1964 Grammy Award Winners

Winners Announced: May 12, 1964
Held at: Chicago, Los Angeles and New York
Host: Dean Martin
Eligibility Year: December 1, 1962 – November 30, 1963

Musical Highlights and Achievements

• Barbra’s Big Night: Barbra Streisand dazzled the Grammys with her debut album, taking home two awards, including Album of the Year for The Barbra Streisand Album.
• “Days of Wine and Roses” Domination: Henry Mancini’s Days of Wine and Roses won the Song of the Year award and became an instant classic.
• Jazz Takes the Stage: Jazz great Stan Getz and João Gilberto’s bossa nova record Getz/Gilberto was a critical success, winning the Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
• Legendary Ladies: Streisand and Ella Fitzgerald were among the women who shone that night, highlighting the influence of female artists in a largely male-dominated industry.

Trivia

• Frank Sinatra’s Absence: Despite his influence and the release of The Concert Sinatra, the legend was notably absent from the winners’ list.
• British Invasion Lags Behind: Even though The Beatles had ignited a global frenzy, their work didn’t capture Grammy gold until later years.
• Dean Martin, the Rat Pack Charmer: The host, known for his smooth voice and comedic timing, was a key member of the legendary Rat Pack, enhancing the evening’s glamorous vibe.
• Streisand’s Swift Rise: At just 21, Barbra Streisand became one of the youngest Album of the Year winners at the time.
• Take our 1964 Quiz!

1964 Grammy Winners

Record of the Year:
The Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini

Album of the Year:
The Barbra Streisand AlbumThe Barbra Streisand Album – Barbra Streisand (Columbia)

Song of the Year:
The Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, composers

Best Vocal Performance, Male:
Wives and Lovers – Jack Jones

Best Vocal Performance, Female:
The Barbra Streisand Album – Barbra Streisand

Best Performance By a Vocal Group:
Blowin’ in the Wind – Peter, Paul and Mary

Best Performance By a Chorus:
Bach’s Greatest Hits – Swingle Singers

Best Rock and Roll Recording:
Deep Purple – Nino Tempo and April Stevens (Atco):

Best Rhythm and Blues Recording:
Busted – Ray Charles (ABC/Paramount):

Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Soloist or Small Group:
Conversations With Myself – Bill Evans

Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Large Group:
Encore: Woody Herman, 1963 – Woody Herman Band

Best Original Jazz Composition:
Gravy Waltz – Steve Allen and Ray Brown, composers

Best Country and Western Recording:
Detroit City – Bobby Bare (RCA)

Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording (Musical):
Dominique – Soeur Sourire (The Singing Nun) (Philips)

Best Folk Recording:
Blowin’ in the Wind – Peter, Paul and Mary (Warner Brothers):

Best Performance By an Orchestra for Dancing:
This Time by Basie! Hits of the ’50s and ’60s – Count Basie

Best Performance By an Orchestra or Instrumentalist With Orchestra, Not for Jazz or Dancing:
Java – Al Hirt

Best Instrumental Arrangement:
I Can’t Stop Loving You – Quincy Jones, arranger

Best Background Arrangement:
The Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini, arranger

Best Instrumental Theme:
More (Theme From Mondo Cane) – Norman NewellNorman Newell, Nino Oliviero and Riz Ortolani, composers

Best Original Score From a Motion Picture or Television Show:
Tom Jones – John Addison, Composer

Best Score From an Original Cast Show Album:
She Loves Me – Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, composers (MGM)

Album of the Year, Classical:
Britten, War Requiem – Benjamin Britten conducting London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (London)

Most Promising New Classical Recording Artist:
André WattsAndré Watts, pianist

Best Classical Performance, Orchestra:
BartókBartók, Concerto for Orchestra – Erich Leinsdorf conducting Boston Symphony Orchestra

Best Classical Performance, Chamber Music:
Evening of Elizabethan MusicElizabethan Music – Julian Bream Consort

Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (With Orchestra):
Tchaikovsky, Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor for Piano and Orchestra – Artur Rubinstein; Erich Leinsdorf conducting Boston Symphony Orchestra

Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist or Duo (Without Orchestra):
The Sound of Horowitz, Vladimir Horowitz

Best Opera Recording:
Puccini, Madama Butterfly – Erich Leinsdorf conducting RCA ItalianaRCA Italiana Opera Orchestra and Chorus; solos: Price, Tucker and Elias (RCA)

Best Classical Performance, Choral:
Britten, War Requiem – David WillcocksDavid Willcocks directing Bach Choir; Edward Chapman,  directing Highgate School; Benjamin Britten conducting London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

Best Classical Performance, Vocal Soloist (With or Without Orchestra):
Great Scenes From Gershwin’s Porgy and BessGershwin’s Porgy and Bess – Leontyne Price

Best Classical Composition By Contemporary Composer:
War Requiem – Benjamin Britten, Composer

Best Comedy Performance:
Hello Mudduh, Hello Faddah – Allan Sherman

Best Documentary, Spoken Word or Drama Recording (Other Than Comedy):
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Edward Albee (Warner Brothers):

Best Recording for Children:
Bernstein Conducts for Young People – Leonard Bernstein conducting New York Philharmonic (Columbia)

Best Album Cover, Other Than Classical:
The Barbra Streisand Album – John BergJohn Berg, art director (Columbia)

Best Album Cover, Classical:
Puccini, Madama Butterfly – Robert Jones, art director (RCA)

Best Album Notes:
The Ellington Era – Stanley DanceStanley Dance and Leonard Feather, annotators (Columbia)