1963 Grammy Award Winners
Winners Announced: May 15, 1963
Televised: December 8, 1963
Held at: Chicago, Los Angeles and New York
Host: Frank Sinatra
Eligibility Year: December 1, 1961 – November 30, 1962
Musical Highlights and Achievements
- Vaughn Meader Stuns: A relatively unknown comic, Vaughn Meader took home the Album of the Year for The First Family, a comedy album parodying President Kennedy.
- Tony Bennett’s Big Night: Tony Bennett won Record of the Year for I Left My Heart in San Francisco, which became one of his signature songs.
- Pioneering Female Award: The first Best Female Pop Vocal Performance went to Ella Fitzgerald for Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson.
- Classical Milestone: Leonard Bernstein won multiple awards for his conducting, solidifying his place in classical music history.
Trivia
- Sinatra Double-Duty: Sinatra hosted both the Grammys and the Oscars in 1963, proving his versatility as an entertainer.
- Posthumous Honors: Country legend Patsy Cline, who had passed away earlier that year, was nominated posthumously.
- Mancini’s Continual Success: Henry Mancini, fresh off an Oscar win for “Moon River,” won a Grammy for Hatari!.
- Televised Delay: Although winners were announced in May, the ceremony wasn’t televised until December as “Best on Record.”
- Take our 1963 Quiz!
Record of the Year:
I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Tony Bennett
I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Tony Bennett
Album of the Year:
The First Family, Vaughn Meader (Cadence)
The First Family, Vaughn Meader (Cadence)
Song of the Year:
What Kind of Fool Am I, Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, songwriters
What Kind of Fool Am I, Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, songwriters
Best New Artist of 1962:
Robert Goulet
Robert Goulet
Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male:
I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Tony Bennett
I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Tony Bennett
Best Solo Vocal Performance, Female:
Ella Swings Brightly With Nelson Riddle, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Swings Brightly With Nelson Riddle, Ella Fitzgerald
Best Performance By a Vocal Group:
If I Had a Hammer, Peter, Paul and Mary
If I Had a Hammer, Peter, Paul and Mary
Best Performance By a Chorus:
Presenting the New Christy Minstrels, New Christy Minstrels
Presenting the New Christy Minstrels, New Christy Minstrels
Best Rock and Roll Recording:
Alley Cat, Bent Fabric (Atco)
Alley Cat, Bent Fabric (Atco)
Best Rhythm and Blues Recording:
I Can’t Stop Loving You, Ray Charles (ABC)
I Can’t Stop Loving You, Ray Charles (ABC)
Best Jazz Performance, Soloist or Small Group (Instrumental):
Desafinado, Stan Getz
Desafinado, Stan Getz
Best Jazz Performance, Large Group (Instrumental):
Adventures in Jazz, Stan Kenton
Adventures in Jazz, Stan Kenton
Best Original Jazz Composition:
Cast Your Fate to the Winds, Vince Guaraldi, composer
Cast Your Fate to the Winds, Vince Guaraldi, composer
Best Country and Western Recording:
Funny Way of Laughin’, Burl Ives (Decca)
Funny Way of Laughin’, Burl Ives (Decca)
Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording:
Great Songs of Love and Faith, Mahalia Jackson (Columbia)
Great Songs of Love and Faith, Mahalia Jackson (Columbia)
Best Folk Recording:
If I Had a Hammer, Peter, Paul and Mary (Warner Bros.)
If I Had a Hammer, Peter, Paul and Mary (Warner Bros.)
Best Performance By an Orchestra for Dancing:
Fly Me to the Moon Bossa Nova, Joe Harnell
Fly Me to the Moon Bossa Nova, Joe Harnell
Best Performance By an Orchestra or Instrumentalist With Orchestra, Not for Jazz or Dancing:
The Colorful Peter Nero, Peter Nero
The Colorful Peter Nero, Peter Nero
Best Instrumental Arrangement:
Baby Elephant Walk, Henry Mancini, arranger
Baby Elephant Walk, Henry Mancini, arranger
Best Background Arrangement:
I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Marty Manning, arranger
I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Marty Manning, arranger
Best Instrumental Theme:
A Taste of Honey, Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow, composers
A Taste of Honey, Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow, composers
Best Original Cast Show Album:
No Strings, Richard Rodgers, composer (Capitol)
No Strings, Richard Rodgers, composer (Capitol)
Album of the Year, Classical:
Columbia Records Presents Vladimir Horowitz, Vladimir Horowitz (Columbia)
Columbia Records Presents Vladimir Horowitz, Vladimir Horowitz (Columbia)
Best Classical Performance, Orchestra:
Stravinsky, The Firebird Ballet, Igor Stravinsky conducting Columbia Symphony
Stravinsky, The Firebird Ballet, Igor Stravinsky conducting Columbia Symphony
Best Classical Performance, Chamber Music:
The Heifetz-Piatigorsky Concerts With Primrose, Pennario and Guests, Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky and William Primrose
The Heifetz-Piatigorsky Concerts With Primrose, Pennario and Guests, Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky and William Primrose
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (With Orchestra):
Stravinsky, Concerto in D for Violin, Isaac Stern; Igor Stravinsky conducting Columbia Symphony
Stravinsky, Concerto in D for Violin, Isaac Stern; Igor Stravinsky conducting Columbia Symphony
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist or Duo (Without Orchestra):
Columbia Records Presents Vladimir Horowitz, Vladimir Horowitz
Columbia Records Presents Vladimir Horowitz, Vladimir Horowitz
Best Opera Recording:
Verdi, Aïda, Georg Solti conducting Rome Opera House Orchestra and Chorus; solos: Price, Vickers, Gorr, Merrill and Tozzi (RCA)
Verdi, Aïda, Georg Solti conducting Rome Opera House Orchestra and Chorus; solos: Price, Vickers, Gorr, Merrill and Tozzi (RCA)
Best Classical Performance, Choral:
Bach, St. Matthew Passion, Philharmonia Choir, Wilhelm Pitz, choral director; Otto Klemperer conducting Philharmonic Orchestra
Bach, St. Matthew Passion, Philharmonia Choir, Wilhelm Pitz, choral director; Otto Klemperer conducting Philharmonic Orchestra
Best Classical Performance, Vocal Soloist (With or Without Orchestra):
Wagner, Götterdämerung Brunnhilde’s Immolation Scene; Wesendonck, Songs, Eileen Farrell; Leonard Bernstein conducting New York Philharmonic
Wagner, Götterdämerung Brunnhilde’s Immolation Scene; Wesendonck, Songs, Eileen Farrell; Leonard Bernstein conducting New York Philharmonic
Best Classical Composition By Contemporary Composer:
The Flood, Igor Stravinsky, composer
The Flood, Igor Stravinsky, composer
Best Comedy Performance:
The First Family, Vaughn Meader
The First Family, Vaughn Meader
Best Documentary or Spoken Word Recording (Other Than Comedy):
The Story-Teller: A Session With Charles Laughton, Charles Laughton (Capitol)
The Story-Teller: A Session With Charles Laughton, Charles Laughton (Capitol)
Best Recording for Children:
Saint-Saëns, Carnival of the Animals; Britten, Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein (Columbia)
Saint-Saëns, Carnival of the Animals; Britten, Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein (Columbia)
Best Album Cover:
Lena… Lovely and Alive, Robert Jones, art director (RCA)
Lena… Lovely and Alive, Robert Jones, art director (RCA)
Best Album Cover, Classical:
The Intimate Bach, Marvin Schwartz, art director (Capitol)
The Intimate Bach, Marvin Schwartz, art director (Capitol)