1962 Grammy Award Winners

Winners Announced: May 29, 1962
Held at: Chicago, Los Angeles and New York
Host: Frank Sinatra
Eligibility Year: December 1, 1960 – November 30, 1961

Music Highlights and Achievements

Sinatra’s Hosting Charm: The Rat Pack’s very own Frank Sinatra took on the hosting duties, adding a layer of elegance and swagger to the ceremony.
Henry Mancini’s Night: Composer Henry Mancini dominated with his Breakfast at Tiffany’s soundtrack, including the iconic song “Moon River.”
Judy Garland’s Comeback: Judy Garland won Album of the Year for her live recording Judy at Carnegie Hall, marking a powerful comeback in her career.
Ernest Gold’s Exodus: The song “Exodus” by Ernest Gold from the movie of the same name grabbed Song of the Year, showing that film music could also steal the Grammy spotlight.

Trivia

Multiple City Hosting: This was one of the early Grammy ceremonies to be held in multiple cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
Peter Nero’s Break: Pianist Peter Nero won Best New Artist, a huge boost to his budding career.
Mancini’s Run: Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” also won at the Oscars, a rare feat of capturing both film and music industry accolades.
Sinatra’s Debut: This was Frank Sinatra’s first time hosting the Grammys, making the event particularly special for Ol’ Blue Eyes fans.
Take our 1962 Quiz!

1962 Grammy Winners

Record of the Year:
Moon River, Henry Mancini

Album of the Year:
Judy at Carnegie Hall, Judy Garland (Capitol)

Song of the Year:
Moon River, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, songwriters

Best New Artist of 1961:
Peter Nero

Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male:
Lollipops and Roses, Jack Jones

Best Solo Vocal Performance, Female:
Judy at Carnegie Hall, Judy Garland

Best Performance By a Vocal Group:
High Flying, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross

Best Performance By a Chorus:
Great Band With Great Voices, Johnny Mann Singers and Si Zentner Orchestra

Best Rock and Roll Recording:
Let’s Twist Again, Chubby Checker (Parkway)

Best Rhythm and Blues Recording:
Hit the Road Jack, Ray Charles (ABC/Paramount)

Best Jazz Performance, Soloist or Small Group (Instrumental):
André Previn Plays Harold Arlen, André Previn

Best Jazz Performance, Large Group:
West Side Story, Stan Kenton

Best Original Jazz Composition:
African Waltz, Galt MacDermott, composer

Best Country and Western Recording:
Big Bad John, Jimmy Dean (Columbia)

Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording:
Everytime I Feel the Spirit, Mahalia Jackson (Columbia)

Best Folk Recording:
Belafonte Folk Singers at Home and Abroad, Belafonte Folk Singers (RCA)

Best Performance By an Orchestra for Dancing:
Up a Lazy River, Si Zentner

Best Performance By an Orchestra for Other Than Dancing:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Henry Mancini

Best Arrangement:
Moon River, Henry Mancini, arranger

Best Instrumental Theme or Instrumental Version of a Song:
African Waltz, Galt MacDermott, composer

Best Original Cast Show Album:
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Frank Loesser, composer (RCA)

Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Score From a Motion Picture or Television:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Henry Mancini (RCA)

Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Original Cast From a Motion Picture or Television:
West Side Story, Johnny Green, Saul Chaplin, Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal (Columbia)

Album of the Year, Classical:
Stravinsky Conducts, 1960: Le Sacre du Printemps; Petrouchka, lgor Stravinsky conducting Columbia Symphony (Columbia)

Best Classical Performance, Orchestra:
Ravel, Daphnis et Chloe, Charles Munch conducting Boston Symphony Orchestra

Best Classical Performance, Chamber Music:
Beethoven, Serenade, Op. 8; Kodaly, Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7, Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky and William Primrose

Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist (With Orchestra):
Bartók, Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, Isaac Stern; Eugene Ormandy conducting Philharmonic Orchestra

Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist or Duo (Without Orchestra):
Reverie for Spanish Guitars, Laurindo Almeida

Best Opera Recording:
Puccini, Madame Butterfly, Gabriele Santini conducting Rome Opera Chorus and Orchestra (Capitol)

Best Classical Performance, Choral:
Bach, B Minor Mass, Robert Shaw conducting Robert Shaw Chorale

Best Classical Performance, Vocal Soloist:
The Art of the Prima Donna, Joan Sutherland; Francesco Molinari-Pradelli conducting Royal Opera House Orchestra

Best Contemporary Classical Composition (tie):
Discantus, Laurindo Almeida, composer
Movements for Piano and Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky, composer

Best Comedy Performance:
An Evening With Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Mike Nichols and Elaine May

Best Documentary or Spoken Word Recording (Other Than Comedy):
Humor in Music, Leonard Bernstein conducting New York Philharmonic Symphony (Columbia)

Best Recording for Children:
Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf, Leonard Bernstein conducting New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Columbia)

Best Album Cover:
Judy at Carnegie Hall, Jim Silke, art director (Capitol)

Best Album Cover, Classical:
Puccini, Madame Butterfly, Marvin Schwartz, art director (Angel)