1989 Grammy Award Winners
1989 Grammy Award Winners
1989 Grammy Winners
- Winners Announced: February 22, 1989
- Held at: Radio City Music Hall, New York
- Host: Billy Crystal
- Eligibility Year: October 1, 1987 – September 30, 1988
Trivia
- Billy’s Back: Billy Crystal returned as host, adding his comedic flavor to the music industry’s biggest night.
- Jazzy Jodie: Jodie Watley was awarded Best New Artist, marking a successful transition from her dance career to the music world.
- George Michael Dominates: Faith by George Michael won Album of the Year and solidified George Michael as a solo artist apart from his Wham! days.
- Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car: The hit Fast Car helped Tracy Chapman earn three Grammys, including Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
- Eclectic Mix: The night featured a variety of musical genres, from U2’s rock album The Joshua Tree winning Best Rock Performance to Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry, Be Happy snagging Song of the Year.
- Metallica’s Recognition: In a surprising turn, Metallica’s And Justice For All was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, although it didn’t win. It did mark a mainstream acceptance of heavy metal.
- Classical Highlights: Leonard Bernstein won for Best Classical Album, proving that classical music still had a significant presence at the Grammys.
- Unforgettable Performances: The night was studded with performances from artists like Anita Baker, who won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Michael Jackson, who took home the award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Bad.
Record of the Year:
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
Album of the Year:
Faith, George Michael (Columbia/CBS)
Faith, George Michael (Columbia/CBS)
Song of the Year:
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin, songwriter
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin, songwriter
Best New Artist:
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male:
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female:
Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
Best Pop Vocal Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal:
Brasil, Manhattan Transfer
Brasil, Manhattan Transfer
Best Pop Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist):
Close-up, David Sanborn
Close-up, David Sanborn
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male:
Simply Irresistible – Robert Palmer
Simply Irresistible – Robert Palmer
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female:
Tina Live in Europe, Tina Turner
Tina Live in Europe, Tina Turner
Best Rock Instrumental Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal:
Desire – U2
Desire – U2
Best Rock Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist):
Blues for Salvador, Carlos Santana
Blues for Salvador, Carlos Santana
Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, Vocal or Instrumental:
Crest of a Knave, Jethro Tull
Crest of a Knave, Jethro Tull
Best Rhythm and Blues Song:
Giving You the Best That I Got – Anita Baker, Skip Scarborough and Randy Holland, songwriters
Giving You the Best That I Got – Anita Baker, Skip Scarborough and Randy Holland, songwriters
Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Male:
Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby, Terence Trent D’Arby
Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby, Terence Trent D’Arby
Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Female:
Giving You the Best That I Got – Anita Baker
Giving You the Best That I Got – Anita Baker
Best Rhythm and Blues Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal:
Love Overboard – Gladys Knight and the Pips
Love Overboard – Gladys Knight and the Pips
Best Rhythm and Blues Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist):
Light Years – Chick Corea
Light Years – Chick Corea
Best Rap Performance:
Parents Just Don’t Understand – D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Parents Just Don’t Understand – D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male:
Brothers, Bobby McFerrin
Brothers, Bobby McFerrin
Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female:
Look What I Got!, Betty Carter
Look What I Got!, Betty Carter
Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group:
Spread Love – Take 6
Spread Love – Take 6
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist on a Jazz Recording:
Don’t Try This at Home, Michael Brecker
Don’t Try This at Home, Michael Brecker
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group:
Blues for Coltrane, A Tribute to John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, David Murray, Cecil McBee and Roy Haynes
Blues for Coltrane, A Tribute to John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, David Murray, Cecil McBee and Roy Haynes
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band:
Bud and Bird, Gil Evans and the Monday Night Orchestra
Bud and Bird, Gil Evans and the Monday Night Orchestra
Best Jazz Fusion Performance:
Politics, Yellowjackets
Politics, Yellowjackets
Best Country Song:
Hold Me – K.T. Oslin, songwriter
Hold Me – K.T. Oslin, songwriter
Best Country Vocal Performance, Male:
Old 8 × 10, Randy Travis
Old 8 × 10, Randy Travis
Best Country Vocal Performance, Female:
Hold Me – K.T. Oslin
Hold Me – K.T. Oslin
Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal:
Give a Little Love – Judds
Give a Little Love – Judds
Best Country Vocal Collaboration:
Crying – Roy Orbison and k.d. lang
Crying – Roy Orbison and k.d. lang
Best Country Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloists):
Sugarfoot Rag – Asleep at the Wheel
Sugarfoot Rag – Asleep at the Wheel
Best Bluegrass Recording (Vocal or Instrumental):
Southern Flavor, Bill Monroe (MCA)
Southern Flavor, Bill Monroe (MCA)
Best Gospel Performance, Male:
Christmas, Larnelle Harris
Christmas, Larnelle Harris
Best Gospel Performance, Female:
Lead Me On, Amy Grant
Lead Me On, Amy Grant
Best Gospel Performance By a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus:
The Winans Live at Carnegie Hall, Winans
The Winans Live at Carnegie Hall, Winans
Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male:
Abundant Life – BeBe Winans
Abundant Life – BeBe Winans
Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female:
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, Aretha Franklin
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, Aretha Franklin
Best Soul Gospel Performance By a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus:
Take Six, Take 6
Take Six, Take 6
Best Latin Pop Performance:
Roberto Carlos, Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos, Roberto Carlos
Best Tropical Latin Performance:
Antecedente, Rubén Blades
Antecedente, Rubén Blades
Best Mexican/American Performance:
Canciones de Mi Padre, Linda Ronstadt
Canciones de Mi Padre, Linda Ronstadt
Best Traditional Blues Recording:
Hidden Charms, Willie Dixon (Bug/Capitol)
Hidden Charms, Willie Dixon (Bug/Capitol)
Best Contemporary Blues Recording:
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark – Robert Cray Band (Mercury)
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark – Robert Cray Band (Mercury)
Best Traditional Folk Recording:
Folkways: A Vision Shared?A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, various artists (Columbia/CBS)
Folkways: A Vision Shared?A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, various artists (Columbia/CBS)
Best Contemporary Folk Recording:
Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (Elektra)
Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (Elektra)
Best Reggae Recording:
Conscious Party, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers (Virgin)
Conscious Party, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers (Virgin)
Best New Age Performance:
Folksongs for a Nuclear Village, Shadowfax
Folksongs for a Nuclear Village, Shadowfax
Best Polka Recording:
Born to Polka, Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra (Starr)
Born to Polka, Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra (Starr)
Best Arrangement on an Instrumental:
Memos From Paradise – Roger Kellaway, arranger
Memos From Paradise – Roger Kellaway, arranger
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s):
No One Is Alone – Jonathan Tunick, arranger
No One Is Alone – Jonathan Tunick, arranger
Best Instrumental Composition:
The Theme From L.A. Law – Mike Post, composer
The Theme From L.A. Law – Mike Post, composer
Best Musical Cast Show Album:
Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim, composer and lyricist (RCA)
Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim, composer and lyricist (RCA)
Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television:
The Last Emperor, Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne and Cong Su, composers (Virgin)
The Last Emperor, Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne and Cong Su, composers (Virgin)
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television:
Two Hearts (From the motion picture Buster), Phil Collins and Lamont Dozier, songwriters (Atlantic)
Two Hearts (From the motion picture Buster), Phil Collins and Lamont Dozier, songwriters (Atlantic)
Best Contemporary Composition:
Nixon in China, John Adams, composer
Nixon in China, John Adams, composer
Best Classical Album:
Verdi, Requiem and Operatic Choruses, Robert Shaw conducting Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (Telarc)
Verdi, Requiem and Operatic Choruses, Robert Shaw conducting Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (Telarc)
Best Orchestral Recording:
Rorem, String Symphony; Sunday Morning, Eagles; Robert Shaw conducting Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: String Symphony, Louis Lane conducting Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Sunday Morning and Eagles (New World)
Rorem, String Symphony; Sunday Morning, Eagles; Robert Shaw conducting Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: String Symphony, Louis Lane conducting Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Sunday Morning and Eagles (New World)
Best Chamber Music Performance (Instrumental or Vocal):
Bartók, Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion; Brahms, Variation on a Theme by Joseph Haydn for Two Pianos, Murray Perahia and Sir Georg Solti, pianos; David Corkhill and Evelyn Glennie, percussion
Bartók, Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion; Brahms, Variation on a Theme by Joseph Haydn for Two Pianos, Murray Perahia and Sir Georg Solti, pianos; David Corkhill and Evelyn Glennie, percussion
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (With Orchestra):
Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, Vladimir Horowitz, piano; Giulini conducting LaScala Opera Orchestra
Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, Vladimir Horowitz, piano; Giulini conducting LaScala Opera Orchestra
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (Without Orchestra):
Albéniz, Iberia; Navarra; Suite Espagnola, Alicia de Larrocha
Albéniz, Iberia; Navarra; Suite Espagnola, Alicia de Larrocha
Best Opera Recording:
Wagner, Lohengrin, Sir Georg Solti conducting Vienna State Opera Choir and Vienna Philharmonic; solos: Domingo, Norman, Randova, Nimsgern, Sotin and Fischer-Dieskau (London)
Wagner, Lohengrin, Sir Georg Solti conducting Vienna State Opera Choir and Vienna Philharmonic; solos: Domingo, Norman, Randova, Nimsgern, Sotin and Fischer-Dieskau (London)
Best Choral Performance (Other Than Opera):
Verdi, Requiem and Operatic Choruses, Robert Shaw conducting Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
Verdi, Requiem and Operatic Choruses, Robert Shaw conducting Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance:
Luciano Pavarotti in Concert, Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti in Concert, Luciano Pavarotti
Best Comedy Recording:
Good Morning Vietnam, Robin Williams (A&M)
Good Morning Vietnam, Robin Williams (A&M)
Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording:
Speech by Rev. Jesse Jackson (July 27) – Rev. Jesse Jackson (Arista)
Speech by Rev. Jesse Jackson (July 27) – Rev. Jesse Jackson (Arista)
Best Recording for Children:
Pecos Bill, Robin Williams, narrator; Ry Cooder, music (Windham Hill)
Pecos Bill, Robin Williams, narrator; Ry Cooder, music (Windham Hill)
Best Album Package:
Tired of Runnin’, Bill Johnson, art director (Columbia/CBS)
Tired of Runnin’, Bill Johnson, art director (Columbia/CBS)
Best Album Notes:
Crossroads, Anthony DeCurtis, annotator (Polydor)
Crossroads, Anthony DeCurtis, annotator (Polydor)
Best Historical Album:
Crossroads, Eric Clapton (Polydor)
Crossroads, Eric Clapton (Polydor)
Best Performance Music Video:
Where the Streets Have No Name – U2
Where the Streets Have No Name – U2
Best Concept Music Video:
Fat – Weird Al Yankovic
Fat – Weird Al Yankovic
Producer of the Year (Non-Classical):
Neil Dorfsman
Neil Dorfsman
Classical Producer of the Year:
Robert Woods
Robert Woods