1964 Grammy Award Winners

Winners Announced: May 12, 1964
Held at: Chicago, Los Angeles and New York
Host: Dean Martin
Eligibility Year: December 1, 1962 – November 30, 1963

Musical Highlights and Achievements

• Barbra’s Big Night: Barbra Streisand dazzled the Grammys with her debut album, taking home two awards, including Album of the Year for The Barbra Streisand Album.
• “Days of Wine and Roses” Domination: Henry Mancini’s Days of Wine and Roses won the Song of the Year award and became an instant classic.
• Jazz Takes the Stage: Jazz great Stan Getz and João Gilberto’s bossa nova record Getz/Gilberto was a critical success, winning the Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
• Legendary Ladies: Streisand and Ella Fitzgerald were among the women who shone that night, highlighting the influence of female artists in a largely male-dominated industry.

Trivia

• Frank Sinatra’s Absence: Despite his influence and the release of The Concert Sinatra, the legend was notably absent from the winners’ list.
• British Invasion Lags Behind: Even though The Beatles had ignited a global frenzy, their work didn’t capture Grammy gold until later years.
• Dean Martin, the Rat Pack Charmer: The host, known for his smooth voice and comedic timing, was a key member of the legendary Rat Pack, enhancing the evening’s glamorous vibe.
• Streisand’s Swift Rise: At just 21, Barbra Streisand became one of the youngest Album of the Year winners at the time.
• Take our 1964 Quiz!

1964 Grammy Winners

1963 Grammy Award Winners

Winners Announced: May 15, 1963
Televised: December 8, 1963
Held at: Chicago, Los Angeles and New York
Host: Frank Sinatra
Eligibility Year: December 1, 1961 – November 30, 1962

Musical Highlights and Achievements

• Vaughn Meader Stuns: A relatively unknown comic, Vaughn Meader took home the Album of the Year for The First Family, a comedy album parodying President Kennedy.
• Tony Bennett’s Big Night: Tony Bennett won Record of the Year for I Left My Heart in San Francisco, which became one of his signature songs.
• Pioneering Female Award: The first Best Female Pop Vocal Performance went to Ella Fitzgerald for Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson.
• Classical Milestone: Leonard Bernstein won multiple awards for his conducting, solidifying his place in classical music history.

Trivia

• Sinatra Double-Duty: Sinatra hosted both the Grammys and the Oscars in 1963, proving his versatility as an entertainer.
• Posthumous Honors: Country legend Patsy Cline, who had passed away earlier that year, was nominated posthumously.
• Mancini’s Continual Success: Henry Mancini, fresh off an Oscar win for “Moon River,” won a Grammy for Hatari!.
• Televised Delay: Although winners were announced in May, the ceremony wasn’t televised until December as “Best on Record.”
• Take our 1963 Quiz!

1962 Grammy Award Winners

Winners Announced: May 29, 1962
Held at: Chicago, Los Angeles and New York
Host: Frank Sinatra
Eligibility Year: December 1, 1960 – November 30, 1961

Music Highlights and Achievements

• Sinatra’s Hosting Charm: The Rat Pack’s very own Frank Sinatra took on the hosting duties, adding a layer of elegance and swagger to the ceremony.
• Henry Mancini’s Night: Composer Henry Mancini dominated with his Breakfast at Tiffany’s soundtrack, including the iconic song “Moon River.”
• Judy Garland’s Comeback: Judy Garland won Album of the Year for her live recording Judy at Carnegie Hall, marking a powerful comeback in her career.
• Ernest Gold’s Exodus: The song “Exodus” by Ernest Gold from the movie of the same name grabbed Song of the Year, showing that film music could also steal the Grammy spotlight.

Trivia

• Multiple City Hosting: This was one of the early Grammy ceremonies to be held in multiple cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
• Peter Nero’s Break: Pianist Peter Nero won Best New Artist, a huge boost to his budding career.
• Mancini’s Run: Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” also won at the Oscars, a rare feat of capturing both film and music industry accolades.
• Sinatra’s Debut: This was Frank Sinatra’s first time hosting the Grammys, making the event particularly special for Ol’ Blue Eyes fans.
• Take our 1962 Quiz!

1962 Grammy Winners

1961 Grammy Award Winners

Winners Announced: April 12, 1961
Held in: Los Angeles and New York
Host/Emcee: Mort Sahl
Eligibility Year: September 1, 1959 – November 30, 1960

Highlights and Achievements

• Ray Charles Makes Waves: The man behind hits like What’d I Say won two awards, including Best Vocal Performance Single Record or Track, Male for Georgia On My Mind.
• First Female Winner in Country: The groundbreaking artist Marty Robbins won the Grammy for Best Country & Western Performance for El Paso. Did you know it was also the first year a woman won in a country category? The Carter Sisters won for their song He Will Set Your Fields on Fire.

Little-Known Trivia

• First Grammy Telecast: This 1961 event was the first-ever Grammy Awards to be telecast. A closed-circuit television feed linked the Los Angeles and New York ceremonies.
• Take our 1961 Quiz!

1960 Grammy Award Winners

Winners Announced: November 29, 1959
Held in: Los Angeles and New York
Host: Meredith Wilson
Eligibility Year: January 1, 1959 – August 31, 1959

Highlights and Achievements:

• Bobby Darin’s Triumph: Darin’s “Mack the Knife” didn’t just win Record of the Year and Best Vocal Performance, Male; it became an iconic song that transcended the Grammy stage.
• Henry Mancini’s Swag: Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn” was an album based on the TV show of the same name. Winning Album of the Year, it elevated Mancini to a household name in the world of music composition.
• First for Bossa Nova: The Best Jazz Performance, Solo or Small Group category was claimed by “I Get a Kick Out of You” by the Coleman Hawkins Quartet. It was an early introduction of Bossa Nova elements into the American mainstream.

Trivia:

• Shorter Eligibility Window: Unlike the previous year, the eligibility period for this event was truncated to just eight months, making the competition even steeper for that year’s hopefuls.
• Bi-Coastal Ceremony: This was one of the years where the ceremony was held in both Los Angeles and New York, showcasing the importance of both cities in the American music scene.
• Meredith Wilson as Host: Known for composing “The Music Man,” Wilson was an intriguing choice for hosting duties, especially considering he wasn’t a recording artist in the traditional sense.

1959 Grammy Award Winners

• Winners Announced: May 4, 1959
• Venues: Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles & New York
• Host/Emcee: Mort Sahl
• Eligibility Year: January 1, 1958 – December 31, 1958

Major Wins:

• Henry Mancini picked up Album of the Year for “The Music from Peter Gunn.”
• Domenico Modugno’s “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)” won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
• Ella Fitzgerald became the Best Female Pop Vocalist for her album “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book.”

Additional Info:

• Count Basie won Best Jazz Performance, Group for “Basie.”
• The Champs got Best Rhythm & Blues Performance for “Tequila.”

Trivia:

• This was the first-ever Grammy Awards ceremony.
• Mort Sahl, known primarily for his satirical comedy, was the first emcee of the Grammy Awards.
• Henry Mancini’s Album of the Year win was significant because it was a television soundtrack, a unique event at the time.