The 21st Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 15 1979, at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The show was presented by John Denver. The Academy presented awards to the artists for their best performance in the music industry for the year 1978. The show was telecasted live on American Television. Earth, Wind & Fire, John Williams and Quincy Jones were the mostly nominated artists for the year. Earth, Wind & Fire grasped 3 Grammys; whereas John Williams and Billy Joel were presented with 2 Grammy Awards each. The list of the nominees and winners for the year 1979 is given below.

Grammy Award Winners 1979

Album Of The Year
The nominees were:
  • Soundtrack Album - Saturday Night Fever
  • Even Now - Barry Manilow
  • Running on Empty - Jackson Browne
  • Grease - Original Soundtrack Album
  • The Rolling Stones - Some Girls
Winner: Soundtrack Album - Saturday Night Fever
 
Album Of The Year - Classical
The nominees were:
  • Carlo Maria Giulini conducting the Chicago Symphony (solo: Itzhak Perlman) - Brahms: Concerto for Violin in D Major
  • Carlo Maria Giulini conducting the Chicago Symphony - Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor (New World)
  • Claudio Abbado conducting the Vienna Philharmonic - Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major
  • Colin Davis conducting the Boston Symphony - Sibelius: Symphonies (Complete)
  • Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic - Beethoven: Symphonies (9) (Complete)
  • John Frandsen conducting the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Hansen, Landy, Johansen, Plesner, Bastian, Sorens) - Nielsen: Maskarade
  • Neville Marriner conducting the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields - Bach: Mass in B Minor
  • Vladimir Horowitz with Eugene Ormandy conducting the New York Philharmonic - Rachmaninov: Concerto No. 3 in D Minor for Piano (Horowitz Golden Jubilee)
Winner: Carlo Maria Giulini conducting the Chicago Symphony (solo: Itzhak Perlman) - Brahms: Concerto for Violin in D Major
 
Best Album Notes
The nominees were:
  • von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic - Beethoven: Symphonies (9)
  • various artists - Georgia Sea Island Songs
  • Los Angeles Philharmonic - Works of Carpenter/Gilbert/Weiss/Powell
Winner: von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic - Beethoven: Symphonies (9)
 
Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or Television Special
The nominees were:
  • John Williams - Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  • Giorgio Moroder, Chris Bennett, David Castle, William Hayes, Oliver Stone - Midnight Express
  • Morton Gould - Holocaust: The Story of the Family Weiss
  • Stu Phillip, John Tartaglia, Sue Collins, Glen Larson - Battlestar Galactica
Winner: John Williams - Close Encounters of the Third Kind
 
Best Album Package
The nominees were:
  • Carly Simon - Boys in the Trees
  • Steven Kuhn - Non-Fiction
  • Oregon - Out of the Woods
  • The Cars - The Cars Lyrics
  • Bruce Roberts - Bruce Roberts
  • Chuck Mangione - Children of Sanchez
  • Bob James - Heads
  • Fandango - Last Kiss
Winner: Carly Simon - Boys in the Trees
 
Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(S)
The nominees were:
  • Earth Wind & Fire - Got To Get You Into My Life Lyrics
  • Chick Corea - Falling Alice
  • Earth Wind & Fire - Fantasy Lyrics
  • Andrea Marcovicci - It Happens Very Softly
  • Christmas Festival Choracle and Orchestra - We Three Kings
Winner: Earth Wind & Fire - Got To Get You Into My Life Lyrics
 
Best Arrangement For Voices
The nominees were:
  • Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive Lyrics
  • Singers Unlimited - Cry Me a River
  • Vocal Jazz Inc. - High Clouds
  • McCoy Tyner - Rotunda
  • Quincy Jones - Stuff Like That Lyrics
Winner: Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive Lyrics
 
Best Cast Show Album
The nominees were:
  • Thomas Fats Waller and others - Ain't Misbehavin'
  • Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Cy Coleman - On the Twentieth Century
  • Carol Hall - The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
  • John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr - Beatlemania
  • Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II - The King and I
Winner: Thomas Fats Waller and others - Ain't Misbehavin'
 
Best Chamber Music Performance - Instrumental Or Vocal
The nominees were:
  • Itzhak Perlman, Valdimir Ashkenazy - Beethoven: Sonatas for Violin and Piano (Complete)
  • Tokyo String Quartet - Bartok: Quartet No. 2 for Strings, Op. 17; Quartet No. 6
  • Itzhak Perlman, Pincas Zukerman - Duets for 2 Violins
  • John Williams, Carlos Bonell, Brian Gascoigne, Morris Pert, Keith Marjoram - John Williams and Friends
  • Artur Rubinstein, members of the Guarneri Quartet - Mozart: Quartets for Piano and Strings
  • Melos Quaret with Mstislav Rostropovich - Schubert: Quintet in C Major for Strings
  • David Munrow conducting the David Munrow Recorder Consort, members of the Early Music Consort of London - The Art of the Recorder
Winner: Itzhak Perlman, Valdimir Ashkenazy - Beethoven: Sonatas for Violin and Piano (Complete)
 
Best Classical Performance - Choral
The nominees were:
  • Georg Solti, conductor, Margaret Hillis, choral director, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
  • Neville Marriner conducting the Chorus and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields - Bach: Mass in B Minor
  • Maurice Abravancl conducting the Utah Chorale and Symphony Orchestra - Bloch: Sacred Service
  • Leonard Bernstein, conductor, Joseph Flummerfelt, choral director, Westminster Choir and New York Philharmonic Choir and New York Philharmonic - Haydn: Mass No. 9 in D Minor (Lord Nelson Mass)
  • Leonard Slatkin, conductor, Thomas Peck, choral director, St. Louis Symphony Chorus and Orchestra - Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
  • Leonard Bernstein conducting the Trinity Boys' Choir, English Bach Festival Chorus, English Bach Festival Orchestra - Stravinsky: Les Noces and Mass
  • Riccardo Muti, conductor, Norbert Balatsch, choral director, New Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra - Vivaldi: Gloria in D Major and Magnificat
  • Georg Solti, conductor, John Alldis, choral director, London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestera - Walton: Belshazzar's Feast
Winner: Georg Solti, conductor, Margaret Hillis, choral director, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
 
Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist(S) With Orchestra
The nominees were:
  • Vladimir Horowitz, piano (Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra) - Rachmaninov: Concerto No. 3 in D Minor for Piano (Horowitz Golden Jubilee)
  • Mstislav Rostropovich, cello (Giulini conducting the London Philharmonic) - Dvorak: Concerto for Cello in B Minor; Saint-Saens: Concerto for Cello No. 1 in A Minor
  • Murray Perahia, piano (Perahia conducting the English Chamber Orchestra) - Mozart: Concertos for Piano No. 21 in C Major and No. 9 in E Flat Major
  • Arnold Jacobs, tuba (Barenboim conducting the Chicago Symphony) - Vaughan Williams: Concerto for Tuba
  • Itzhak Perlman, violin (Giulini conducting the Chicago Symphony) - Brahms: Concerto for Violin in D Major
  • Emanuel Ax, piano (Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra) - Chopin: Concerto No. 2 in F Minor for Piano
Winner: Vladimir Horowitz, piano (Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra) - Rachmaninov: Concerto No. 3 in D Minor for Piano (Horowitz Golden Jubilee)
 
Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist(S) Without Orchestra
The nominees were:
  • Vladimir Horowitz, piano - The Horowitz Concerts'77/78
  • Alfred Brendel, piano - Bach: Italian Concerto: Choral Prelude; Prelude S922; Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue; Fantasy and Fugue
  • Maurizio Pollini, piano - Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas
  • Charles Rosen, piano - Beethoven: Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli
  • Paul Jacobs, piano - Debussy: Preludes for Piano, Books I and II
  • Claudio Arrau, piano - Liszt: 12 Transcendenal Etudes and 3 Etudes de Concert
  • Rudolf Serkin, piano - Rudolf Serkin on Television
Winner: Vladimir Horowitz, piano - The Horowitz Concerts'77/78
 
Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
The nominees were:
  • Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic - Beethoven: Symphonies (9) (Complete)
  • Zubin Mehta conducting the New York Philharmonic - Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
  • Andre Previn conducting the Chicago Symphony - Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
  • Leonard Slatkin conducting the St. Louis Symphony - Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 in D Minor
  • Andre Previn conducting the London Symphony Orchestra - Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony
  • Kurt Masur conducting the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Mendelssohn: Symphonies (5) (Complete)
  • Claudio Abbado conducting the Vienna Philharmonic - Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D Major
  • Neville Marriner conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra - Holst: The Planets
  • Carlo Maria Giulini conducting the Chicago Symphony - Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor
  • Pierre Boulez conducting the New York Philharmonic - Varese: Ameriques; Arcana; Ionisation (Boulez Conducts Varese)
Winner: Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic - Beethoven: Symphonies (9) (Complete)
 
Best Classical Performance - Vocal Soloist
The nominees were:
  • Luciano Pavarotti (various accompanists) - Luciano Pavarotti, Hits from Lincoln Center
  • Maria Callas (various conductors and orchestras) - Maria Callas/The Legend: The Unreleased Recordings
  • Galina Vishnevskaya (Rostropovich conducting the London Philharmonic) - Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death
  • Marilyn Horne (Bernstein conducting the Orchestre National de France) - Ravel: Sheherazade
  • Teresa Berganza (Asensio conducting the English Chamber Orchestra) - Teresa Berganza, Favorite Zarzuela Arias
  • Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Kubelik conducting the Bavarian Radio Orchestra) - Wagner: Arias
  • Christa Ludwig (Bohm conducting the Vienna Philharmonic) - Brahms: Spring Rhapsody
Winner: Luciano Pavarotti (various accompanists) - Luciano Pavarotti, Hits from Lincoln Center
 
Best Comedy Recording
The nominees were:
  • Steve Martin - A Wild and Crazy Guy
  • Lily Tomlin - On Stage
  • Martin Mull - Sex and Violins
  • Richard Pryor - The Wizard of Comedy
  • Rutles - The Rutles (All You Need Is Cash)
Winner: Steve Martin - A Wild and Crazy Guy
 
Best Country & Western Instrumental Performance
The nominees were:
  • Asleep at the Wheel - One O'Clock Jump
  • Roy Clark, Buck Trent - Banjo Bandits
  • Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass - Cookin' Country
  • Roy Clark - Steel Guitar Rag
  • Doc Watson, Merle Watson - Under the Double Eagle
Winner: Asleep at the Wheel - One O'Clock Jump
 
Best Country & Western Song
The nominees were:
  • Don Schlitz - The Gambler
  • Archie Jordan, Naomi Martin - Let's Take the Long Way Around the World
  • David A. Coe - Take This Job and Shove It
  • Ed Bruce, Patsy Bruce - Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
  • Jan Dyer, Jeffrey Tweel - Every Time Two Fools Collide
Winner: Don Schlitz - The Gambler
 
Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Duo Or Group
The nominees were:
  • Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson - Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
  • Kenny Rogers, Dottie West - Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight
  • Oak Ridge Boys - Cryin' Again Lyrics
  • The Statler Brothers - Do You Know You Are My Sunshine Lyrics
  • Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius - If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight
  • Charlie Rich with Janie Fricke - On My Knees
Winner: Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson - Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
 
Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female
The nominees were:
  • Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
  • Emmylou Harris - Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town
  • Barbara Mandrell - Sleeping Single in a Double Bed Lyrics
  • Crystal Gayle - Talkin' in Your Sleep
  • Anne Murray - Walk Right Back Lyrics
Winner: Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
 
Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Male
The nominees were:
  • Willie Nelson - Georgia on My Mind Lyrics
  • Waylon Jennings - I've Always Been Crazy Lyrics
  • Ronnie Milsap - Let's Take The Long Way Around The World Lyrics
  • Kenny Rogers - Love Or Something Like It Lyrics
  • Elvis Presley - Softly As I Leave You Lyrics
  • Johnny Paycheck - Take This Job And Shove It Lyrics
Winner: Willie Nelson - Georgia on My Mind Lyrics
 
Best Engineered Recording
The nominees were:
  • Steely Dan - FM (No Static at All)
  • Diahann Carroll - A Tribute to Ethel Waters
  • Earth, Wind & Fire - All 'n' All
  • John Williams - Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  • Alan Parsons Project - Pyramid
  • Quincy Jones - Sounds ...and Stuff Like That
Winner: Steely Dan - FM (No Static at All)
 
Best Engineered Recording - Classical
The nominees were:
  • Boulez Conducts Varese - Varese: Ameriques; Arcana; Ionisation
  • von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic - Beethoven: Symphonies (9) (Complete)
  • Slatkin conducting the St. Louis Symphony and Chorus - Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
  • Previn conducting the London Symphony - Messiaen: Turangalilia Symphony
  • Marriner conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra - Holst: The Planets
  • Marriner conducting the Chorus and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields - Bach: Mass in B Minor
  • Fredrick Fennell - Cleveland Symphonic Winds
  • von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic - Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Major
  • Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra - Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
  • Leinsdorf conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic - Wagner: Die Walkure: Ride of the Valkyries; Tristan: Prelude Act 1; Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Fun
Winner: Boulez Conducts Varese - Varese: Ameriques; Arcana; Ionisation
 
Best Ethnic Or Traditional Recording
The nominees were:
  • Muddy Waters - I'm Ready
  • Clifton Chenier - Clifton Chenier and His Red Hot Louisiana Band in New Orleans
  • Fenton Robinson - I Hear Some Blues Downstairs
  • Louis Myers, John Littlejohn, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Rogers, Johnny Shines, Homesick James Williamson, Bob Myers - Chicago Blues at Home
  • Memphis Slim & His House Rockers, featuring Matt Guitar Murphy - U.S.A.
Winner: Muddy Waters - I'm Ready
 
Best Gospel Performance - Contemporary Or Inspirational
The nominees were:
  • Larry Hart - What a Friend
  • Evie - Come On, Ring Those Bells
  • Barry McGuire - Cosmic Cowboy
  • McGuire - Destined to Be Yours
  • Imperials - Imperials Live
  • Reba - The Lady Is a Child
Winner: Larry Hart - What a Friend
 
Best Gospel Performance - Traditional
The nominees were:
  • Happy Goodman Family - Refreshing
  • J.D. Summer & the Stamps Quartet - Elvis' Favorite Gospel Songs
  • Blackwood Brothers - His Amazing Love
  • Cathedral Quartet - Sunshine and Roses
  • George Beverly Shea - The Old Rugged Cross
Winner: Happy Goodman Family - Refreshing
 
Best Historical Repackage Album
The nominees were:
  • Edison - The First Recorded Sounds'88 to'29
  • Maria Callas - La Divina
  • Ravens - The Greatest Group of Them All
Winner: Edison - The First Recorded Sounds'88 to'29
 
Best Inspirational Performance
The nominees were:
  • B.J. Thomas - Happy Man
  • Billy Preston - Behold
  • Boones - First Class
  • Larry Hart - Goin' up in Smoke
  • Tennessee Ernie Ford - He Touched Me
  • Anita Kerr - Precious Memories
Winner: B.J. Thomas - Happy Man
 
Best Instrumental Arrangement
The nominees were:
  • Quincy Jones, Robert Freedman - Main Title (Overture Part One), The Wiz original soundtrack
  • Alan Broadbent - Aja (Woody Herman Band)
  • Joe Roccisano - Green Earrings (Woody Herman Band)
  • Chick Corea - Mad Hatter Rhapsody (Chick Corea)
  • Tom Tom 84 - Runnin' (Earth, Wind & Fire)
Winner: Quincy Jones, Robert Freedman - Main Title (Overture Part One), The Wiz original soundtrack
 
Best Instrumental Composition
The nominees were:
  • John Williams - Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  • Chick Corea - Friends
  • Chuck Mangione - Consuelo's Love Theme
  • Lee Ritenour - The Captain's Journey
  • Quincy Jones, Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson - End of the Yellow Brick Road
Winner: John Williams - Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
 
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band
The nominees were:
  • Thad Jones, Mel Lewis - Live in Munich
  • Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass - Big Band Jazz
  • Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band - Insights
  • Dexter Gordon & Orchestra - Sophisticated Giant
  • Thad Jones - Thad Jones Greetings and Salutations
Winner: Thad Jones, Mel Lewis - Live in Munich
 
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Group
The nominees were:
  • Chick Corea - Friends
  • Al Cohn, Jimmy Rowles - Heavy Love
  • Woody Shaw Concert Ensemble - Rosewood
  • Phil Woods Quintet - Song for Sisyphus
  • Stan Getz, Jimmy Rowles - The Peacocks
Winner: Chick Corea - Friends
 
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Soloist
The nominees were:
  • Oscar Peterson - Montreaux '77, Oscar Peterson Jam
  • Al Cohn - Heavy Love (Al Cohn, Jimmy Rowles)
  • Woody Shaw - Rosewood
  • Dexter Gordon - Sophisticated Giant
  • Stan Getz - Stan Getz Gold
Winner: Oscar Peterson - Montreaux '77, Oscar Peterson Jam
 
Best Jazz Vocal Performance
The nominees were:
  • Al Jarreau - All Fly Home
  • Irene Kral - Gentle Rain
  • Sarah Vaughan - How Long Has This Been Going On
  • Eddie Jefferson - The Main Man
  • Mel Torme - Together Again, for the First Time
  • Ray Charles - True to Life
Winner: Al Jarreau - All Fly Home
 
Best Latin Recording
The nominees were:
  • Tito Puente - Homenaje a Beny More
  • Eddie Palmieri - Lucumi, Macumba, Voodoo
  • Fania All Stars - Coro Miyare
  • Laurindo Almeida - Laurindo Almeida Trio
  • Mongo Santamaria - Mongo a la Carte
  • Orchestra Harlow - La Raza Latina
Winner: Tito Puente - Homenaje a Beny More
 
Best Opera Recording
The nominees were:
  • Julius Rudel conducting the New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Sills, Titus) - Lehar: The Merry Widow
  • Carlos Kleiber conducting the Bavarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra (solos: Cotrubas, Domingo, Milnes) - Verdi: La Traviata
  • Colin Davis conducting the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (solos: Baker, Popp, Minton, von Stade, Burrows) - Mozart: La Clemenza di Tito
  • Gennady Rozhdestvensky conducting the Chorus and Orchestra of the Moscow Chamber Opera with soloists - Shostakovich: The Nose
  • Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic (solos: Behrens, van Dam) - R. Strauss: Salome
  • John Frandsen conducting the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Hansen, Landy, Johansen, Plesner, Bastian, Sorensen) - Nielsen: Maskarade
  • Julius Rudel conducting the Chorus and Orchestra of the Paris Opera (solos: Sills, Gedda) - Charpentier: Louise
  • Zubin Mehta conducting the Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (solos: Neblett, Domingo, Milnes) - Puccini: La Fanciulla del West
Winner: Julius Rudel conducting the New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Sills, Titus) - Lehar: The Merry Widow
 
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
The nominees were:
  • Chuck Mangione - Children of Sanchez
  • Chet Atkins, Les Paul - Guitar Monsters
  • Zubin Mehta conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic - Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  • Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther Theme ('78)
  • John Williams - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (soundtrack)
Winner: Chuck Mangione - Children of Sanchez
 
Best Recording For Children
The nominees were:
  • The Muppet Show - Muppets
  • Charlie Brown's All-Stars
  • Peter and the Wolf - David Bowie, Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra
  • Sesame Street Fever - Muppets
  • The Hobbit (soundtrack) - Orson Bean, John Huston, Hans Conried
Winner: The Muppet Show - Muppets
 
Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance
The nominees were:
  • Earth, Wind & Fire - Runnin'
  • Crusaders - Images
  • Stanley Clarke - Modern Man
  • Brothers Johnson - Streetwave
  • Average White Band - Sweet and Sour
Winner: Earth, Wind & Fire - Runnin'
 
Best Rhythm & Blues Song
The nominees were:
  • Paul Jabara - Last Dance
  • Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff - Use Ta Be My Girl
  • Maurice White, Eddie de Barrio, Verdine White - Fantasy
  • Perry Kibble, Janice Johnson - Boogie Oogie Oogie
  • Bernard Edwards, Kenny Lehman, Nile Rogers - Dance, Dance, Dance
Winner: Paul Jabara - Last Dance
 
Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo, Group Or Chorus
The nominees were:
  • Earth, Wind & Fire - All 'n' All
  • A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
  • Diana Ross, Michael Jackson - Ease on Down the Road
  • Commodores - Natural High
  • O'Jays - Use ta Be My Girl
Winner: Earth, Wind & Fire - All 'n' All
 
Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Female
The nominees were:
  • Donna Summer - Last Dance Lyrics
  • Alicia Bridges - I Love The Night Life Lyrics
  • Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman Lyrics
  • Natalie Cole - Our Love Lyrics
  • Aretha Franklin - Almighty Fire
Winner: Donna Summer - Last Dance Lyrics
 
Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Male
The nominees were:
  • George Benson - On Broadway Lyrics
  • Teddy Pendergrass - Close The Door Lyrics
  • Peter Brown - Dance with Me
  • Ray Charles - I Can See Clearly Now
  • Lou Rawls - When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All
Winner: George Benson - On Broadway Lyrics
 
Best Soul Gospel Performance - Contemporary
The nominees were:
  • Andrae Crouch & The Disciples - Live in London
  • Highland Park Community Choir, Inc. - Because He's Jesus
  • Danniebelle, Choralerna - Danniebelle Live in Sweden with Choralerna
  • Walter Hawkins - Love Alive II
  • Shirley Caeser - Reach Out and Touch
  • Loleatta Holloway - You Light Up My Life
Winner: Andrae Crouch & The Disciples - Live in London
 
Best Soul Gospel Performance - Traditional
The nominees were:
  • Mighty Clouds of Joy - Live and Direct
  • Gladys McFadden, Loving Sisters - Amazing Grace
  • James Cleveland & the Salem Inspirational Choir, directred by Doretha Wade - I Don't Feel Noways Tired
  • Rev. Isaac Douglas, featuring the San Francisco Community Singers, 21st Century Singers - Special Appearance
  • James Cleveland & the Charles Fold Singers, directed by Charles Fold – Tomorrow
Winner: Mighty Clouds of Joy - Live and Direct
 
Best Spoken Word Recording
The nominees were:
  • Orson Welles - Citizen Kane (original motion picture soundtrack)
  • original soundtrack for Television - Roots
  • Judith Anderson, Claire Bloom, James Mason, George Rose, Gordon Gould - Wuthering Heights
  • ready by Henry Fonda - John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath (excerpts)
  • Richard Nixon, David Frost - The Nixon Interviews with David Frost
Winner: Orson Welles - Citizen Kane (original motion picture soundtrack)
 
Hall Of Fame Inductees
The nominees were:
  • Count Basie - One O'Clock Jump
  • Les Paul and Mary Ford - How High the Moon
  • Sergei Rachmaninoff (piano), Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra - Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Winner: Count Basie - One O'Clock Jump
 
New Artist
The nominees were:
  • A Taste Of Honey Lyrics
  • Chris Rea Lyrics
  • Toto Lyrics
  • Elvis Costello Lyrics
  • The Cars Lyrics
Winner: A Taste Of Honey Lyrics
 
Pop Female Vocalist
The nominees were:
  • Anne Murray - You Needed Me Lyrics
  • Donna Summer - Mac Arthur Park Lyrics
  • Carly Simon - You Belong To Me Lyrics
  • Barbra Streisand - You Don't Bring Me Flowers Lyrics
  • Olivia Newton-John - Hopelessly Devoted To You Lyrics
Winner: Anne Murray - You Needed Me Lyrics
 
Pop Male Vocalist
The nominees were:
  • Barry Manilow - Copacabana (at The Copa) Lyrics
  • Gino Vannelli - I Just Wanna Stop Lyrics
  • Jackson Browne - Running on Empty Lyrics
  • Dan Hill - Sometimes When We Touch Lyrics
  • Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street Lyrics
Winner: Barry Manilow - Copacabana (at The Copa) Lyrics
 
Pop Vocal Group
The nominees were:
  • The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever
  • Earth Wind & Fire - Got To Get You Into My Life Lyrics
  • Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway - The Closer I Get to You
  • Commodores - Three Times A Lady Lyrics
  • Steely Dan - FM (No Static at All)
Winner: The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever
 
Producer Of The Year
The nominees were:
  • Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten, Karl Richardson
  • Peter Asher
  • Phil Ramone
  • Quincy Jones Lyrics
  • Alan Parsons Lyrics
Winner: Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten, Karl Richardson
 
Record Of The Year
The nominees were:
  • Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are Lyrics
  • Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good
  • Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street Lyrics
  • Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive Lyrics
  • Anne Murray - You Needed Me Lyrics
Winner: Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are Lyrics
 
Song Of The Year
The nominees were:
  • Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are Lyrics
  • Bary Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb - Stayin' Alive
  • Lionel Richie - Three Times A Lady Lyrics
  • Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman - You Don't Bring Me Flowers
  • Randy Goodrum - You Needed Me
Winner: Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are Lyrics
 
Trustees Award
The nominees were:
  • Frank Sinatra Lyrics
  • Goddard Lieberson
Winner: Frank Sinatra Lyrics