Glammy Sammys

Women attending the annual Syracuse Area Music Awards (Sammys) at the OnCenter Ballroom on Friday, Nov. 11, have been called to action—to look fabulous.

Local singer, songwriter, guitarist, Joanne Perry was happy to hear the Sammy Awards were back indoors for the second year in a row after several ceremonies held outdoors at the earlysummer festival Taste of Syracuse. By keeping the ceremony indoors, rather than gambling with Mother Nature’s mood, Perry took the opportunity to give the ladies of the Sammys something to look forward to.

“I don’t have many opportunities to get dressed up unless it’s for a gig or a wedding,” Perry said. She sometimes dolls up for shows with her band, The Unstoppables, occasionally even in a getup as far out as Star Trek uniforms. “I had the idea, talked to Kathy Kellish {of Kellish Hill Farm} about it, as we both have gowns and costume jewelry, and posted it to Facebook.”

The response has been positive as Sammys ladies have come to agree: What a better event to strut their glamorous stuff? “I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to have a red carpet event and in the future, to get local stores to sponsor or have a contest to recycle the outfits?” Perry added. “If we could get everyone sponsored it could be a way to have fun and turn it into something that could raise money for the music community.”

Perry is hopeful that Sammys women will rise to the occasion and come out in full fabulous effect. Roll out the red carpet!

—Jessica Novak