The 1st Annual Grammy Awards were held on May 4, 1959. They recognized musical accomplishments by performers for the year 1959. Two separate ceremonies were held simultaneously on the same day; the first hotel in

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...

, and the second in the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York City.

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

, Count Basie, Domenico Modugno,

Ross Bagdasarian Ross S. Bagdasarian (; January 27, 1919 – January 16, 1972), known professionally by his stage name David Seville, was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor, best known for creating the cartoon band Alvin and the Chipmun ...

, and Henry Mancini, each won 2 awards.

Award winners

The following awards were given in the first award ceremony:

General

; Record of the Year * " Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare)" – Domenico Modugno * "

Catch a Falling Star "Catch a Falling Star" is a song written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss. It is best known and was made famous by Perry Como's hit version, recorded and released in late 1957. Background and chart performance The song's melody is based on a theme ...

" – Perry Como * "

Fever Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature set point. There is not a single agreed-upon upper limit for normal temperature with sources using val ...

" – Peggy Lee * "

The Chipmunk Song "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" is a novelty Christmas song written by Ross Bagdasarian (under the stage name of David Seville) in 1958. Bagdasarian sang and recorded the song, varying the tape speeds to produce high-pitched "chip ...

" –

David Seville and the Chipmunks Alvin and the Chipmunks, originally David Seville and the Chipmunks or simply The Chipmunks, are an American animated virtual band and media franchise first created by Ross Bagdasarian for novelty records in 1958. The group consists of three ...

* "

Witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have ...

" –

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the " Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and ...

;

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 ...

*''

The Music from Peter Gunn ''The Music from Peter Gunn'' is a soundtrack album to the TV series ''Peter Gunn'', composed and conducted by Henry Mancini, and released in 1959 on RCA Victor. It was the first album ever to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1959. ...

'' – Henry Mancini *'' Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 23'' – Van Cliburn *''

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book'' is a 1958 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, focusing on the songs of Irving Berlin. It was part of the p ...

'' –

*'' Come Fly with Me'' –

*'' Only the Lonely'' – Frank Sinatra ; Song of the Year * " Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare)" –

Franco Migliacci Francesco "Franco" Migliacci (born 28 October 1930 in Mantua) is a lyricist, producer, and actor. Biography He studied in Florence where his family had settled, here he entered in a competition for young players, in which he won a stay ...

and Domenico Modugno, songwriters (Domenico Modugno) * "

" – Lee Pockriss and Paul Vance, songwriters ( Perry Como) * " Gigi" – Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, songwriters ( Vic Damone) * "

" – Eddie Cooley and Johnny Davenport, songwriters ( Peggy Lee) * "

" – Cy Coleman and

Carolyn Leigh Carolyn Leigh (August 21, 1926 – November 19, 1983) was an American lyricist for Broadway, film, and popular songs. She is best known as the writer with partner Cy Coleman of the pop standards "Witchcraft" and " The Best Is Yet to Come". With ...

, songwriters (

)

Children's

* Best Recording for Children ** Ross Bagdasarian Sr. for "

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" is a novelty Christmas song written by Ross Bagdasarian (under the stage name of David Seville) in 1958. Bagdasarian sang and recorded the song, varying the tape speeds to produce high-pitched "chi ...

" performed by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. as "David Seville and the Chipmunks"

Comedy

* Best Comedy Performance **

Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. Ross S. Bagdasarian (; January 27, 1919 – January 16, 1972), known professionally by his stage name David Seville, was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor, best known for creating the cartoon band Alvin and the Chipmun ...

for "The Chipmunk Song", performed by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. as "David Seville and the Chipmunks"

Composing and arranging

* Best Musical Composition First Recorded and Released in 1958 (over 5 minutes duration) ** Nelson Riddle (composer) for "Cross Country Suite" * Best Arrangement ** Henry Mancini (arranger & artist) for ''The Music from Peter Gunn''

Country

* Best Country & Western Performance ** The Kingston Trio for " Tom Dooley"

Jazz

* Best Jazz Performance, Individual **

for '' Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook'' * Best Jazz Performance, Group ** Count Basie for '' Basie''

Musical show

* Best Original Cast Album (Broadway or TV) ** Meredith Willson (composer) & the original cast with Robert Preston, Barbara Cook, David Burns, Eddie Hodges, Pert Kelton & Helen Raymond for ''

The Music Man ''The Music Man'' is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments ...

'' * Best Sound Track Album, Dramatic Picture Score or Original Cast **

André Previn André George Previn (; born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German-American pianist, composer, and conductor. His career had three major genres: Hollywood films, jazz, and classical music. In each he achieved ...

& the original cast for ''Gigi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)''

Packaging and notes

* Best Album Cover Photography **

for '' Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely''

Pop

* Best Vocal Performance, Female **

for '' Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook'' * Best Vocal Performance, Male ** Perry Como for "

" * Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus ** Keely Smith & Louis Prima for " That Old Black Magic" * Best Performance by a Dance Band ** Count Basie for ''Basie'' * Best Performance by an Orchestra **

Billy May Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for ''The Green Hornet'' (1966), ''The Mod Squad'' (1968), '' Batman'' (with ''Batgirl'' them ...

for ''Billy May's Big Fat Brass''

Production and engineering

* Best Engineered Record - Non-Classical **Ted Keep (engineer) for "

" performed by David Seville * Best Engineered Record (Classical) **Sherwood Hall III (engineer), Laurindo Almeida &

Salli Terri Salli C. Terri (September 3, 1922 – May 5, 1996) was a singer, arranger, recording artist, and composer. Record audiences still cite Terri's "haunting" vocals, with ''Hi-Fi Review'' originally describing her as ''"a mezzo soprano whose velvet ...

for '' Duets with Spanish Guitar''

R&B

* Best Rhythm & Blues Performance **" Tequila"- The Champs

Spoken

* Best Performance, Documentary or Spoken Word **

Stan Freberg Stan Freberg (born Stanley Friberg; August 7, 1926 – April 7, 2015) was an American actor, author, comedian, musician, radio personality, puppeteer and advertising creative director. His best-known works include "St. George and the Dragonet" ...

for ''The Best of the Stan Freberg Shows''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grammy Awards 001 001 1959 in New York City 1959 music awards 1959 in Los Angeles 1959 in American music May 1959 events in the United States Events in New York City Events in Los Angeles