RIP Eli Harris Jr.

Statement From SAMMYS

Elijah Harris Jr. was celebrated at the 2019 SAMMY Awards as the recipient of the Founders Award. We found out today that he passed as the result of a hit and run. May he find peace and eternal music. He will forever be missed by the Syracuse music scene.

Elijah Harris Jr -aka “Eli”: He’s been a huge part of the local music scene for decades, and instantly
recognizable to an entire City as its most beloved street musician, but the term ‘street musician’ really
doesn’t seem to do justice to who and what Eli really is. He’s never fit neatly into any one category
because who and what he is simply defies categorization, so the SAMMYS Founder’s Award seems like
an Award that fits.
Awarded sporadically on 3 previous occasions to 2 newspaper music editors and longtime champions of
Syracuse music, a veteran television producer who has archived and aired many of our greatest musical
achievements, and to the most successful vocal group in the city’s history, it’s kind of an eclectic Award
that isn’t easily defined, hence an award that appears to be the perfect fit for Eli.
To some, Eli’s a troubadour – part musical vagabond and part free wandering minstrel. To others, he’s an
instrumentalist, vocalist, dancer, singer and all around entertainer. A hardworking busker, guitarist,
improviser, and composer, he’s also a former Marine, family man, recording artist and humanitarian. But
above all….he’s a crowd pleaser and an Artist and a Poet who gives us everything he has every time out.
It’s almost as if no one’s told him that the city streets he performs on aren’t really the main stage at
Carnegie Hall. No matter the weather, he’s always there for us. And whether his guitar case goes empty
or filled, he fills our hearts nightly, asking nothing in return.
We owe him much, and hopefully this year’s recognition from the Sammys will help repay a debt we
can never possibly repay. (Frank Malfitano, 2019)

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