1970 Grammy Awards (12th) – Complete List of Winners and Nominees

Held on March 11, 1970, the 12th Grammy Awards acknowledged music released from October 1, 1968, to September 30, 1969. The jazz-rock fusion band Blood, Sweat & Tears took home Album of the Year for their self-titled sophomore effort, a testament to the adventurous spirit of late 60s music.
"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" by The 5th Dimension, a medley from the musical Hair, won Record of the Year, reflecting the era's counterculture influences permeating mainstream pop. The supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash were deservedly named Best New Artist, marking the rise of folk-rock harmonies.
The ceremony also honored Johnny Cash for his country achievements and Isaac Hayes for his soul contributions. This show eloquently captured the diverse musical landscape of the late 1960s, showcasing a vibrant mix of rock, pop, folk, and soul, as the Grammys continued to expand their embrace of varied genres.

Record Of The Year

ResultArtistWork
Winner5th DimensionAquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)
NomineeBlood, Sweat And TearsSpinning Wheel
NomineeHenry ManciniLove Theme From Romeo And Juliet
NomineePeggy LeeIs That All There Is?
NomineeJohnny CashA Boy Named Sue

Album Of The Year

ResultArtistWork
WinnerBlood, Sweat And TearsBlood, Sweat And Tears
Nominee5th DimensionThe Age Of Aquarius
NomineeJohnny CashJohnny Cash At San Quentin
NomineeCrosby, Stills And NashCrosby, Stills And Nash
NomineeThe BeatlesAbbey Road

Song Of The Year

ResultArtistWork
WinnerJoe SouthGames People Play
NomineeBlood, Sweat And TearsSpinning Wheel
NomineeB.J. ThomasRaindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
NomineeDionne WarwickI'll Never Fall In Love Again
NomineeHenry ManciniA Time For Us (Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet)

Best New Artist Of The Year

ResultArtistWork
WinnerCrosby, Stills And Nash-
NomineeChicago-
NomineeOliver-
NomineeNeon Philharmonic-
NomineeLed Zeppelin-

Best Instrumental Arrangement

ResultArtistWork
WinnerHenry Mancini, arranger (Henry Mancini)Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet
NomineeQuincy Jones, arranger (Quincy Jones)Walking In Space
NomineeDick Halligan, arranger (Blood, Sweat And Tears)Variations On A Theme By Eric Satie
NomineeArthur Ferrante & Lou Teicher, arrangers (Ferrante And Teicher)Midnight Cowboy

Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

ResultArtistWork
WinnerFred Lipsius, arranger (Blood, Sweat And Tears)Spinning Wheel
NomineeAl Kooper & Fred Lipsius, arrangers (Blood, Sweat And Tears)You've Made Me So Very Happy
NomineeRandy Newman, arranger (Peggy Lee)Is That All There Is?
NomineeTorrie Zito, arranger (Tony Bennett)I've Gotta Be Me
NomineeBob Alcivar, Bill Holman & Bones Howe, arrangers (5th Dimension)Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In

Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical

ResultArtistWork
WinnerGeoff E. Emerick & Philip McDonald, engineers (The Beatles)Abbey Road
NomineeChuck Britz, Larry Cox & Lee Herschberg, engineers (Anita Kerr Singers)Velvet Voices And Bold Brass
NomineeBones Howe, engineer (5th Dimension)The Age Of Aquarius
NomineeDoug Brand, Chuck Lishon, Bruce Swedien & Hans Wurman, engineers (Electronic Concept Orchestra)Moog Groove
NomineeFred Catero & Roy Halee, engineers (Blood, Sweat And Tears)Blood, Sweat And Tears

Best Album Cover

ResultArtistWork
Winner(Gary McFarland)America The Beautiful
NomineeHenry Diltz, photographer; Gary Burden, art director (Richard Pryor)Richard Pryor
NomineeGene Brownell, photographer; Tom Lazarus, art director (Pidgeon)Pidgeon
Nominee(Led Zeppelin)Led Zeppelin II
NomineeBob Seideman, art director (Blind Faith)Blind Faith

Best Album Notes

ResultArtistWork
WinnerJohnny Cash, album notes writer (Bob Dylan)Nashville Skyline
NomineeRex Reed, album notes writer (Mabel Mercer And Bobby Short)Mabel Mercer And Bobby Short At Town Hall
NomineeJohn Hartford, album notes writer (John Hartford)John Hartford
NomineeJoan Baez, album notes writer (Joan Baez)David's Album
NomineeJohn Dodds II, album notes writer (Johnny Dodds)Chicago Mess Around

Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Female

ResultArtistWork
WinnerPeggy LeeIs That All There Is?
NomineeVikki CarrWith Pen In Hand
NomineeDionne WarwickThis Girl's In Love With You
NomineeDusty SpringfieldSon Of A Preacher Man
NomineeJackie DeShannonPut A Little Love In Your Heart
NomineeBrenda LeeJohnny One Time

Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Male

ResultArtistWork
WinnerHarry NilssonEverybody's Talkin'
NomineeB.J. ThomasRaindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
NomineeFrank SinatraMy Way
NomineeRay StevensGitarzan
NomineeJoe SouthGames People Play

Best Contemporary Vocal Performance By A Group

ResultArtistWork
Winner5th DimensionAquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)
NomineeNeon PhilharmonicMorning Girl
NomineeCrosby, Stills And NashCrosby, Stills And Nash
NomineeBlood, Sweat And TearsBlood, Sweat And Tears
NomineeThe BeatlesAbbey Road

Best Contemporary Performance By A Chorus

ResultArtistWork
WinnerPercy Faith Orchestra And ChorusLove Theme From Romeo And Juliet
NomineeRay Charles SingersSlices Of Life
NomineeBrooks Arthur EnsembleMacArthur Park
NomineeRay Conniff And The SingersJean
NomineeLiving VoicesAngel Of The Morning

Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance

ResultArtistWork
WinnerBlood, Sweat And TearsVariations On A Theme By Eric Satie
NomineeBoots RandolphWith Love
NomineeFerrante And TeicherMidnight Cowboy
NomineeHenry ManciniLove Theme From Romeo And Juliet
NomineeArea Code 615Area Code 615

Best Contemporary Song

ResultArtistWork
Winner(Joe South)Games People Play
NomineeBlood, Sweat And TearsSpinning Wheel
NomineeB.J. ThomasRaindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
NomineeOliverJean
NomineeElvis PresleyIn The Ghetto

Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female

ResultArtistWork
WinnerAretha FranklinShare Your Love With Me
NomineeGloria TaylorYou Gotta Pay The Price
NomineeRuth BrownYesterday
NomineeTina TurnerThe Hunter
NomineeDee Dee WarwickFoolish Fool

Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male

ResultArtistWork
WinnerJoe SimonThe Chokin' Kind
NomineeLou RawlsYour Good Thing (Is About To End)
NomineeB.B. KingLive And Well
NomineeJerry ButlerIce Man Cometh
NomineeRay CharlesDoing His Thing

Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group

ResultArtistWork
WinnerIsley BrothersIt's Your Thing
NomineePeggy Scott And Jo Jo BensonSoulshake
NomineeGladys Knight And The PipsFriendship Train
NomineeThe WinstonsColor Him Father
NomineeMel And TimBackfield In Motion

Best R&B Instrumental Performance

ResultArtistWork
WinnerKing CurtisGames People Play
NomineeRichard Groove HolmesWorkin' On A Groovy Thing
NomineeJunior Walker And The All StarsWhat Does It Take
NomineeAlbert CollinsTrash Talkin'
NomineeIke TurnerA Black Man's Soul

Best Rhythm & Blues Song

ResultArtistWork
WinnerThe WinstonsColor Him Father
NomineeJerry ButlerOnly The Strong Survive
NomineeIsley BrothersIt's Your Thing
NomineeCandi StatonI'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart
NomineeMel And TimBackfield In Motion

Best Soul Gospel Performance

ResultArtistWork
WinnerEdwin Hawkins SingersOh Happy Day
NomineeSister Rosetta TharpePrecious Memories
NomineeMahalia JacksonGuide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
NomineeJames Cleveland And The Southern California ChoirCome On And See About Me
NomineeCassietta GeorgeCassietta

Best Country Vocal Performance, Female

ResultArtistWork
WinnerTammy WynetteStand By Your Man
NomineeLynn AndersonThat's A No No
NomineeConnie SmithRibbon Of Darkness
NomineeDiana TraskI Fall To Pieces
NomineeJeannie C. RileyBack Side Of Dallas

Best Country Vocal Performance, Male

ResultArtistWork
WinnerJohnny CashA Boy Named Sue
NomineeClay HartSpring
NomineeBobby LewisFrom Heaven To Heartache
NomineeJerry ReedAre You From Dixie
NomineeCharley PrideAll I Have To Offer You Is Me

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

ResultArtistWork
WinnerWaylon Jennings & The KimberlysMacArthur Park
NomineeJack Greene And Jeannie SeelyWish I Didn't Have To Miss You
NomineeDottie West And Don GibsonRings Of Gold
NomineePorter Wagoner And Dolly PartonJust Someone I Used To Know
NomineeTompall And The Glaser BrothersCalifornia Girl

Best Country Instrumental Performance

ResultArtistWork
WinnerNashville Brass With Danny DavisThe Nashville Brass Featuring Danny Davis Play More Nashville Sounds
NomineeTommy Allsup And The Nashville SurveyThe Hits Of Charley Pride
NomineeChet AtkinsSolid Gold '69
NomineeBob DylanNashville Skyline Rag
NomineeFloyd CramerLovin' Season

Best Country Song

ResultArtistWork
WinnerJohnny CashA Boy Named Sue
NomineeMarty RobbinsYou Gave Me A Mountain
NomineeVan TrevorThe Things That Matter
NomineeTammy WynetteStand By Your Man
NomineeCharley PrideAll I Have To Offer You Is Me

Best Sacred Performance (Non-Classical)

ResultArtistWork
WinnerJake HessAin't That Beautiful Singing
NomineeConnie Smith And Nat StuckeyWhispering Hope
NomineeGeorge Beverly SheaI Believe
NomineeTennessee Ernie FordHoly, Holy, Holy
NomineeThe Bill Gaither TrioHe Touched Me

Best Gospel Performance

ResultArtistWork
WinnerPorter Wagoner & The Blackwood BrothersIn Gospel Country
NomineeThe Singing RambosThis Is My Valley
NomineeThe Happy Goodman FamilyThis Happy House
NomineeThe LeFevresThe Best Is Yet To Come
NomineeThe Oak Ridge BoysIt's Happening

Best Folk Performance

ResultArtistWork
WinnerJoni MitchellClouds
NomineePete SeegerYoung VS Old
NomineePeter, Paul And MaryDay Is Done
NomineeJudy CollinsBird On A Wire
NomineeDonovanAtlantis
NomineeJoan BaezAny Day Now

Best Instrumental Theme

ResultArtistWork
WinnerJohn Barry, composer (John Barry)Midnight Cowboy
NomineeRobert Cobert, composer (The Charles Randolph Grean Sounde)Quentin's Theme
NomineeHerbie Mann, composer (Herbie Mann)Memphis Underground
NomineeQuincy Jones, composer (Quincy Jones)Mackenna's Gold (Main Title)
NomineeBobby Warren & Harlow Wilcox, composers (Harlow Wilcox & Oakies)Groovy Grubworm

Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special

ResultArtistWork
WinnerBurt Bacharach, composer (Burt Bacharach)Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
NomineeGeorge Harrison, John Lennon, George Martin & Paul McCartney, composers (The Beatles)Yellow Submarine
NomineeQuincy Jones, composer (Quincy Jones)The Lost Man
NomineeHenry Mancini, composer (Henry Mancini)Me, Natalie
NomineeQuincy Jones, composer (Quincy Jones)Mackenna's Gold

Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album

ResultArtistWork
WinnerBurt Bacharach & Hal David, composers; Henry Jerome & Phil Ramone, producers (Jerry Orbach, Jill O'Hara, Edward Winter, Donna McKecknie, A .L. Hines, Marian Mercer, Paul Reed)Promises, Promises
NomineeFred Ebb & John Kander, composers; Richard C. Jones, producer (Herschel Bernardi, Maria Karnilova, John Cunningham, Carmen Alvarez, Lorraine Serrabian, Jerry Sappir)Zorba
NomineeRobert Dennis, Peter Schickele & Stanley Walden, composers; Henry Jerome, producer (Peter Schickele, Stanley Walden, Robert Dennis, Boni Enten, Katie Wilkinson, Mark Dempsey)Oh! Calcutta
NomineeGeorge Haimsohn, Robin Miller & Jim J. Wise, composers; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer (Bernadette Peters, David Christmas, Steve Elmore, Tamara Long, Sally Stark)Dames At Sea
NomineeSherman Edwards, composer; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer (Original Cast)1776

Best Recording For Children

ResultArtistWork
WinnerPeter, Paul And MaryPeter, Paul And Mommy
NomineeRichard Wolfe Children's ChorusYellow Submarine
NomineeTiny TimFor All My Little Friends
NomineeEartha KittFolk Tales Of The Tribes Of Africa
NomineeDo-Re-Mi ChorusChitty Chitty Bang Bang

Best Comedy Recording

ResultArtistWork
WinnerBill CosbyBill Cosby
NomineeW. C. FieldsW. C. Fields On Radio
NomineeOriginal TV CastLaugh-In '69
NomineeDon RicklesDon Rickles Speaks!
NomineeLenny BruceBerkeley Concert

Best Spoken Word Recording

ResultArtistWork
WinnerArt Linkletter & Diane LinkletterWe Love You Call Collect
NomineeJames Earl Jones And Original Broadway CastThe Great White Hope
NomineeJoel HellerRobert F. Kennedy: A Memorial
NomineeWalter CronkiteMan On The Moon
NomineeJesse PearsonHome To The Sea

Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Small Group Or Soloist With Small Group

ResultArtistWork
WinnerWes MontgomeryWillow Weep For Me
NomineeBill Evans With Jeremy SteigWhat's New
NomineeStephane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, Sven Asmussen, Jean Luc-PontyViolin Summit
NomineeOscar PetersonThe Great Oscar Peterson On Prestige
NomineeEubie BlakeThe 86 Years Of Eubie Blake
NomineeHerbie MannMemphis Underground
NomineeMiles DavisIn A Silent Way

Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Large Group Or Soloist With Large Group

ResultArtistWork
WinnerQuincy JonesWalking In Space
NomineeDon Ellis Big BandThe New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground
NomineeBob WilberThe Music Of Hoagy Carmichael
NomineeCount BasieStanding Ovation
NomineeWoody HermanLight My Fire
NomineeThad Jones And Mel LewisCentral Park North
NomineeBuddy Rich OrchestraBuddy And Soul
NomineeGary McFarlandAmerica The Beautiful

Album Of The Year, Classical

ResultArtistWork
WinnerWalter Carlos, artist; Rachel Elkind, producerSwitched-On-Bach
NomineeZubin Mehta, artist; Raymond Minshull, producerStrauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra
NomineeChicago Brass Ensemble, Cleveland Brass Ensemble & Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, artists; Andrew Kazdin, producerGabrieli: Antiphonal Music Of Gabrieli (Canzoni For Brass Choirs)
NomineePierre Boulez, artist; Thomas Z. Shepard, producerBoulez Conducts Debussy, Vol. 2 /Images Pour Orchestre/
NomineePierre Boulez, artist; Thomas Z. Shepard, producerBoulez Conducts Berg (Three Pieces For Orchestra/Chamber Concerto/Altenberg Lieder)
NomineeLuciano Berio, artist; Thomas Z. Shepard, producerBerio: Sinfonia

Best Classical Performance, Orchestra

ResultArtistWork
Winner(Cleveland Orchestra)Boulez Conducts Debussy, Vol. 2 /Images Pour Orchestre/
Nominee(Cleveland Orchestra)Wagner: Great Orchestral Highlights From /The Ring Of The Nibelungs/
Nominee(Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra)Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra
Nominee(Chicago Symphony Orchestra)Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole/ Mother Goose Suite/ Alborada Del Gracioso/ Introduction And Allegro
Nominee(BBC Symphony Orchestra)Bartók: Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta

Best Chamber Music Performance

ResultArtistWork
WinnerChicago Brass Ensemble, Cleveland Brass Ensemble & Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, artistsGabrieli: Antiphonal Music Of Gabrieli
NomineeBorodin Quartet, artistsShostakovich: String Quartets (Complete)
NomineeVladimir Ashkenazy & Itzhak Perlman, artistsProkofiev: Sonatas For Violin And Piano
NomineeDaniel Barenboim & Jacqueline Du Pre, artistsBrahms: Sonatas In E Minor And F Major For Cello And Piano
NomineeGuarneri Quartet (John Dalley, David Soyer, Arnold Steinhardt & Michael Tree) & Artur Rubinstein, artistsBrahms: Quartets For Piano And Strings (3)/Schumann: Quintet In E Flat Major For Piano And Strings
NomineeGrumiaux Trio, artistsBeethoven: Trios For Strings
NomineeJulian Bream & George Malcolm, artistsBach And Vivaldi Sonatas For Lute And Harpsichord

Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist Or Soloists (With Or Without Orchestra)

ResultArtistWork
WinnerNOMINEESSwitched-On-Bach
Nominee(Chicago Symphony Orchestra)Ravel: Introduction And Allegro For Harp And Strings
NomineeEmil GilelsIves: Sonata No. 2 /Concord Mass./
NomineeMstislav RostropovichGilels At Carnegie Hall
Nominee(Berlin Philharmonic)Dvorák: Concerto In B Minor For Cello
Nominee-Bach: Sonatas And Partitas For Solo Violin (6)

Best Opera Recording

ResultArtistWork
WinnerHerbert von Karajan; Otto Gerdes, producer (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)Wagner: Siegfried
NomineeJohn Barbirolli; R. Kinloch Anderson, producer (New Philharmonia Chorus; New Philharmonia Orchestra)Verdi: Otello
NomineeLorin Maazel; John Mordler, producer (Deutsche Opera - Berlin Chorus; Deutsche Opera - Berlin, Orchestra)Verdi: La Traviata
NomineeErich Leinsdorf; Richard Mohr, producer (London Symphony Orchestra)Strauss: Salome
NomineeRudolf Kempe; R. Kinloch Anderson & Eberhard Geiler, producers (Dresden State Opera Orchestra)Strauss: Ariadne Auf Naxos
NomineeKarl Bohm; Gustav Rudolf Sellner, producer (Chorus Of The German Opera; Orchestra Of The German Opera)Mozart: The Marriage Of Figaro
NomineeRaymond Leppard; Michael Bremner, producer (Glyndebourne Festival Opera Chorus)Cavalli: L'Ormindo

Best Choral Performance, Classical (Other Than Opera)

ResultArtistWork
Winner(Swingle Singers; New York Philharmonic)Berio: Sinfonia
Nominee(London Philharmonic Choir; London Philharmonic)Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 (A Sea Symphony)
Nominee(North German Radio Choirs & St. Nicolai Boy's Chorus; North German Radio Symphony)Henze: The Raft Of The Frigate /Medusa/
Nominee(Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra)Delius: Songs Of Sunset
Nominee(Gregg Smith Singers)Billings: The Continental Harmony
Nominee(John Choir Alldis; London Symphony Orchestra)Berlioz: Romeo Et Juliette
Nominee(Vienna Boys Choir & Viennensis Chorus; Concentus Musicus)Bach: Mass In B Minor

Best Vocal Soloist Performance, Classical

ResultArtistWork
Winner(New Philharmonia)Barber: Two Scenes From Antony And Cleopatra/Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
NomineeBeverly SillsStrauss (Richard): Nineteen Early Songs
Nominee(Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)Scenes And Arias From French Opera
Nominee(London Symphony Orchestra)Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn
NomineeSherrill MilnesBritten: Holy Sonnets Of Donne, Songs And Proverbs Of Blake
Nominee(Boston Symphony Orchestra)Brahms: Four Serious Songs
Nominee(London Symphony Orchestra)Berg: Attenberg Lieder
Nominee(Vienna Cantata Orchestra)Bach And Handel Arias (Excerpts From Magnificat, Christmas Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion, Messiah, Rodelinda)
Nominee-A Most Unusual Song Recital (Beethoven, Rossini, Brahms, Reger, R. Strauss)

Best Engineered Recording, Classical

ResultArtistWork
WinnerWalter Carlos, engineer (Walter Carlos)Switched-on Bach
NomineeEdwin Begley, engineer (Eugene Ormandy, conductor)Mahler: Symphony No 1
NomineePaul Goodman, engineer (Leopold Stokowski, conductor)Khachaturian: Symphony No. 3/Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture
NomineeMilton Cherin & Edward (Bud) T. Graham, engineers (The Philadelphia, Cleveland And Chicago Brass Ensembles)Gabrieli: Antiphonal Music Of Gabrieli
NomineeEdward (Bud) T. Graham & Arthur Kendy, engineers (Pierre Boulez, conductor)Boulez Conducts Debussy, Vol. 2 /Images Pour Orchestre/
NomineeEd Michalski & Fred Plaut, engineers (Luciano Berio, conductor)Berio: Sinfonia

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