Grammy Award Winners 1961
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
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
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- 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
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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 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
Best Soundtrack Album Or Recording Of Music Score From A Motion Picture Or Television
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Bob Newhart
- Joanie Sommers
- Leontyne Pryce
- Miriam Makeba Lyrics
- The Brothers Four Lyrics
Winner: Bob Newhart
Record Of The Year
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
