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Mail This Page Grammy Awards 1961 The third Grammy award ceremony was held on 12th April 1961, at Beverly Hilton Hotel in USA. The Academy recognized the musical accomplishments by the artists for the year 1960. The show was aired as a series of taped annual specials by NBC. Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Henry Mancini were the artists mostly nominated in the Grammy categories for the year. Ray Charles was presented with the highest Grammys Awards; Bob Newhart and Henry Mancini were honored with three Grammys each. It was in the year 1961; Grammys presented two separate awards for ‘The Best Spoken’ and for ‘The Best Musical Comedy Performance’. Given below is the list of the nominees and winners who walked out with the prestigious Grammy statuettes. Grammy Award Winners 1961 Album Of The Year The nominees were: Bob Newhart - Button Down Mind

Erich Leinsdorf - Puccini: Turandot

Frank Sinatra - Nice 'n' Easy

Harry Belafonte - Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall

Nat King Cole - Wild Is Love Winner: Bob Newhart - Button Down Mind Best Album Cover The nominees were: Peggy Lee - Latin a la Lee

Milt Jackson - Bean Bags

Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony - Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky

Monteux conducting the Boston Symphony - Stravinsky: Petruchka

Dick Schory - Wild Percussion and Horns A'Plenty Winner: Peggy Lee - Latin a la Lee Best Album Created For Children The nominees were: David Seville - Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks

Howard Mitchell - Adventures in Music, Grade 3, Vol. 1

Pete Seeger - Folk Songs for Young People

Ralph Bellamy - Stories and Songs of the Civil War

Sterling Holloway - Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes Winner: David Seville - Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks Best Arrangement The nominees were The nominees were Henry Mancini – Mr. Lucky Lyrics

George Shearing - Honeysuckle Rose

Ray Charles - Let The Good Times Roll Lyrics

Percy Faith & His Orchestra - Theme from A Summer Place

Dick Schory - Wild Percussion and Horns A'Plenty Winner: Henry Mancini – Mr. Lucky Lyrics Best Chamber Music Performance - Vocal Or Instrumental The nominees were: Laurindo Almeida - Conversations with the Guitar

Robert Shaw Chorale - Bach: Cantata No. 4 / Christ Lag in Todesbanden

Juilliard Quartet - Debussy and Ravel Quartets

Griller Quartet - Haydn: Quartets, Opp. 71 and 74

Smetana Quartet - Janacek String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 Winner: Laurindo Almeida - Conversations with the Guitar Best Classical Opera Production The nominees were: Erich Leinsdorf, conducting the Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra (solos: Tebaldi, Nilsson, Bjorling, Tozzi) - Puccini: Turandot

Josef Krips (solos: Siepi, Danco, Dermote, Corena) - Mozart: Don Giovanni

Tullio Serafin (solos: Siepi, Tebaldi, Del Monaco) - Boito: Mefistofele

Tullio Serafin conducting the Accademia di Santa Cecilia (solos: Tebaldi, Bergonzi, Bastianini, Corena) - Puccini: La Boheme

Tullio Serafin conducting the Rome Opera Chorus and Orchestra (solos: de los Angeles, Del Monte, Sereni) - Verdi: La Traviata Winner: Erich Leinsdorf, conducting the Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra (solos: Tebaldi, Nilsson, Bjorling, Tozzi) - Puccini: Turandot Best Classical Performance - Choral (Including Oratorio) The nominees were: Thomas Beecham conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Vyvyan, Sinclair, Vicki, Tozzi) - Handel: Messiah

Moravian Festival Chorus - Arias, Anthems and Chorales of American Moravians, Vol. 1

Robert Shaw Chorale - Bach: Motet No. 3 (Jesu Meine Freude)

Charles Munch and New England Conservatory Chorus - Berlioz: Requiem

Maria Stader, Sieglinde Wagner, Hans Ernst Haefliger, Kim Borg - Dvorak: Requiem Winner: Thomas Beecham conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Vyvyan, Sinclair, Vicki, Tozzi) - Handel: Messiah Best Classical Performance - Concerto Or Instrumental Soloist The nominees were: Sviatoslav Richter (Leinsdorf conducting the Chicago Symphony) - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat

Glenn Gould (Golschmann conducting the Columbia Symphony) - Bach: Concerto No. 5

Gervase De Peyer (Maag conducting the London Symphony) - Mozart: Clarinet Concerto

Malcolm Frager (Leibowitz conducting the Paris Conservatoire) - Prokofiev: Concerto No. 2

Van Cliburn (Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony) - Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Winner: Sviatoslav Richter (Leinsdorf conducting the Chicago Symphony) - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist Or Duo (Other Than Orchestra) The nominees were: Laurindo Almeida - The Spanish Guitars of Laurindo Almeida

Jaime Laredo - Bach: Partita No. 3 in E; Brahms: Sonata No. 3 in D Minor

Paul Maynard - Brahms: Keyboard Music of the French Court

Artur Rubinstein - Chopin: Ballades

Julian Bream - The Art of Julian Bream Winner: Laurindo Almeida - The Spanish Guitars of Laurindo Almeida Best Classical Performance – Orchestra The nominees were: Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony - Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

Aaron Copland conducting the Boston Symphony - Copland: Appalachian Spring

Morton Gould conducting the Morton Gould Orchestra - Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite

Thomas Beecham conducting the Royal Philharmonic - Haydn: Solomon Symphonies, Vol. 2

Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic - Ives: Symphony No. 2 Winner: Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony - Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta Best Classical Performance - Vocal Soloist The nominees were: Leontyne Price - A Program of Song

Eileen Farrell - Arias in Great Tradition

Peter Pears - Britten: Nocturne

Salli Terri - Conversations with the Guitar

Joan Sutherland - Handel: Arias Winner: Leontyne Price - A Program of Song Best Comedy Performance - Musical The nominees were: Paul Weston, Jo Stafford - Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris

David Seville - Alvin for President

Tom Lehrer - An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer

Homer & Jethro - Homer and Jethro at the Country Club

Stan Freberg - The Old Payola Roll Blues Winner: Paul Weston, Jo Stafford - Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris Best Comedy Performance - Spoken World The nominees were: Bob Newhart - Button Down Mind Strikes Back

Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks - 2,000 Year Old Man

Shelley Berman - The Edge of Shelley Berman

Jonathan Winters - The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters Winner: Bob Newhart - Button Down Mind Strikes Back Best Contemporary Classical Composition The nominees were: Aaron Copland - Orchestral Suite from Tender Land

Charles Ives - Symphony No. 2

Easley Blackwood - Symphony No. 1

Edgard Varese - Density 21.5

Francis Poulenc - La Voix Humaine Winner: Aaron Copland - Orchestral Suite from Tender Land Best Engineered Recording - Novelty The nominees were: Stan Freberg - The Old Payola Roll Blues

David Seville & the Chipmunks - Alvin for President

Jack Cookerly - June Night

David Seville & the Chipmunks - Let's All Sing the Chipmunks

Larry Verne - Mr. Custer Winner: Stan Freberg - The Old Payola Roll Blues Best Engineering Contribution - Classical Recording The nominees were: Charles Munch conducting the New England Conservatory Chorus and Boston Symphony - Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta (Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony)

Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky

Erich Leinsdorf conducting the Rome Opera Chorus and Orchestra; solos: Tebaldi, Nilsson, Bjorling, Tozzi - Puccini: Turandot

Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony - R. Strauss: Don Quixote Winner: Charles Munch conducting the New England Conservatory Chorus and Boston Symphony - Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta Best Engineering Contribution - Popular Recording The nominees were: Harry Belafonte - Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall

Esquivel - Infinity in Sound

Nat King Cole - Wild Is Love

Dick Schory - Wild Percussion and Horns A'Plenty Winner: Harry Belafonte - Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall Best Folk Performance The nominees were: Harry Belafonte - Swing Dat Hammer

Belafonte Singers - Cheers

Brothers Four - Greenfields

Kingston Trio - Here We Go Again

Miriam Makeba - Miriam Makeba Winner: Harry Belafonte - Swing Dat Hammer Best Jazz Composition The nominees were:

Miles Davis, Gil Evans - Sketches of Spain

Bob Brookmeyer - Blues Suite

Dave Brubeck - Blue Rondo a la Turk

Duke Ellington - Idiom '59 (Festival Session)

Jimmy Giuffre - Western Suite Winner: Miles Davis, Gil Evans - Sketches of Spain Best Jazz Performance - Large Group The nominees were: Henry Mancini - The Blues and the Beat

Gerry Mulligan - I'm Gonna Go Fishin'

Miles Davis, Gil Evans - Sketches of Spain

Recording Artists - Spirituals to Swing Concert

Count Basie - The Count Basie Story Winner: Henry Mancini - The Blues and the Beat Best Jazz Performance - Solo Or Small Group The nominees were: Andre Previn - West Side Story

Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges - Back to Back

Art Tatum - Greatest Piano of Them All

Miles Davis - Jazz Track

Modern Jazz Quartet – Pyramid Winner: Andre Previn - West Side Story Best Performance - Documentary Or Spoken Word (Other Than Comedy) The nominees were: Franklin Delano Roosevelt - F.D.R. Speaks

John Gielgud - Ages of Man, Vol. 2 (One Man in His Time) Part 2 - Shakespeare

Archibald MacLeish - J.B.

Henry Fonda - Voices of the Twentieth Century Winner: Franklin Delano Roosevelt - F.D.R. Speaks Best Performance By A Band For Dancing The nominees were: Count Basie - Dance with Basie

Les Brown - Bandland

Perez Prado - Big Hits by Prado

Billy May - Girls and Boys on Broadway

Henry Mancini - The Blues and the Beat Winner: Count Basie - Dance with Basie Best Performance By A Chorus The nominees were: Norman Luboff Choir - Songs of the Cowboy

Belafonte Folk Singers - Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall

Ray Charles Singers - Deep Night

Pete King Chorale - My Favortie Things

Robert Shaw Chorale - What Wondrous Love Winner: Norman Luboff Choir - Songs of the Cowboy Best Performance By An Orchestra The nominees were: Henry Mancini - MrLucky Lyrics

Count Basie - Count Basie Story

Esquivel - Infinity in Sound

Gerry Mulligan - The Concert Jazz Band

Percy Faith - Theme from A Summer Place Winner: Henry Mancini - MrLucky Lyrics Best Show Album - Original Cast The nominees were: The Sound of Music - Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein

Camelot - Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe

Bye Bye Birdie - Charles Strouse, Lee Adams

Fiorello! - Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick

The Unsinkable Molly Brown - Meredith Willson Winner: The Sound of Music - Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein Best Soundtrack Album Or Recording Of Music Score From A Motion Picture Or Television The nominees were: Ernest Gold - Exodus

Adolph Deutsch - The Apartment

Henry Mancini - Mr. Lucky

Miklos Rozsa - Ben-Hur

Nelson Riddle - The Untouchables Winner: Ernest Gold - Exodus Best Soundtrack Album Or Recording Of Original Cast From A Motion Picture Or Television The nominees were: Cole Porter (film score) - Can-Can

Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne (film score) - Bells Are Ringing

Elvis Presley - G.I. Blues

Nelson Riddle - Li'l Abner Winner: Cole Porter (film score) - Can-Can Country And Western Performance The nominees were: Marty Robbins - El Paso Lyrics

Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go Lyrics

Johnny Horton - North To Alaska Lyrics

Hank Locklin - Plese Help Me, I'm Falling

Ferlin Husky - Wings of a Dove Lyrics Winner: Marty Robbins - El Paso Lyrics Female Vocal Performance - Album The nominees were: Ella Fitzgerald - Mack the Knife, Ella in Berlin

Rosemary Clooney - Clap Hands, Here Comes Rosie

Della Reese - Della

Peggy Lee - Latin a la Lee

Miriam Makeba - Miriam Makeba Winner: Ella Fitzgerald - Mack the Knife, Ella in Berlin Female Vocal Performance - Single The nominees were:

Ella Fitzgerald - Mack The Knife Lyrics

Peggy Lee - I'm Gonna Go Fishin'

Brenda Lee - I'm Sorry Lyrics

Eileen Farrell - I've Gotta Right to Sing the Blues

Doris Day - The Sound of Music Winner: Ella Fitzgerald - Mack The Knife Lyrics Male Vocal Performance - Album The nominees were:

Ray Charles - The Genius of Ray Charles

Harry Belafonte - Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall

Elvis Presley - GI Blues

Frank Sinatra - Nice 'n' Easy

Nat King Cole - Wild Is Love Winner: Ray Charles - The Genius of Ray Charles Male Vocal Performance - Single The nominees were: Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind Lyrics

Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight? Lyrics

Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go Lyrics

Johnny Mathis - Misty Lyrics

Frank Sinatra - Nice 'n' Easy Lyrics Winner: Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind Lyrics New Artist The nominees were: Bob Newhart

Joanie Sommers

Leontyne Pryce

Miriam Makeba Lyrics

The Brothers Four Lyrics Winner: Bob Newhart Record Of The Year The nominees were: Percy Faith - Theme from A Summer Place

Ella Fitzgerald - Mack The Knife Lyrics

Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight? Lyrics

Frank Sinatra - Nice 'n' Easy Lyrics

Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind Lyrics Winner: Percy Faith - Theme from A Summer Place Rhythm & Blues Performance The nominees were: Ray Charles - Let The Good Times Roll Lyrics

Etta James - All I Could Do Was Cry

Hank Ballard - Finger Poppin' Time

Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working Lyrics

Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops Lyrics

LaVerne Baker - Shake a Hand Winner: Ray Charles - Let The Good Times Roll Lyrics Song Of The Year The nominees were: Ernest Gold - Theme from Exodus

Charles Grean, Joe Allison, Audrey Allison - He'll Have to Go

Lew Spence, Marily Keith, Alan Bergman - Nice 'n' Easy

Max Steiner - Theme from A Summer Place

Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen - Second Time Around Winner: Ernest Gold - Theme from Exodus Vocal Group The nominees were: Eydie Gorme, Steve Lawrence - We Got Us

The Hi-Los - All over the Place

The Brothers Four - Greenfields Lyrics

The Kingston Trio - Here We Go Again

The Swe-Danes - Scandinavian Shuffle Winner: Eydie Gorme, Steve Lawrence - We Got Us Vocal Performance - Pop Single Artist The nominees were: Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind Lyrics

Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight? Lyrics

Peggy Lee - Heart

Ella Fitzgerald - Mack The Knife Lyrics

Frank Sinatra - Nice 'n' Easy Lyrics Winner: Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind Lyrics











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