Grammy Firsts

And the Grammy goes to... William 'Count' Bassie

May 4, 1959

William 'Count' Bassie was the first African American mele to win a Grammy. The jazz enthusiast won a Grammy for Best Jazz Performance (Group) and Best Performace by a Dance Band in the inagural ceremony. Bassie established the jazz art form to be taken seriously by all. His work was compared to other jazz legends such as Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson. By 1937, the Count Bassie Orchestra had become one of the leading bands in New York City.

And the Grammy goes to... Ella Fitzgerald

May 4, 1959

Ella Fitzgerald was the first African American woman to win a Grammy. 'The First Lady of Song' won for Best Vocal Performance for "But Not For Me" and Best Jazz Performance Individual for Ella Fitzgerald for Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook. She would go on to win 13 Grammys and sell over 40 million albums over during her career. Ella was known for her sultry ballads and wide vocal range. She worked with other artists such as Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie.

And the Grammy goes to.... Duke Ellington

Nov 29, 1959

Best Performance By A Dance Band - Anatomy Of A Murder Best Musical Composition First Recorded and Released in 1959 (More Than Five Minutes Duration) - Anantomy Of A Murder Best Soundtrack Album -Background Score From A Motion Picture Or Television- Anatomy Of A Murder

And the Grammy goes to... Nat King Cole

Nov 29, 1959

Best Performance By A "Top 40" Artist- Midnight Flyer

And the Grammy goes to... Ray Charles

Apr 12, 1961

Best Vocal Performance Single Record Or Track, Male- Georgia On My Mind Best Vocal Performance Album, Male- The Genius of Ray Charles Best Performance By A Pop Single Artist- Georgia On My Mind Best Rhythm and Blues Performance- Let The Good Times Roll

And the Grammy goes to... Mahalia Jackson

May 29, 1962

Best Gospel Or Other Religious Recording- Everytime I Feel the Spirit

And the Grammy goes to... Leontyne Price

May 12, 1964

Best Classical Performance: Vocal Soloist (With Or Without Orchestra) -Great Scenes From Gershwin's Porgy and Bess

And the Grammy goes to... Bill Cosby

Apr 13, 1965

Best Comedy Performance- I Started Out As A Child

And the Grammy goes to... Ramsey Lewis

Mar 15, 1966

Best Instrumental Jazz Performance- Small Group or Soloist With Small Group - The "In" Crowd

And the Grammy goes to... James Brown

Mar 15, 1966

Best Rhythm And Blues Recording- Papa's Got A Brand New Bag

And the Grammy goes to... Cortelia Clark

Mar 2, 1967

Best Folk Recording- Blues In The Street

And the Grammy goes to... Whitney Houston

Feb 25, 1986

Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female- Saving All My Love For You

And the Grammy goes to... Naughty By Nature

Feb 28, 1996

Best Rap Album- Poverty's Paradise

And the Grammy goes to... Brandy and Monica

Feb 24, 1999

Best R&B Peformance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal- The Boy Is Mine

And the Grammy goes to... Destiny's Child

Feb 21, 2001

Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal - Say My Name

And the Grammy goes to Beyonce ft. Jay-Z

Feb 8, 2004

Best Rap/Song Collaboration- Crazy In Love