Grammy Awards Trivia

The 62nd Grammy Nominations were announced today. For the recording industry’s biggest award ceremony, we’re sharing the history-making moments starting in 1959 where it all began. You can find a full list of Grammy Award nominations here.

1959

The Beginning

The first annual Grammy Awards were on May 4, 1959, which were held at two locations—Beverly Hills Hotel in LA and the Park Sheraton Hotel in NYC. The big winners that night were Ella Fitzgerald and Ross Bagdasarian, professionally known as David Seville and credited for creating the cartoon band, Alvin and the Chipmunks. Back then only 28 categories were recognized. Today there are 84 categories.

Album of the Year:
Henry Mancini, The Music From Peter Gunn

1969

Best on Record

Throughout the ’60s, the show filmed annual specials called “The Best on Record.” The last Best on Record series aired on NBC in 1969 before the first live telecast aired on ABC in 1971. That year Joni Mitchell won a Grammy for Best Folk Performance for Clouds.

Album of the Year:
Blood, Sweat & Tears for Blood, Sweat & Tears

1979

You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

Kenny Rogers hosted the 22nd Grammys. Michael Jackson won his first Grammy for Best R&B Performance, Male, for Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough. Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand sang You Don’t Bring Me Flowers for the first time together on stage. The song later became an unlikely smash hit.

Album of the Year:
Billy Joel for 52nd Street

1989

The Year of Firsts

Singer Bonnie Raitt won her first-ever Grammy award this year. By the end of the night, Raitt racked up a total of four Grammy wins. The 32nd annual awards show featured the first-ever televised rap award, which had been introduced a year prior. The award for Best Rap Performance went to Young MC for Bust A Move.

Album of the Year:
Bonnie Raitt for Nick of Time

1999

21st Century Grammys

This was the year of Carlos Santana as well as JLo’s now-infamous green Versace gown. Santana won eight awards that night including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Album of the Year:
Carlos Santana for Supernatural

2009

The Big Six

Beyoncé became the first female artist to take home six Grammy awards in one night. The Beyhive has been going strong ever since.

Album of the Year:
Taylor Swift for Fearless

2019

Tell us your Grammy predictions, which air January 26, 2020.

A Few Fun Facts:

Snoop Dogg and Brian McKnight have been nominated 16 times for Grammys but have never won.

Quincy Jones has the most nominations (79 total)

Three U.S. Presidents have won Grammy Awards…Can you guess who?

Featured photo via The Recording Academy.