[1970 Grammy Awards] – Complete List of Winners and Nominees (12th) ♪
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
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | 5th Dimension | Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) |
| Blood, Sweat And Tears | Spinning Wheel | |
| Henry Mancini | Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet | |
| Peggy Lee | Is That All There Is? | |
| Johnny Cash | A Boy Named Sue |
Album Of The Year
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Blood, Sweat And Tears | Blood, Sweat And Tears |
| 5th Dimension | The Age Of Aquarius | |
| Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash At San Quentin | |
| Crosby, Stills And Nash | Crosby, Stills And Nash | |
| The Beatles | Abbey Road |
Song Of The Year
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Joe South | Games People Play |
| Blood, Sweat And Tears | Spinning Wheel | |
| B.J. Thomas | Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head | |
| Dionne Warwick | I'll Never Fall In Love Again | |
| Henry Mancini | A Time For Us (Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet) |
Best New Artist Of The Year
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Crosby, Stills And Nash | - |
| Chicago | - | |
| Oliver | - | |
| Neon Philharmonic | - | |
| Led Zeppelin | - |
Best Instrumental Arrangement
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Henry Mancini, arranger (Henry Mancini) | Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet |
| Quincy Jones, arranger (Quincy Jones) | Walking In Space | |
| Dick Halligan, arranger (Blood, Sweat And Tears) | Variations On A Theme By Eric Satie | |
| Arthur Ferrante & Lou Teicher, arrangers (Ferrante And Teicher) | Midnight Cowboy |
Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Fred Lipsius, arranger (Blood, Sweat And Tears) | Spinning Wheel |
| Al Kooper & Fred Lipsius, arrangers (Blood, Sweat And Tears) | You've Made Me So Very Happy | |
| Randy Newman, arranger (Peggy Lee) | Is That All There Is? | |
| Torrie Zito, arranger (Tony Bennett) | I've Gotta Be Me | |
| Bob Alcivar, Bill Holman & Bones Howe, arrangers (5th Dimension) | Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In |
Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Geoff E. Emerick & Philip McDonald, engineers (The Beatles) | Abbey Road |
| Chuck Britz, Larry Cox & Lee Herschberg, engineers (Anita Kerr Singers) | Velvet Voices And Bold Brass | |
| Bones Howe, engineer (5th Dimension) | The Age Of Aquarius | |
| Doug Brand, Chuck Lishon, Bruce Swedien & Hans Wurman, engineers (Electronic Concept Orchestra) | Moog Groove | |
| Fred Catero & Roy Halee, engineers (Blood, Sweat And Tears) | Blood, Sweat And Tears |
Best Album Cover
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | (Gary McFarland) | America The Beautiful |
| Henry Diltz, photographer; Gary Burden, art director (Richard Pryor) | Richard Pryor | |
| Gene Brownell, photographer; Tom Lazarus, art director (Pidgeon) | Pidgeon | |
| (Led Zeppelin) | Led Zeppelin II | |
| Bob Seideman, art director (Blind Faith) | Blind Faith |
Best Album Notes
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Johnny Cash, album notes writer (Bob Dylan) | Nashville Skyline |
| Rex Reed, album notes writer (Mabel Mercer And Bobby Short) | Mabel Mercer And Bobby Short At Town Hall | |
| John Hartford, album notes writer (John Hartford) | John Hartford | |
| Joan Baez, album notes writer (Joan Baez) | David's Album | |
| John Dodds II, album notes writer (Johnny Dodds) | Chicago Mess Around |
Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Peggy Lee | Is That All There Is? |
| Vikki Carr | With Pen In Hand | |
| Dionne Warwick | This Girl's In Love With You | |
| Dusty Springfield | Son Of A Preacher Man | |
| Jackie DeShannon | Put A Little Love In Your Heart | |
| Brenda Lee | Johnny One Time |
Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Harry Nilsson | Everybody's Talkin' |
| B.J. Thomas | Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head | |
| Frank Sinatra | My Way | |
| Ray Stevens | Gitarzan | |
| Joe South | Games People Play |
Best Contemporary Vocal Performance By A Group
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | 5th Dimension | Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) |
| Neon Philharmonic | Morning Girl | |
| Crosby, Stills And Nash | Crosby, Stills And Nash | |
| Blood, Sweat And Tears | Blood, Sweat And Tears | |
| The Beatles | Abbey Road |
Best Contemporary Performance By A Chorus
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Percy Faith Orchestra And Chorus | Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet |
| Ray Charles Singers | Slices Of Life | |
| Brooks Arthur Ensemble | MacArthur Park | |
| Ray Conniff And The Singers | Jean | |
| Living Voices | Angel Of The Morning |
Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Blood, Sweat And Tears | Variations On A Theme By Eric Satie |
| Boots Randolph | With Love | |
| Ferrante And Teicher | Midnight Cowboy | |
| Henry Mancini | Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet | |
| Area Code 615 | Area Code 615 |
Best Contemporary Song
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | (Joe South) | Games People Play |
| Blood, Sweat And Tears | Spinning Wheel | |
| B.J. Thomas | Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head | |
| Oliver | Jean | |
| Elvis Presley | In The Ghetto |
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Aretha Franklin | Share Your Love With Me |
| Gloria Taylor | You Gotta Pay The Price | |
| Ruth Brown | Yesterday | |
| Tina Turner | The Hunter | |
| Dee Dee Warwick | Foolish Fool |
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Joe Simon | The Chokin' Kind |
| Lou Rawls | Your Good Thing (Is About To End) | |
| B.B. King | Live And Well | |
| Jerry Butler | Ice Man Cometh | |
| Ray Charles | Doing His Thing |
Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Isley Brothers | It's Your Thing |
| Peggy Scott And Jo Jo Benson | Soulshake | |
| Gladys Knight And The Pips | Friendship Train | |
| The Winstons | Color Him Father | |
| Mel And Tim | Backfield In Motion |
Best R&B Instrumental Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | King Curtis | Games People Play |
| Richard Groove Holmes | Workin' On A Groovy Thing | |
| Junior Walker And The All Stars | What Does It Take | |
| Albert Collins | Trash Talkin' | |
| Ike Turner | A Black Man's Soul |
Best Rhythm & Blues Song
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | The Winstons | Color Him Father |
| Jerry Butler | Only The Strong Survive | |
| Isley Brothers | It's Your Thing | |
| Candi Staton | I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart | |
| Mel And Tim | Backfield In Motion |
Best Soul Gospel Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Edwin Hawkins Singers | Oh Happy Day |
| Sister Rosetta Tharpe | Precious Memories | |
| Mahalia Jackson | Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah | |
| James Cleveland And The Southern California Choir | Come On And See About Me | |
| Cassietta George | Cassietta |
Best Country Vocal Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Tammy Wynette | Stand By Your Man |
| Lynn Anderson | That's A No No | |
| Connie Smith | Ribbon Of Darkness | |
| Diana Trask | I Fall To Pieces | |
| Jeannie C. Riley | Back Side Of Dallas |
Best Country Vocal Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Johnny Cash | A Boy Named Sue |
| Clay Hart | Spring | |
| Bobby Lewis | From Heaven To Heartache | |
| Jerry Reed | Are You From Dixie | |
| Charley Pride | All I Have To Offer You Is Me |
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Waylon Jennings & The Kimberlys | MacArthur Park |
| Jack Greene And Jeannie Seely | Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You | |
| Dottie West And Don Gibson | Rings Of Gold | |
| Porter Wagoner And Dolly Parton | Just Someone I Used To Know | |
| Tompall And The Glaser Brothers | California Girl |
Best Country Instrumental Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Nashville Brass With Danny Davis | The Nashville Brass Featuring Danny Davis Play More Nashville Sounds |
| Tommy Allsup And The Nashville Survey | The Hits Of Charley Pride | |
| Chet Atkins | Solid Gold '69 | |
| Bob Dylan | Nashville Skyline Rag | |
| Floyd Cramer | Lovin' Season |
Best Country Song
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Johnny Cash | A Boy Named Sue |
| Marty Robbins | You Gave Me A Mountain | |
| Van Trevor | The Things That Matter | |
| Tammy Wynette | Stand By Your Man | |
| Charley Pride | All I Have To Offer You Is Me |
Best Sacred Performance (Non-Classical)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Jake Hess | Ain't That Beautiful Singing |
| Connie Smith And Nat Stuckey | Whispering Hope | |
| George Beverly Shea | I Believe | |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford | Holy, Holy, Holy | |
| The Bill Gaither Trio | He Touched Me |
Best Gospel Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Porter Wagoner & The Blackwood Brothers | In Gospel Country |
| The Singing Rambos | This Is My Valley | |
| The Happy Goodman Family | This Happy House | |
| The LeFevres | The Best Is Yet To Come | |
| The Oak Ridge Boys | It's Happening |
Best Folk Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Joni Mitchell | Clouds |
| Pete Seeger | Young VS Old | |
| Peter, Paul And Mary | Day Is Done | |
| Judy Collins | Bird On A Wire | |
| Donovan | Atlantis | |
| Joan Baez | Any Day Now |
Best Instrumental Theme
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | John Barry, composer (John Barry) | Midnight Cowboy |
| Robert Cobert, composer (The Charles Randolph Grean Sounde) | Quentin's Theme | |
| Herbie Mann, composer (Herbie Mann) | Memphis Underground | |
| Quincy Jones, composer (Quincy Jones) | Mackenna's Gold (Main Title) | |
| Bobby Warren & Harlow Wilcox, composers (Harlow Wilcox & Oakies) | Groovy Grubworm |
Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Burt Bacharach, composer (Burt Bacharach) | Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid |
| George Harrison, John Lennon, George Martin & Paul McCartney, composers (The Beatles) | Yellow Submarine | |
| Quincy Jones, composer (Quincy Jones) | The Lost Man | |
| Henry Mancini, composer (Henry Mancini) | Me, Natalie | |
| Quincy Jones, composer (Quincy Jones) | Mackenna's Gold |
Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Burt 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 |
| Fred Ebb & John Kander, composers; Richard C. Jones, producer (Herschel Bernardi, Maria Karnilova, John Cunningham, Carmen Alvarez, Lorraine Serrabian, Jerry Sappir) | Zorba | |
| Robert Dennis, Peter Schickele & Stanley Walden, composers; Henry Jerome, producer (Peter Schickele, Stanley Walden, Robert Dennis, Boni Enten, Katie Wilkinson, Mark Dempsey) | Oh! Calcutta | |
| George Haimsohn, Robin Miller & Jim J. Wise, composers; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer (Bernadette Peters, David Christmas, Steve Elmore, Tamara Long, Sally Stark) | Dames At Sea | |
| Sherman Edwards, composer; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer (Original Cast) | 1776 |
Best Recording For Children
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Peter, Paul And Mary | Peter, Paul And Mommy |
| Richard Wolfe Children's Chorus | Yellow Submarine | |
| Tiny Tim | For All My Little Friends | |
| Eartha Kitt | Folk Tales Of The Tribes Of Africa | |
| Do-Re-Mi Chorus | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
Best Comedy Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Bill Cosby | Bill Cosby |
| W. C. Fields | W. C. Fields On Radio | |
| Original TV Cast | Laugh-In '69 | |
| Don Rickles | Don Rickles Speaks! | |
| Lenny Bruce | Berkeley Concert |
Best Spoken Word Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Art Linkletter & Diane Linkletter | We Love You Call Collect |
| James Earl Jones And Original Broadway Cast | The Great White Hope | |
| Joel Heller | Robert F. Kennedy: A Memorial | |
| Walter Cronkite | Man On The Moon | |
| Jesse Pearson | Home To The Sea |
Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Small Group Or Soloist With Small Group
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Wes Montgomery | Willow Weep For Me |
| Bill Evans With Jeremy Steig | What's New | |
| Stephane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, Sven Asmussen, Jean Luc-Ponty | Violin Summit | |
| Oscar Peterson | The Great Oscar Peterson On Prestige | |
| Eubie Blake | The 86 Years Of Eubie Blake | |
| Herbie Mann | Memphis Underground | |
| Miles Davis | In A Silent Way |
Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Large Group Or Soloist With Large Group
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Quincy Jones | Walking In Space |
| Don Ellis Big Band | The New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground | |
| Bob Wilber | The Music Of Hoagy Carmichael | |
| Count Basie | Standing Ovation | |
| Woody Herman | Light My Fire | |
| Thad Jones And Mel Lewis | Central Park North | |
| Buddy Rich Orchestra | Buddy And Soul | |
| Gary McFarland | America The Beautiful |
Album Of The Year, Classical
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Walter Carlos, artist; Rachel Elkind, producer | Switched-On-Bach |
| Zubin Mehta, artist; Raymond Minshull, producer | Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra | |
| Chicago Brass Ensemble, Cleveland Brass Ensemble & Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, artists; Andrew Kazdin, producer | Gabrieli: Antiphonal Music Of Gabrieli (Canzoni For Brass Choirs) | |
| Pierre Boulez, artist; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer | Boulez Conducts Debussy, Vol. 2 /Images Pour Orchestre/ | |
| Pierre Boulez, artist; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer | Boulez Conducts Berg (Three Pieces For Orchestra/Chamber Concerto/Altenberg Lieder) | |
| Luciano Berio, artist; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer | Berio: Sinfonia |
Best Classical Performance, Orchestra
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | (Cleveland Orchestra) | Boulez Conducts Debussy, Vol. 2 /Images Pour Orchestre/ |
| (Cleveland Orchestra) | Wagner: Great Orchestral Highlights From /The Ring Of The Nibelungs/ | |
| (Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra) | Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra | |
| (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole/ Mother Goose Suite/ Alborada Del Gracioso/ Introduction And Allegro | |
| (BBC Symphony Orchestra) | Bartók: Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta |
Best Chamber Music Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Chicago Brass Ensemble, Cleveland Brass Ensemble & Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, artists | Gabrieli: Antiphonal Music Of Gabrieli |
| Borodin Quartet, artists | Shostakovich: String Quartets (Complete) | |
| Vladimir Ashkenazy & Itzhak Perlman, artists | Prokofiev: Sonatas For Violin And Piano | |
| Daniel Barenboim & Jacqueline Du Pre, artists | Brahms: Sonatas In E Minor And F Major For Cello And Piano | |
| Guarneri Quartet (John Dalley, David Soyer, Arnold Steinhardt & Michael Tree) & Artur Rubinstein, artists | Brahms: Quartets For Piano And Strings (3)/Schumann: Quintet In E Flat Major For Piano And Strings | |
| Grumiaux Trio, artists | Beethoven: Trios For Strings | |
| Julian Bream & George Malcolm, artists | Bach And Vivaldi Sonatas For Lute And Harpsichord |
Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist Or Soloists (With Or Without Orchestra)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | NOMINEES | Switched-On-Bach |
| (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Ravel: Introduction And Allegro For Harp And Strings | |
| Emil Gilels | Ives: Sonata No. 2 /Concord Mass./ | |
| Mstislav Rostropovich | Gilels At Carnegie Hall | |
| (Berlin Philharmonic) | Dvorák: Concerto In B Minor For Cello | |
| - | Bach: Sonatas And Partitas For Solo Violin (6) |
Best Opera Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Herbert von Karajan; Otto Gerdes, producer (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) | Wagner: Siegfried |
| John Barbirolli; R. Kinloch Anderson, producer (New Philharmonia Chorus; New Philharmonia Orchestra) | Verdi: Otello | |
| Lorin Maazel; John Mordler, producer (Deutsche Opera - Berlin Chorus; Deutsche Opera - Berlin, Orchestra) | Verdi: La Traviata | |
| Erich Leinsdorf; Richard Mohr, producer (London Symphony Orchestra) | Strauss: Salome | |
| Rudolf Kempe; R. Kinloch Anderson & Eberhard Geiler, producers (Dresden State Opera Orchestra) | Strauss: Ariadne Auf Naxos | |
| Karl Bohm; Gustav Rudolf Sellner, producer (Chorus Of The German Opera; Orchestra Of The German Opera) | Mozart: The Marriage Of Figaro | |
| Raymond Leppard; Michael Bremner, producer (Glyndebourne Festival Opera Chorus) | Cavalli: L'Ormindo |
Best Choral Performance, Classical (Other Than Opera)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | (Swingle Singers; New York Philharmonic) | Berio: Sinfonia |
| (London Philharmonic Choir; London Philharmonic) | Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 (A Sea Symphony) | |
| (North German Radio Choirs & St. Nicolai Boy's Chorus; North German Radio Symphony) | Henze: The Raft Of The Frigate /Medusa/ | |
| (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) | Delius: Songs Of Sunset | |
| (Gregg Smith Singers) | Billings: The Continental Harmony | |
| (John Choir Alldis; London Symphony Orchestra) | Berlioz: Romeo Et Juliette | |
| (Vienna Boys Choir & Viennensis Chorus; Concentus Musicus) | Bach: Mass In B Minor |
Best Vocal Soloist Performance, Classical
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | (New Philharmonia) | Barber: Two Scenes From Antony And Cleopatra/Knoxville: Summer Of 1915 |
| Beverly Sills | Strauss (Richard): Nineteen Early Songs | |
| (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) | Scenes And Arias From French Opera | |
| (London Symphony Orchestra) | Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn | |
| Sherrill Milnes | Britten: Holy Sonnets Of Donne, Songs And Proverbs Of Blake | |
| (Boston Symphony Orchestra) | Brahms: Four Serious Songs | |
| (London Symphony Orchestra) | Berg: Attenberg Lieder | |
| (Vienna Cantata Orchestra) | Bach And Handel Arias (Excerpts From Magnificat, Christmas Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion, Messiah, Rodelinda) | |
| - | A Most Unusual Song Recital (Beethoven, Rossini, Brahms, Reger, R. Strauss) |
Best Engineered Recording, Classical
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Walter Carlos, engineer (Walter Carlos) | Switched-on Bach |
| Edwin Begley, engineer (Eugene Ormandy, conductor) | Mahler: Symphony No 1 | |
| Paul Goodman, engineer (Leopold Stokowski, conductor) | Khachaturian: Symphony No. 3/Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture | |
| Milton Cherin & Edward (Bud) T. Graham, engineers (The Philadelphia, Cleveland And Chicago Brass Ensembles) | Gabrieli: Antiphonal Music Of Gabrieli | |
| Edward (Bud) T. Graham & Arthur Kendy, engineers (Pierre Boulez, conductor) | Boulez Conducts Debussy, Vol. 2 /Images Pour Orchestre/ | |
| Ed Michalski & Fred Plaut, engineers (Luciano Berio, conductor) | Berio: Sinfonia |