Past Grammy Award Winners & Performers in History

Created on Feb 10, 2017 by Kathy Pinna

Music makes our hearts soar, brings us joy when we're depressed, puts a twinkle in our eyes, makes us dance - and singing is a good workout for our lungs! It is the soundtrack of our lives. Have you ever heard a song and it takes you back in time to the first time that you heard it? You know where you were, who you were with, and what you were doing.

The Grammy Awards are on February 12th. Among the famous performers will be Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, John Legend, Metallica, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Adele, Lady Gaga . . . the list goes on. Perhaps some of these artists are some of your favorites but we are focusing on our favorites from the past - those who created the indelible soundtrack of our lives. Who are your favorite musical artists?

History of the Grammy The 1st Annual Grammy Awards were held on May 4, 1959, recognizing the musical accomplishments by performers for the year 1958. Domenico Modugno, Henry Mancini, Ella Fitzgerald and Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. each won 2 awards. (Do you know them?) Stevie Wonder came along in the 1960's and holds the title for the most Grammys awarded to a solo male artist. (Currently, 22 awards.) Singer Alison Krauss has won 26 Grammy Awards, making her the most honored female solo artist in the history of the ceremony. And old blue eyes won 11 Grammys.

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Past Grammy Award Winners & Performers in History

Lena Horne

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Lena Horne (1917 - 2010), at left - singer, dancer, actress, and civil rights activist - was nominated for 7 Grammy Awards and won 4 times - once for the Hall of Fame Award and once for Lifetime Achievement. She began performing at the age of 16 at the famous Cotton Club and kept performing for 70 years!

David Bowie

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Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor, and artist, David Bowie (1947 - 2016) was nominated for 10 Grammys and won once. He also won the Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, he won an Emmy and an MTV Award and was nominated for numerous other awards and honors. He's up for 5 Grammy Awards this year (2017) although he died in 2016.

Frank Sinatra

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Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (1915 - 1998) was a singer, actor, and producer. He won 11 Grammy Awards and was nominated for numerous more and he has been called "the greatest singer of the 20th Century." He even won the Academy Award in 1953 (and was nominated for another in 1955)!

Josephine Baker

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Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine Baker became a sensation in Paris, France. A singer and dancer, she refused to perform for segregated audiences and moved to France where racism was not an impediment to her career. She was a famed part of the Jazz age and later renounced her American citizenship. This is a tame photo of her - her costumes were very racy - one of the most noted consisted of a girdle of bananas and nothing else!

Although she didn't win a Grammy, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre, Légion d'Honneur and the Rosette of the Résistance for her efforts in the French Resistance in World War II.

Bing Crosby

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Bing Crosby (1903 - 1977) was awarded 5 Hall of Fame Grammy Awards (for White Christmas, Brother Can You Spare a Dime, Swinging on a Star, Don't Fence Me In, and Pennies From Heaven) and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1962. He was one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century. His films with Bob Hope were classics, too.

Sammy Davis, Jr.

with President Richard Nixon

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Singer, dancer, actor, comedian, impressionist - Sammy Davis Jr (1925 - 1990) could do it all. He was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards but never won. He was, however, awarded 2 special Grammy awards - one for Lifetime Achievement and the Hall of Fame Award.

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