Richard Post is up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen and Best Country Album for F-1 Trillion. Born in Syracuse, Malone was heavily influenced by his father who had been a DJ in his youth, subsequently introducing his son to a myriad of genres including rock, country, and hip hop, all of which make appearances in his professional work.
This year’s nomination will add to his collection of other GRAMMY nominations in addition to a whopping ten Billboard Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and three American Music Awards.
Run DMC
The three-member hip hop group RUN DMC has been nominated for Best Music Film for their piece “Kings From Queens”. Fittingly titled, Run DMC hails from Hollis. Formed in 1983, the trio is recognized as one of the most influential hip hop acts in history for pioneering the new-school sound and ushering in what many consider to be the golden age of the genre.
Samara Joy
Rising jazz star SamaraJoy is nominated for Best Jazz Performance for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” with Sullivan Fortner and Best Jazz Vocal Album for A Joyful Holiday. A native of Castle Hill in the Bronx, Joy’s life has been entwined with music since the very beginning. Her grandparents led the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father Antonio McLendon has produced, composed, and arranged his own astounding original works.
Beginning her jazz journey during her studies at SUNY Purchase, Samara won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition which put her name on the map for those within the scene. Debuting in 2021 with a self-titled album, her career quickly took shape and her second release Linger Awhile garnered her first GRAMMY win with Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to the headline-making Best New Artist.
Shemekia Copeland
Born in Harlem, Shemekia Copeland is up for two nominations in Best American Roots Performance for “Blame It On Eve” and Best Contemporary Blues Album for her release of the same name. The daughter of blues guitarist and singer Johnny Copeland, Shemekia began singing at an early age and made her first public performance at just ten years old at the Cotton Club on 125th street. Copeland has released 12 albums and received eight Blues Music Awards to date.
Tony Trischka
Born in Syracuse and raised in a household that was almost overflowing with music, Tony Trischka has been nominated for Best Bluegrass Album with his release Earl Jam. Recognized as one of the most influential banjo players of today, Trishka is credited with the inspiration of a generation’s worth of progressive bluegrass artists.
