1981 Grammy Awards Database

Submit Awards Info

1981 Grammy Awards

More Grammy Award Shows

Grammy

About The Show

This is truly the grand-daddy of all awards shows. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences recognizes outstanding musical achievements. The Grammys always prove to be a night of spectacle and performance that truly can't be missed.

Host: Paul Simon
Date: February 24, 1981
City: New York City

This Year's Performers

The Nominees

Album Of The Year

Best Album Notes

Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or Television Special

  • Winner: John Williams The Empire Strikes Back
  • Stevie Wonder, Michael Sembello, Stephanie Andrews, Yvonne Wright Stevie Wonder's Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
  • Paul Simon One Trick Pony
  • Michael Gore, Anthony Evans, Paul McCrane, Dean Pitchford, Lesley Gore, Robert F. Colesberry Fame
  • J.D. Souther, Boz Scaggs, David Foster, Jerry Foster, Bill Rice, Brian Collins, Robby Campbell, Joe Walsh, Bob Morrison, Johnny Wilson, Dan Fogelberg, Bob Seger, Wayland Holyfield, Bob House, Wanda Mallette, Patti Ryan Urban Cowboy

Best Album Package

Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

Best Arrangement For Voices

Best Cast Show Album

  • songs by 27 songwriters performed by blacks in vaudeville One Mo' Time

Best Chamber Music Performance - Instrumental Or Vocal

  • Winner:
    Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman     Music for 2 Violins (Moszkowski: Suite for 2 Violins; Shostakovich: Duets; Prokofiev: Sonata for 2 V
  • Juilliard Quartet Schubert: Quartet No. 15 in G Major, Op. 161
  • Daniel Barenboim, Luben Yordanoff, Albert Tetard, Claude Desurmont Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time
  • Pinchas Zukerman, Marc Neikrug Debussy: Sonata No. 3 in G Minor for Violin and Piano; Faure: Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano
  • Cleveland Quartet Beethoven: Early Quartets, Op. 18

Best Classical Album

  • Winner:
    Pierre Boulez conducting the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris (solos: Teresa Stratas, Yvonne Minton, Franz Mazura, Toni Blankenheim)     Berg: Lulu (Complete)
  • Zubin Mehta conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic (solo: Pinchas Zukerman) Bartok: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
  • Seiji Ozawa conducting the Boston Symphony (solo: Itzhak Perlman) Berg: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; Stravinsky: Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra
  • Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major
  • Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the Buffalo Philharmonic Ruggles: Complete Music

Best Classical Orchestral Recording

  • Winner:
    Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony     Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A Major
  • Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic Respighi: Feste Romane; Fountains of Rome
  • Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the Buffalo Philharmonic Ruggles: Complete Music
  • Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Beethoven: Symphonies (9)
  • Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

Best Classical Performance - Choral

  • Winner:
    Norbet Balatsch, chorus master; Carlo Maria Giulini conducting the Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra     Mozart: Requiem
  • John Oliver, chorus master, Tanglewood Festival Chorus; Seiji Ozawa conducting the Boston Symphony Schoenberg: Gurrelieder
  • Claudio Abbado conducting the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
  • Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Orchestra Boito: Prologue to Mefistofele
  • Thomas Hilbish conducting the University of Michigan Chamber Choir and Chamber Ensemble Menotti: The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore

Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist(s) With Orchestra

  • Winner:
    Itzhak Perlman, Mstislav Rostropovich (Bernard Haitink conducting the Cocertgebouw Orchestra)     Brahms: Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Cello (Double Concerto)
  • Winner:
    Itzhak Perlman (Seiji Ozawa conducting the Boston Symphony)     Berg: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; Stravinsky: Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra
  • Gerard Schwarz (Gerard Schwarz conducting the Y Chamber Symphony of New York) The Classic Trumpet Concertos of Haydn and Hummel
  • James Galway (I Solisti di Zagreb) Telemann: Concertos in G and C for Flute; Suite in A Minor
  • Pinchas Zukerman (Zubin Mehta conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic) Bartok: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
  • Maurice Andre (Maurice Andre conducting the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra) Bach for Trumpet

Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist(s) Without Orchestra

Best Classical Performance - Vocal Soloist

  • Winner:
    Leontyne Price (Henry Lewis conducting the Philharmonic Orchestra)     Prima Donna, Vol. 5, Great Soprano Arias from Handel to Britten
  • Kiri Te Kanawa (Andrew Davis conducting the London Symphony) R. Strauss: 4 Last Songs and Orchestral Songs
  • Elly Ameling (Jorg Demus, accompanist) Mozart: Songs
  • Frederica von Stade (Andrew Davis conducting the London Symphony) Mahler: Songs of a Wayfarer and Ruckert Songs
  • Judith Blegen (Pierre Boulez, conducting the New York Philharmonic) Berg: Lulu Suite
  • Jessye Norman (Pierre Boulez conducting the New York Philharmonic) Berg: Der Wein, Concert Aria

Best Comedy Recording

Best Country & Western Instrumental Performance

Best Country & Western Performance - Duo Or Group With Vocal

Best Country & Western Song

  • Winner: Willie Nelson On The Road Again
  • Roger Cook, Sam Hogin I Believe In You
  • Eddie Rabbitt, Even Stevens, David Malloy Drivin' My Life Away
  • Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman He Stopped Loving Her Today
  • Bob Morrison, Wanda Mallette, Patti Ryan Lookin' for Love

Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female

Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Male

Best Engineered Recording

Best Engineered Recording - Classical

  • Winner:
    Pierre Boulez conducting the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris; solos: Teresa Stratas, Yvonne Minton, Franz Mazura, Toni Blankenheim     Berg: Lulu (Complete)
  • Itzhak Perlman, Mstislav Rostropovich; Bernard Haitink conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra Brahms: Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Cello (Double Concerto)
  • Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
  • Pinchas Zukerman; Zubin Mehta conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic Bartok: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
  • Gerard Schwarz condcuting the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Bach: The 6 Brandenburg Concertos
  • Laurindo Almeida; Elmer Ramsey conducting the Los Angeles Orchestra de Camera Almeida: First Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra

Best Ethnic Or Traditional Recording

  • Winner:
    Isaiah Ross, Maxwell Street Jimmy, Big Joe Williams, Son House, Robert Wilkins, Little Brother Montgomery, Sunnyland Slim, Takoma     Rare Blues
  • Queen Ida Queen Ida & the Bon Temps Zydeco Band in New Orleans
  • Eddie Cleanhead Vinson Kidney Stew is Fine
  • The Chieftains Boil the Breakfast Early (#9)
  • Blind Willie McTell, Curley Weaver, Buddy Moss, John Edward Memorial Foundation Atlanta Blues: 1933

Best Gospel Performance - Contemporary Or Inspirational

Best Gospel Performance - Traditional

  • Winner:
    Blackwood Brothers     We Come to Worship
  • Jimmy Swaggart Worship
  • Lanny Wolfe Trio Make a Joyful Noise...
  • Kenneth Copeland In His Presence
  • Rambos Crossin' Over

Best Inspirational Performance

Best Instrumental Arrangement

Best Instrumental Composition

Best Jazz Fusion Performance - Vocal Or Instrumental

Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band

  • Winner:
    Count Basie & His Orchestra     On the Road
  • Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass Present Perfect
  • Bob Florence Big Band Live at Concerts by the Sea
  • Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band Farewell
  • Louis Bellson Big Band Dynamite!
  • Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra Bob Brookmeyer, Composer/Arranger

Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Group

Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female

Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Male

Best Latin Recording

Best Opera Recording

  • Winner:
    Pierre Boulez conducting the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris (solos: Teresa Stratas, Yvonne Minton, Franz Mazura, Toni Blankenheim)     Berg: Lulu (Complete)
  • Julius Rudel conducting the New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Joel Grey, William Neill, Elizabeth Hynes, Jack Harrold, Elaine Bonazzi) Weill: Silverlake
  • James Levine conducting the National Philharmonic, Ambrosian Chorus (solos: Renata Scotto, Alfredo Kraus, Carol Neblett, Sherrill Milnes) Puccini: La Boheme
  • Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic (solos: Frederica von Stade, Richard Stilwell) Debussy: Pelleas et Melisande
  • Georg Solti conducting the London Philharmonic (solos: Sylvia Sass, Kolos Kovats) Bartok: Bluebeard's Castle

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Best Recording For Children

  • Winner:
    Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Muppets, Al Jarreau, Linda Ronstadt, Wendy Waldman, Libby Titus & Dr. John Livingston Taylor, George Benson & Pauline Wilson, Lucy Simon, Kate Taylo     In Harmony/A Sesame Street Record
  • Sesame Street Muppets and cast Love
  • Sesame Street Muppets and cast Big Bird's Birdtime Stories
  • Sesame Street Muppets and cast Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
  • Sesame Street Muppets The People in Your Neighborhood

Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance

Best Rhythm & Blues Song

  • Winner:
    Reggie Lucas, James Mtume     Never Knew Love Like This Before
  • Rod Temperton Give Me the Night
  • Leo Graham, Paul Richmond Shinging Star
  • Lee Garrett, Stevie Wonder Let's Get Serious
  • Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers Upside Down

Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo Or Group

Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Female

Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Male

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

Best Soul Gospel Performance - Contemporary

  • Winner: Shirley Caesar Rejoice
  • Dynamic Disciples You Don't Know What God Has Done for Me
  • Tramaine Hawkins Tramaine
  • Kristle Murder I Can't Let Go
  • Rance Allen Group I Feel Like Going On

Best Soul Gospel Performance - Traditional

  • Winner:
    James Cleveland & the Charles Fold Singers     Lord, Let Me Be an Instrument
  • Albertina Walker with James Cleveland Please Be Patient with Me
  • O'Neal Twins He Chose Me
  • Dorothy Norwood God Can
  • Gospel Keynotes Ain't No Stopping Us Now
  • James Cleveland & the Voices of Cornerstone A Praying Spirit

Best Spoken Word, Documentary Or Drama Recording

  • Winner:
    Pat Carroll     Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein
  • Peter Ustinov A Curb in the Sky (James Thurber)
  • Orson Welles Obediently Yours/Orson Welles
  • original cast with narration Adventures of Luke Skywalker: The Empire Strikes Back
  • Mahalia Jackson I Sing Because I'm Happy, Vols. 1 and 2

Classical Producer Of The Year

  • Winner:
    Robert Woods
  • Andrew Kazdin
  • Paul Myers
  • Steven Epstein
  • John McClure

Hall Of Fame

  • Winner: Judy Garland Over The Rainbow
  • Winner:
    Duke Ellington & His Orchestra     Black and Tan Fantasy
  • Winner:
    Budapest String Quartet     Beethoven: Quartets for Strings
  • Winner:
    Bruno Walter conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra with Kathleen Ferrier & Julius Patzak     Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
  • Winner:
    Bert Williams     Nobody

New Artist

Pop Female Vocalist

Pop Male Vocalist

Pop Vocal Group

Producer Of The Year

Record Of The Year

Rock Female Vocalist

Rock Male Vocalist

Rock Vocal Group

Song Of The Year

Trustees Award

Mobile Sitehide
Hey, we have a new extension for Chrome: Lyrics for Youtube! More info...