1964 Grammy Award Winners

1964 Grammy Award Winners

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