♫Grammy Awards - From then 'til Now♫

GRAMMY Awards 2016: Get Ready for Showdowns and Tributes TONIGHT! 

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

Most people are familiar with the GRAMMY Awards, which are presented annually in recognition of outstanding achievement in the music industry. The first GRAMMY Awards black-tie ceremony was held on May 4, 1959 to honor the musical accomplishments by performers for the year 1958. At that time, two events took place...a black-tie dinner plus awards ceremony on the East Coast in Los Angeles and a gathering of new Academy members on the West Coast in New York City. This GRAMMY night and many more to come were celebrated in hotel ballrooms on both coasts. As well organized as the events could possibly be, surprises were inevitable. That trait continues to this day.

A TRADITION IS BORN

1958 A grand tradition began in 1958 with only 28 awards being presented on this first GRAMMY night—the least ever—with the first winners demonstrating the diversity that would come to mark future GRAMMY Awards. 

While Frank Sinatra led all nominees with a total of six nominations, he would not walk away as the night's biggest winner. 

The very first Record of the Year and Song of the Year Awards both went to “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)” by Domenico Modugno, 

while Album of the Year went to The Music from Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini.

For a quick comparison and glance back in time to a few past awards, listen to the music of different eras that captured a GRAMMY. There are simply too many different awards but hopefully a 'taste' of the past will help you decide which music you like best...then or now!

1965 - Record of the Year, Best Instrumental Performance (Non-Jazz), Best Instrumental Arrangement

*****

Herb Alpert for "A Taste of Honey"

1975 - Best Instrumental Arrangement
*****

Mike Post & Pete Carpenter, Arrangers for The Rockford Files

2000 - Best Rock Instrumental Performance
*****

Metallica for "The Call of Ktulu"

2015 - Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
*****

Daft Punk for PTX, Vol. 2



1965 - Song of the Year
*****

   Johnny Mandel & Paul Francis Webster for "The Shadow of Your Smile"

1975 - Record of the Year & Female Top Vocal
*****

 Olivia Newton-John for "I Honestly Love You"

 2000 - Song of the year & Record of the year

*****

U2 for "Beautiful Day"

2015 - Song of the Year & Record of the Year
*****

Sam Smith for "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)"

1965 - Best Vocal Performance, Male
*****
 

Frank Sinatra for "It Was a Very Good Year"


1975 - Male Top Vocal
*****

Paul McCartney for "Band on the Run"

2000 - Best Male Vocal
*****

Sting for "She Walks This Earth"

2015 - Best Rap Performance (No Best Male Top Vocal)
*****

Kendrick Lamar for "I"

1965 - Album of the Year
*****

Frank Sinatra for September of My Years

1975 - Album of the Year
*****

Stevie Wonder for Fulfillingness' First Finale

2000 - Album of the Year
*****

Steely Dan for Two Against Nature

2015 - Album of the Year
*****

Beck for Morning Phase

1965 - Song of the Year
*****

 

Herb Alpert for a "Taste of Honey"
 

1975 - Song of the Year
*****

Barbra Streisand: "The Way We Were"

 2000 - Best Female Top Vocal Performance
*****

Macy Gray for "I Try"

2015 - Best Pop Solo Performance
*****

Pharrell Williams for "Happy"

Enjoy the memories! Which style music do you prefer - then or now?

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...