Liz Nowak Is Excited About Syracuse Music
Bright lights and shadows are equal and symbiotic in the music world. In the bright lights you see, hear and gain a sense of knowing the musicians. After-all, the whole name of the game is making yourself known in the never-ending sea of other musicians doing the same. 
Behind those bright lights are the shadows. The shadows are where the nitty gritty of all that goes into a show happens. There are stagehands, booking agents, promoters, poseurs, technical personnel, and a few people you’ve never seen before, loitering, chilling, whatever. Come. Follow me behind all this bright light as we head back to dimmer light where the movers and shakers are. Movers and shakers like Liz Nowak. You see, Liz is the head honcho behind the SAMMY’s – Syracuse’s very own awards show gala celebrating Syracuse music, which takes place again this year on March 5-6. While the musicians are on the stage and receiving their awards and making speeches, Liz will be low-profile, behind the curtain making sure those musicians get all the deserving bright light they’ve earned. I flick my bic at folks who do this, because I know how hard they work and the risk, involved. And the effort is all about celebrating others and their work. Without promoters creating events such as the SAMMYs, music scenes have less awareness. And like I said already, awareness is paramount for any performer in the biz. So, in the spirit of music, the people who make music and the people who bring awareness to it, it’s only fitting that – since the SAMMY’s are here – we talk to Liz about Syracuse music.
CS: Hello, Liz! Ready for this year’s SAMMYs?
CS: Yes we are! We’re very excited this year.
CS: As far as I can tell, you’re somewhat of a matriarch to Syracuse music. You’ve been involved for quite a while. How did that happen?
LN: I think it all started with a love for music. At about 12, I had a red plastic radio that I would keep under my pillow and listen to music, all night. All of my babysitting money was spent at Gerber music buying 45’s. And, just like any kid back in the day, I would wait for favorite songs to come on the radio and do my best to tape them!
I was a student at the University of Utah and like any college dorm, that was the place your music tastes would expand. Michael Jackson blaring in one room, Pink Floyd down the hall. I bought my first turntable and receiver. I left Utah to come back to CNY to be closer to family. Between transferring, I took some classes at OCC. It was there that I became the Entertainment Chairperson. What started as a place to hang out with free coffee turned into producing musical events for the school. My first concert was Marshall Crenshaw on campus. My boyfriend was in a local band and one thing led to another. I was buying talent, producing shows, and selling the band. I remember that we grossed $27,000 and had a 90% call back rate. Big time right!
After leaving school, I still maintained a great relationship with OCC. I produced two sell-outs with Robin Williams at the Civic Center. From there I partnered with Mark Gummer from National Audio to produce tons of shows. After a year working for the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Chuck Chao and I produced and promoted too many shows to count. After 1992 parenthood took center stage for me. Although I still volunteered to the Syracuse Area Music Awards under the leadership of founder, Frank Malfitano. 
CS: How would you characterize your role in the music biz, today?
LN: Today… Chief feather smoother at the SAMMYs.
CS: Tell us about how the SAMMYs work.
LN: We are a volunteer committee. Members include Debbie Foley who has been at it since the very first show in 1993; Ron Wray, Syracuse Music Historian; Mike Donohue, founder of the CNY Music Archives Facebook presence; Carol Thoryk O’Leary, who had worked sales in radio; and Julie Briggs, owner of Red Shoes Marketing. Each of us brings a unique skill set to the table.
At the SAMMYs, we organize the annual awards show, and Hall of Fame induction dinner. There are pages of names to consider each year. Narrowing it to five or six candidates a year is quite a challenge. As for the Awards show, we accept and facilitate the process for bands and artists to submit their recording. We transfer these recording submissions to a panel of judges headed up by Grammy nominated Andrew Russo. We accept the nods and and notify those nominated. The SAMMY is presented to the top in each category the night of the show. Only one person on our board has the winner information. It is a really exciting night.
We also run the People’s Choice contest. I must add that with out Joshua Johnson at our web helm, we would be lost! Josh told me that at our current Round Five of voting has generated 88,000 votes counted. Last year we had just over 75,000 at the end of the run. Tim Fox at Channel 9 provides the studio and airwaves to do a 7 week SAMMY Spotlight series leading up to the Awards Show. We are really thrilled to share some of Syracuse’s best talents leading up to the Awards show. I would also like to mention Dave Frisina, program director at 105.9 The Rebel. Dave’s love of Syracuse music supports the SAMMY’s in immeasurable ways.
CS: Dave is outright hungry for Syracuse music. What are the highlights for this year’s event?
LN: This year, our “class” of Hall of Fame inductions is off the charts regarding talent and accomplishments. This year, the Lifetime Achievement award will be presented Jon Fishman. Jon is the drummer for popular jam-band Phish. Hall of Fame awards will be presented to heavy weight Chris Goss, the legendary Bobby Comstock, the mega talented Loren Barrigar, and The Works (who will perform a reunion show the night of the Awards show. The Music Educator award will be presented to David Rezak. Dave reminded me that he does not teach music. I said, “I know, you teach the business of music.” A must have. Because, after all it is an industry. This years artist submissions were a highlight. Just under 100 individual recordings.
CS: Share a memorable SAMMY highlight?
LN: At the very first Sammy Awards show, we were criticized for having the show on a “gig” night. Musicians grumbled. At the second show, Penny Jo Pullis hoisted her award high over her head, showing pride in her accomplishments and acknowledgement. I was moved. I felt the turning point at that moment. Today, very few musicians do not attend. The Sammys night is a celebration of the talent and scene that we have here. Musicians connect, see each other, the vibe is electric! People jockey position for photos on the red carpet, drinks are poured, it is a party!
CS: Obviously, with your SAMMYs event you’re a big fan of the scene, here. Will you please elaborate on that?
LN:Syracuse seriously has the most diverse scene anywhere. Almost any genre of music can be found. We have cover bands, tribute bands, tribute shows, original music touring bands, singers, songwriters, entertainers, and so many masters of their instruments. The talent level here is truly higher than any other place I know.
CS: If you could change anything about the scene here, what would that be?
LN: The bickering about cover bands vs original music bands. Take a step back, there is room for all. The fans of live performance will decide who they like with where they go and the bands they enjoy. A great band will pack a venue. I am going to print T-shirts that say, “Every cover was somebody’s original.” It’s all good.
CS: As a successful woman in the business of music, what advice do you have to share for budding musicians and bands?
LN: Practice, practice, practice. Hone your craft. Enjoy what you do, it will show. Play your best show even if there are three people in the venue that night. They will tell three more and so on. Reward the people that do show up to check you out with your best show.
CS: Aside from local music, what kind of music do you listen to?
LN: Amos Lee, Grace Potter, Hozier, Talking Heads, Little Feat, Grateful Dead, The SubDudes, Beatles, Faith Hill, Zac Brown Band, national/local favorite Martin Sexton, Annie Lennox, The Civil Wars vinyl is on my college turntable as I write this, The B52’s…
CS: Cool. Well, congratulations on another year of the SAMMYs. I expect it will be marvelous as it always is. How do we find out more about it?
CS: Wonderful! Thanks for what you do, and for sharing it with us. See you at the show!
LN: Thank you, Chuck.
Chuck Schiele is an award-winning musician, songwriter, producer, promoter, editorialist, activist who plays in SaltCityChill. To be considered for this column please contact Chuck.Schiele@gmail.com.
