The 21st Annual Grammy Awards were held in 1979, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1978.

Award winners

* Record of the Year **

Phil Ramone Philip Ramone (né Rabinowitz, January 5, 1934March 30, 2013) was a South African-born American recording engineer, record producer, violinist and composer, who in 1958 co-founded A & R Recording, Inc., a recording studio with business par ...

(producer) &

Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man (song), Piano Man" after his album and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo ...

for " Just the Way You Are" *

Album of the Year Album of the Year, often abbreviated to AOTY, may refer to: Awards * ARIA Award for Album of the Year, Australia * Brit Award for British Album of the Year, UK * Grammy Award for Album of the Year, US * Juno Award for Album of the Year, CA * Lati ...

**Broadway Eddie, Richard Finch, Albhy Galuten,

K.G. Productions Costa-Gavras (short for Konstantinos Gavras; el, Κωνσταντίνος Γαβράς; born 12 February 1933) is a Greek-French film director, screenwriter, and producer who lives and works in France. He is known for films with political and s ...

Ron Kersey Tyrone Garfield Kersey (April 7, 1949 – January 25, 2005), known as Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey, was an American keyboardist, songwriter, producer and arranger most known for writing the music to "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps. Kersey was born in P ...

, Arif Mardin,

Bobby Martin Bobby Martin may refer to: *Bobby Martin (American football) (1987–2020), American football player *Bobby Martin (musician) (1903–2001), jazz trumpeter *Bobby Martin, bass player for Canadian country group the James Barker Band *Bobby Martin (p ...

Bill Oakes Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Plac ...

, Freddie Perren,

Karl Richardson Karl may refer to: People * Karl (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Karl der Große, commonly known in English as Charlemagne * Karl Marx, German philosopher and political writer * Karl of Austria, last Austrian ...

, William Salter,

Thomas J. Valentino Thomas J. Valentino (April 27, 1907 - August 4, 1986) was an American businessman of Italian descent being amongst the first to develop libraries of sound effects and taped music. Valentino was born in the outskirts of Palermo, Sicily; his family i ...

(producers),

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era in ...

, Ralph MacDonald,

David Shire David Lee Shire (born July 3, 1937) is an American songwriter and composer of stage Musical theater, musicals, film and television film score, scores. The soundtracks to the 1976 film ''The Big Bus'', ''The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974 f ...

(producers and artists),

Don Renaldo Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name *Don, Benin, a town in Benin *Don, Dang, a vill ...

(conductor),

Yvonne Elliman Yvonne Marianne Elliman (born December 29, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who performed for four years in the first cast of the stage musical ''Jesus Christ Superstar''. She scored a number of hits in the 1970s and achieved ...

K.C. and the Sunshine Band KC and the Sunshine Band is an American disco and funk band that was founded in 1973 in Hialeah, Florida. Their best-known songs include the hits "That's the Way (I Like It)", "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man", "K ...

, Kool & the Gang,

Walter Murphy Walter Anthony Murphy Jr. (born December 19, 1952) is an American composer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for the instrumental "A Fifth of Beethoven", a disco adaptation of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony which topp ...

, Tavares & Trammps for '' Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack'' *

Song of the Year Song of the Year may refer to: * Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year * Dove Award for Song of the Year * Golden Melody Award for Song of the Year * Grammis Song of the Year * Grammy Award for Song of the Year * Latin Grammy Awa ...

for " Just the Way You Are" * Best New Artist **

A Taste of Honey ''A Taste of Honey'' is the first play by the British dramatist Shelagh Delaney, written when she was 19. It was intended as a novel, but she turned it into a play because she hoped to revitalise British theatre and address social issues that ...

Children's

Best Recording for Children The Grammy Award for Best Children's Album (from 2020: Grammy Award for Best Children's Music Album) is an honor presented since 2012 at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honor ...

** Jim Henson (producer) for ''

The Muppet Show ''The Muppet Show'' is a sketch comedy television series created by Jim Henson and featuring the Muppets. The series originated as two pilot episodes produced by Henson for ABC in 1974 and 1975. While neither episode was moved forward as a ser ...

'' performed by

The Muppets The Muppets are an American ensemble cast of puppet characters known for an absurdist, burlesque, and self-referential style of variety- sketch comedy. Created by Jim Henson in 1955, they are the focus of a media franchise that encompasses ...

Classical

* Best Classical Orchestral Performance **

Michel Glotz Michel Glotz (1 February 1931 – 15 February 2010) was a French classical music record producer and impresario. Life Glotz was a student of Marguerite Long and accomplice of Francis Poulenc with whom he had a long correspondence. Artistic di ...

(producer), Herbert von Karajan (conductor) & the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for ''

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...

: Symphonies (9) (Complete)'' * Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance **

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerou ...

for ''Luciano Pavarotti - Hits From Lincoln Center'' *

Best Opera Recording The Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by m ...

** George Sponhaltz, John Coveney (producers), Julius Rudel (conductor), Beverly Sills,

Alan Titus Alan Titus (born in New York City, on October 28, 1945) is an internationally celebrated baritone. Life and career Titus studied under Aksel Schiøtz at the Colorado School of Music, and Hans Heinz at The Juilliard School. His official debut w ...

& the New York City Opera Orchestra for '' Lehár: The Merry Widow'' * Best Choral Performance, Classical (other than opera) **

Georg Solti Sir Georg Solti ( , ; born György Stern; 21 October 1912 – 5 September 1997) was a Hungarian-British orchestral and operatic conductor, known for his appearances with opera companies in Munich, Frankfurt and London, and as a long-servin ...

(conductor), Margaret Hillis (choir director) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for ''

: Missa Solemnis'' * Best Classical Performance Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (with orchestra) ** Eugene Ormandy (conductor), Vladimir Horowitz & the New York Philharmonic for '' Rachmaninoff: Con. No. 3 in D Minor for Piano (Horowitz Golden Jubilee)'' * Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (without orchestra) ** Vladimir Horowitz for ''The Horowitz Concerts 1977/78'' *

Best Chamber Music Performance The Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance was awarded from 1959 to 2011. The award was discontinued in 2012 in a major overhaul of Grammy categories; since 2012, recordings in this category have fallen under the Best Small Ensemble Perfor ...

Itzhak Perlman Itzhak Perlman ( he, יצחק פרלמן; born August 31, 1945) is an Israeli-American violinist widely considered one of the greatest violinists in the world. Perlman has performed worldwide and throughout the United States, in venues that hav ...

Vladimir Ashkenazy Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (russian: Влади́мир Дави́дович Ашкена́зи, ''Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazi''; born 6 July 1937) is an internationally recognized solo pianist, chamber music performer, and conductor. He ...

for ''

: Sonatas for Violin and Piano'' *

Best Classical Album The Grammy Award for Best Classical Album was awarded from 1962 to 2011. The award had several minor name changes: *From 1962 to 1963, 1965 to 1972 and 1974 to 1976 the award was known as Album of the Year – Classical *In 1964 and 1977 it wa ...

Christopher Bishop Christopher Michael Bishop (born 7 April 1959) is the Laboratory Director at Microsoft Research, Microsoft Research Cambridge, Honorary Professor of Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh and a Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge. Bis ...

(producer),

Carlo Maria Giulini Carlo Maria Giulini (; 9 May 1914 – 14 June 2005) was an Italian conductor. From the age of five, when he began to play the violin, Giulini's musical education was expanded when he began to study at Italy's foremost conservatory, the Conserva ...

(conductor),

& the

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenure ...

for '' Brahms: Concerto For Violin in D''

Comedy

* Best Comedy Recording ** Steve Martin for '' A Wild and Crazy Guy''

Composing and arranging

* Best Instrumental Composition **

John Williams John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932)Nylund, Rob (15 November 2022)Classic Connection review ''WBOI'' ("For the second time this year, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic honored American composer, conductor, and arranger John Williams, who wa ...

(composer) for " Theme From ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''" * Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special **John Williams (composer) for '' Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' *

Best Instrumental Arrangement The Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement (and its subsequent name changes) has been awarded since 1963. The award is presented to the arranger(s) of the music. Only songs or tracks are eligible, no longer works (e.g. albums). The perfor ...

** Quincy Jones & Robert Freedman (arrangers) for "'' The Wiz'' Main Title - Overture Part One" performed by various artists * Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) **

Maurice White Maurice White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016) was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter, and producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and served as the ...

(arranger) for "

Got to Get You Into My Life "Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, first released in 1966 on their album ''Revolver''. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is a homage to the Motown Sound, wit ...

" performed by Earth, Wind & Fire * Best Arrangement For Voices **

(arrangers) for " Stayin' Alive"

Country

Best Country Vocal Performance, Female The Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance was first awarded in 1965, to Dottie West. The award has had several minor name changes: *From 1965 to 1967 the award was known as Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female *In 1 ...

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

for '' Here You Come Again'' * Best Country Vocal Performance, Male **

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album ''Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of ''Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (197 ...

for " Georgia on My Mind" *

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal The Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded from 1970 to 2011. The award has had several minor name changes: * In 1970 the award was known as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group * From 1971 to 19 ...

Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He pioneered the Outlaw Movement in country music. Jennings started playing guitar at the age of eight and performed at age f ...

for "

Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" is a country music song first recorded by Ed Bruce, written by him and his wife Patsy Bruce. His version of the song appears on his 1976 self-titled album for United Artists Records. In late 19 ...

" * Best Country Instrumental Performance **

Asleep at the Wheel Asleep at the Wheel is an American Western swing group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and is based in Austin, Texas. The band has won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception, released over twenty albums, and has charted more t ...

for " One O'Clock Jump" * Best Country Song **

Don Schlitz Donald Alan Schlitz Jr. (born August 29, 1952) is an American country music songwriter. For his songwriting efforts, Schlitz has earned two Grammy Awards, as well as four ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year awards. In 1993, he was inducted int ...

(songwriter) for " The Gambler" performed by

Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted mo ...

Folk

* Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording **

Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago b ...

for '' I'm Ready''

Gospel

* Best Gospel Performance, Traditional **

The Happy Goodman Family The Happy Goodman Family is a Southern gospel group that was founded in the 1940s by Howard "Happy" Goodman and performed together for several decades. The Happy Goodmans achieved significant popularity in the 1960s. In 1968, they won the first Gr ...

for ''Refreshing'' * Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational ** Larry Hart for "What a Friend" *

Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional The Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional was awarded from 1978 to 1983. A similar award, the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album The Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album was awarded from 1991 to 2011. ...

Mighty Clouds of Joy The Mighty Clouds of Joy are an American traditional gospel music quartet. Joe Ligon Bio: Willie Joe Ligon was born on October 11, 1936, and died on December 11, 2016 (80 years, 2 months). He dedicated his life to Jesus making many hit songs ...

for ''Live and Direct'' * Best Soul Performance, Contemporary ** Andrae Crouch for '' Live in London'' performed by Andrae Crouch & the Disciples *

Best Inspirational Performance The Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many ...

B. J. Thomas Billy Joe Thomas (August 7, 1942 – May 29, 2021) was an American singer widely known for his pop, country and Christian hits of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Popular songs by Thomas include "Hooked on a Feeling" (1968), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' ...

for ''Happy Man''

Historical

* Best Historical Repackage Album ** Michael Brooks (producer) for ''The Lester Young Story, Vol. 3''

Jazz

* Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist **

Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian virtuoso jazz pianist and composer. Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, ...

for '' Oscar Peterson Jam - Montreux '77'' * Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group **

Chick Corea Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (June 12, 1941 – February 9, 2021) was an American jazz composer, pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and occasional percussionist. His compositions "Spain", " 500 Miles High", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba", and ...

for ''

Friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...

'' *

Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band The Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album has been presented since 1961. From 1962 to 1971 and 1979 to 1991 the award title specified instrumental performances. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works ...

** Mel Lewis & Thad Jones for '' Live in Munich''LA Times, "The Envelope" awards database.
link
Accessed 2008 April 30. *

Best Jazz Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works (songs or albums) in the vocal jazz ...

Al Jarreau Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R ...

for ''All Fly Home''

Latin

* Best Latin Recording ** Tito Puente for ''Homenaje a Beny More''

Musical show

* Best Cast Show Album **

Thomas Z. Shepard Thomas Z. Shepard (born June 26, 1936) is an American record producer who is best known for his recordings of Broadway musicals, including the works of Stephen Sondheim. Shepard is also a composer, conductor, music arranger and pianist. He has w ...

(producer) & various artists for ''Ain't Misbehavin' ''

Packaging and notes

* Best Album Package ** Johnny B. Lee &

Tony Lane Anthony Samuel Lane (May 2, 1944 – January 1, 2016) began his career as an assistant to Alexey Brodovitch at Harper's Bazaar, and became an early art director for Rolling Stone magazine. He was the designer of iconic album covers for Simon & Garf ...

(art directors) for ''

Boys in the Trees ''Boys in the Trees'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, in April 1978. The lead single, " You Belong to Me", reached No. 6 on the ''Billboard'' Pop Singles chart, becoming Simon ...

'' performed by

Carly Simon Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), " The Right Thin ...

Best Album Notes The Grammy Award – Best Album Notes has been presented since 1964. From 1973 to 1976 (the 15th through 18th Awards), a second award was presented for Best Album Notes – Classical. Those awards are listed under those years below. The award recog ...

** Michael Brooks (notes writer) for ''A Bing Crosby Collection, Vols. I & II'' performed by

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

Pop

* Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female **

Anne Murray Morna Anne Murray (born June 20, 1945) is a retired Canadian singer. Her albums, consisting primarily of pop, country, and adult contemporary music, have sold over 55 million copies worldwide during her over 40-year career. Murray was the fir ...

for " You Needed Me" *

Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was a Grammy Award recognizing superior vocal performance by a male in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. It was discontinued after the 2011 Grammy season. The award wen ...

Barry Manilow Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus; June 17, 1943) is an American singer and songwriter with a career that spans seven decades. His hit recordings include "Could It Be Magic", " Somewhere Down the Road", " Mandy", "I Write the Songs", " Can ...

for "Copacabana (At the Copa)" *Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group **The

for '' Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack'' *Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, Best Pop Instrumental Performance **Chuck Mangione for ''Children of Sanchez (Chuck Mangione album), Children of Sanchez''

Production and engineering

*Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical **Al Schmitt & Roger Nichols (recording engineer), Roger Nichols (engineers) for "FM (No Static at All)" performed by Steely Dan *Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Classical, Best Engineered Recording, Classical **Arthur Kendy, Edward T. Graham, Ray Moore (recording engineer), Ray Moore (engineers), Pierre Boulez (conductor) & the New York Philharmonic for ''Varese: Ameriques/Arcana/Ionisation (Boulez Conducts Varese)'' *Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, Producer of the Year **The

, Albhy Galuten &

R&B

*Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female **Donna Summer for "Last Dance (Donna Summer song), Last Dance" *Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male **George Benson for "On Broadway (song)#George Benson version, On Broadway" *Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus ** Earth, Wind & Fire for ''All 'n All'' *Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance, Best R&B Instrumental Performance ** Earth, Wind & Fire for "Runnin'" *Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, Best Rhythm & Blues Song **Paul Jabara (songwriter) for "Last Dance (Donna Summer song), Last Dance" performed by Donna Summer

Spoken

*Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album, Best Spoken Word Recording **Orson Welles for ''Citizen Kane''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grammy Awards 021 Grammy Awards ceremonies, 021 1979 in California 1979 music awards 1979 in Los Angeles 1979 in American music 1979 awards in the United States, Grammy February 1979 events in the United States