The First Grammys

The first Grammy Awards were held of May 4, 1959. Among the winners that year were:

Record of the Year (and Song of the Year): "Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu" (Volare), Domenico Modugno

Best Album: The Music From Peter Gunn, Henry Mancini

Best Vocal Performance by a Male: “Catch a Falling Star,” Perry Como

Best Vocal Performance by a Female: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book, Ella Fitzgerald

Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus: “That Old Black Magic,” Louis Prima and Keely Smith

Best Rhythm and Blues Performance: “Tequila,”
Champs

Best Jazz Performance by an Individual: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book, Ella Fitzgerald

Best Jazz Performance by a Group: Basie, Count Basie

Best C&W Performance: “Tom Dooley,” Kingston Trio

Best Original Cast Album, Broadway or Television: The Music Man, Meredith Willson

Best Soundtrack Album, Dramatic Picture Score Or Original Cast: Gigi, André Previn

Best Recording for Children (also Best Comedy Performance): "The Chipmunk Song", Ross Bagdasarian Sr. as "David Seville and the Chipmunks"

Best Album Cover Photography: Only the Lonely, Frank Sinatra

It's amazing how many of these songs are still familiar to us, isn't it?

Photo: Only the Lonely, Frank Sinatra