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: Kenny Rogers
Date: February 24, 1986
City: Los Angeles

The Nominees

Best Album Notes

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

  • Winner:
    Sharon Robinson, John Gilutin, Bunny Hull, Hawk, Howard Hewett, Micki Free, Keith Forsey, Harold Faltermeyer, Allee Willis, Dan Sembello, Marc Benno, Richard Theisen
    Beverly Hills Cop
  • Maurice Jarre A Passage to India
  • Maurice Jarre Witness
  • John Colla, Chris Hayes, Huey Lewis, Lindsey Buckingham, Alan Silvestri, Eric Clapton, Sean Hopper Back to the Future
  • David Foster, John Parr, Billy Squire, John & Dino Elefante, Jon Anderson, Fee Waybill, Steve Lukather, Richard Marx, Jay Graydon, Stephen A. Kipner, Peter Beckett, Cynthia Weil St. Elmo's Fire

Best Album Package

Best Arrangement On An Instrumental

  • Winner:
    Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour
    Early A.M. Attitude
  • George Russell & the Living Time Orchestra The African Game
  • Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Gemignani Suite of Dances from 'Pacific Overtures'
  • Mannheim Steamroller Stille Nacht (Silent Night)
  • Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band March of the Tadpoles

Best Cast Show Album

  • Winner:
    Stephen Sondheim, lyricist; Leonard Bernstein, composer and conductor
    West Side Story
  • Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector, George Shadow Morton, songwriters Greatest Hits from Leader of the Pack

Best Chamber Music Performance

  • Winner:
    Emanuel Ax, Yo-Yo Ma
    Brahms: Cello and Piano Sonatas in E Major and F Major
  • Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zukerman, Jacqueline Du Pre Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A Minor
  • Andre Previn, Vienna Wind Soloists Mozart: Piano and Wind Quintet in E Flat; Beethoven: Piano and Wind Quintet in E Flat
  • Itzhak Perlman, Samuel Sanders Dvorak: Sonatina in G and 4 Romantic Pieces; Smetana: From My Homeland
  • Itzhak Perlman, Jorge Bolet, Juilliard String Quartet Chausson: Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet, Op. 21

Best Choral Performance

  • Winner:
    Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Orchestra (solo: John Aler)
    Berlioz: Requiem
  • Herbert von Karajan conducting the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Chor der Nationaloper Sofia, Wiener Philharmonic (solos: Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, Jose Carreras, Jose van Dam) Verdi: Requiem
  • Daniel Barenboim conducting the Choeurs et Orchestre de Paris (solos: Ann Murray, Kathleen Battle, David Rendall, Matti Salminen) Mozart: Requiem
  • Lorin Maazel conducting the English Chamber Orchestra and Winchester Cathedral Choir (solos: Placido Domingo, Sarah Brightman, Paul Miles-Kingston) Lloyd Webber: Requiem
  • Ton Koopman conducting the Choeur The Sixteen and Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (solos: James Bowman, Paul Elliott, Gregory Reinhart) Handel: Messiah

Best Classical Album

  • Winner:
    Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (solo: John Aler)
    Berlioz: Requiem
  • Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (solo: Elly Ameling) Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Ete; Faure: Pelleas et Melisande
  • Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Kaaren Erickson, Sylvia McNair, Alfreda Hodgson, Jon Humphrey, Richard Stilwell) Handel: Messiah
  • Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue; Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano; Prelude for Piano; Short Story; Violin Piece; For Lily Pons; Sleepless Night; Promenade
  • Louis Lane conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Respighi: Pines of Rome; The Birds; Fountains of Rome
  • Claudio Abbado conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphony No. 7 in E Minor
  • James Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor
  • Leonard Slatkin conducting the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Prokofiev: Cinderella (Suite)
  • Itzhak Perlman, Daniel Barenboim Mozart: Violin and Piano Sonatas K. 296, 305, 306

Best Classical Orchestral Recording

  • Winner:
    Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
    Faure: Pelleas et Melisande
  • Louis Lane conducting the Atlanta Symphony Respighi: Pines of Rome; The Birds; Fountains of Rome
  • Leonard Slatkin conducting the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Prokofiev: Cinderella (Suite)
  • James Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor
  • James Conlon conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Liszt: A Faust Symphony

Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist(s) With Orchestra

  • Winner:
    Yo-Yo Ma (Previn conducting the London Symphony Orchestra)
    Elgar: Cello Concerto, Op. 85; Walton: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
  • Andras Schiff (Dorati conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra) Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor; Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor
  • Itzhak Perlman (Mehta conducting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra) Khachaturian: Violin Concerto in D Minor
  • Michael Tilson Thomas (Thomas conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic) Gershwin: Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano
  • Andre Previn (Previn conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra) Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
  • James Galway (Chung conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) James Galway Plays Khachaturian (Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, Spartacus, Masquerade and Gayaneh

Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist(s) Without Orchestra

  • Winner:
    Vladimir Ashkenazy
    Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit, Pavane pour une Infante Defunte, Valses Nobles et Sentimentales
  • Julian Bream Guitarra: The Guitar in Spain (Mudarra, Guera, Boccherini, Sor, Tarrega, Albeniz, Falla, Turina, etc
  • Michael Tilson Thomas Gershwin: Preludes for Piano: Short Story; Violin Piece; For Lily Pons; Sleepless Night; Promenade
  • Francois-Rene Duchable Chopin: Piano Sonatas No. 2 in B Flat Minor and No. 3 in B Minor
  • Claudio Arrau Chopin: 4 Scherzos; Polonaise; Fantaisie, Op. 61

Best Classical Performance - Vocal Soloist

  • Winner:
    John Aler (Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus)
    Berlioz: Requiem
  • Placido Domingo, Pilar Lorengar (Navarro conducting the ORF Symphonie Orchestra) Zarzuela Arias and Duets (Arias Only)
  • Marilyn Horne (Foster conducting the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo) Marilyn Horne Sings (Offenbach, Cherubini, Saint-Saens, etc.)
  • Kiri Te Kanawa (Tate conducting the English Chamber Orchestra) Canteloube: Chants 'Auvergne, Vol. 2; Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
  • Elly Ameling (Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) Belioz: Les Nuits d'Ete
  • Frederica von Stade (Ozawa conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra) Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Ete; Debussy: La Damoiselle Elue

Best Comedy Recording

Best Contemporary Composition

Best Country & Western Song

  • Winner:
    Jimmy L. Webb
    Highwayman
  • Mike Reid, Troy Seals, Fred Parris Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)
  • Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me
  • Kent M. Robbins Love Is Alive
  • Bob McDill Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On
  • Guy Clark Desperados Waiting for a Train
  • Dave Loggins, Lisa Silver, Don Schlitz Forty Hour Week (For a Livin')

Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Duo Or Group

Best Country Instrumental Performance

  • Winner:
    Cosmic Square Dance
    Chet Atkins, Mark Knopfler
  • Windy and Warm Doc & Merle Watson
  • Vasser Clements, John Hartford, Dave Holland Vassar Clements, John Hartford, Dave Holland
  • Lasso the Moon Charlie McCoy
  • Folsom Prison Blues Earl Scruggs

Best Engineered Recording

Best Engineered Recording - Classical

  • Winner:
    Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; solo: John Aler
    Berlioz: Requiem
  • Lane conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Respighi: Pines of Rome; The Birds; Fountains of Rome
  • Slatkin conducting the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete)
  • Slatkin conducting the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Prokofiev: Cinderella (Suite)
  • Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Major
  • Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor
  • Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; solo: Elly Ameling Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Ete; Faure: Pelleas et Melisande

Best Ethnic Or Traditional Folk Recording

Best Gospel Performance - Duo Or Group

  • Winner:
    Larnelle Harris, Sandi Patti
    I've Just Seen Jesus
  • The Imperials Let the Wind Blow
  • Randy Stonehill, Amy Grant I Could Never Say Goodbye
  • De Garmo & Key Commander Sozo and the Charge of the Light Brigade
  • Petra Beat The System

Best Gospel Performance - Female

Best Gospel Performance - Male

Best Historical Album

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)

Best Instrumental Composition

Best Jazz Fusion Performance - Vocal Or Instrumental

Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band

  • Winner:
    John Barry, Bob Wilber
    The Cotton Club (film soundtrack)
  • George Russell & the Living Time Orchestra The African Game
  • Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band March of the Tadpoles
  • Louie Bellson Don't Stop Now!
  • Lionel Hampton Ambassador at Large

Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Group

Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Duo Or Group

  • Winner: Manhattan Transfer Vocalese
  • Manhattan Transfer, Four Freshmen To You track from Vocalese (Manhattan Transfer)
  • Manhattan Transfer, Jon Hendricks Ray's Rockhouse track from Vocalese (Manhattan Transfer)
  • Phil Mattson & the P.m. Singers Night in the City
  • Barry Manilow, Sarah Vaughan Blue
  • University of Northern Colorado Vocal Jazz I Hot IV
  • Rare Silk American Eyes

Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female

Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Male

  • Winner:
    Jon Hendricks, Bobby McFerrin
    Another Night in Tunisia track from Vocalese (Manhattan Transfer)
  • Alan Paul Oh Yes, I Remember Clifford track from Vocalese (Manhattan Transfer)
  • Mark Murphy Mark Murphy Sings Nat's Choice, The Nat King Cole Songbook, Vol. 1
  • David Frishberg Live at Vine Street
  • George Benson Beyond the Sea

Best Latin Pop Performance

Best Mexican-american Performance

  • Winner: Vikki Carr Simplemente Mujer
  • Santiago Jiminez Jr. Santiago Strikes Again
  • Maria de Lourdes Mujer Importante
  • Rocio Durcal Canta a Juan Gabriel
  • Juan Valentin 20 Exitos Romanticos con Juan Valentin
  • Los Humildes 13 Aniversario/13 Album/13 Exitos

Best Music Video - Long Form

Best New Classical Artist

  • Winner:
    Chicago Pro Musica
  • Brian Slawson
  • Sarah Brightman
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen
  • Rosalind Plowright

Best Opera Recording

  • Winner:
    Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Franz Mazura, Philip Langridge)
    Schoenberg: Moses und Aron
  • Riccardo Chailly conducting the London Sinfonietta and London Sinfonietta Chorus (solos: Philip Langridge, Cathryn Pope, Samuel Ramey, Sarah Walker, John Dobson) Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress
  • Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna State Opera Chorus (solos: Jose van Dam, Dunja Vejzovic, Kurt Moll, Peter Hofmann) Wagner: Der Fliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman)
  • Giuseppe Sinopoli conducting the Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Convent Garden (solos: Mirella Freni, Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson, Kurt Rydi, Robert Gambill) Puccini: Manon Lescaut
  • Georges Pretre conducting the Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Milan (solos: Teresa Stratas, Placido Domingo, Juan Pons, Alberto Rinaldi, Florindo Andreolli) Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (soundtrack)

Best Polka Recording

  • Winner:
    Frank Yankovic
    70 Years of Hits
  • Lenny Gomulka & the Chicago Push Simply Polkamentary
  • L'il Wally & Orchestra Polskie Czucie Polish Feelings
  • Brass Release Brass with Class
  • Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones Polka Fireworks

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Best Recording For Children

  • Winner:
    Jim Henson's Muppets and the Sesame Street cast
    Follow That Bird (film soundtrack)
  • Dudley Moore, John Williams & the Boston Pops Orchestra Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
  • Christopher Plummer, narrator; Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the Philharmonica Orchestra E.T.A. Hoffman, Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker
  • Candle and the Agapeland Singers Bullfrogs and Butterflies, Part II
  • Children of the World We Are the World

Best Reggae Recording

Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance

Best Rhythm & Blues Song

  • Winner:
    Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen
    Freeway of Love
  • Walter Orange, Dennis Lambert, Franne Golde Nightshift
  • Sharon Robinson, Jon Gilutin, Bunny Hull New Attitude
  • David Foster, Tom Keane, Cynthia Weil Through the Fire
  • LaLa You Give Good Love

Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo Or Group

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

Best Soul Gospel Performance - Duo Or Group

  • Winner: Winans Tomorrow
  • Sandra Crouch & Friends We're Waiting
  • Carvin Winans, Michael Winans Tomorrow track from Tomorrow
  • Sandra Crouch, Jean Johnson Completely Yes
  • Edwin Hawkins with Music & Arts Seminar Mass Choir Have Mercy

Best Soul Gospel Performance - Female

Best Soul Gospel Performance - Male

  • Winner:
    Marvin Winans
    Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay
  • Douglas Miller Unspeakable Joy
  • Philip Nicholas Stop Your Searchin' (Try God!)
  • Howard McCrary So Good
  • Rev. Marvin Yancy Heavy Load

Best Spoken Word Or Nonmusical Recording

  • Winner:
    Broadway cast
    Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
  • Philip Roth Zuckerman Bound by Philip Roth
  • John Le Carre The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carre
  • Dick Cavett The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  • Alan Arkin Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Best Traditional Blues Recording

  • Winner:
    My Guitar Sings the Blues
    B.B. King
  • Serious Business Johnny Winter
  • When a Guitar Plays the Blues Roy Buchanan
  • Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor
  • Patcha, Patcha, All Night Long Joe Turner, Jimmy Witherspoon
  • Members Only Bobby Bland
  • Big Joe Turner with Knocky Parker and His Houserockers Big Joe Turner with Knocky Parker & His Houserockers

Best Tropical Latin Performance

Classical Producer Of The Year

  • Winner:
    Robert E. Woods
  • James Mallinson
  • David Mottley
  • Steven Epstein
  • Jay David Saks

Hall Of Fame

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Winner:
    Leonard Bernstein

Producer Of The Year

  • Winner:
    Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
  • Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Greg Ladanyi
  • Mark Knopfler, Neil Dorfsman
  • Narada Michael Walden
  • David Foster

Rock Female Artist

Song Of The Year

  • Winner:
    Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie
    We Are the World
  • Mick Jones I Want to Know What Love Is
  • Mark Koopfler, Sting Money for Nothing
  • Don Henley, Mike Campbell The Boys of Summer
  • Daryl Hall Everytime You Go Away

Trustees Award

  • Winner:
    George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
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