The 23rd Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 25, 1981, at Radio City Music Hall in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1980. Album of the Year went to Michael Omartian and Christopher Cross for '' Christopher Cross'', Record and Song of the Year went to Christopher Cross for "

Sailing Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, Windsurfing, windsurfer, or Kitesurfing, kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (Land sa ...

". Cross was the first artist in Grammy history to win all four General Field awards in a single ceremony, bringing home

Record of the Year The Grammy Award for Record of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without re ...

, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.

Performers

* Irene Cara - " Fame" * The Manhattan Transfer &

Chuck Mangione Charles Frank Mangione ( ; born November 29, 1940) is an American flugelhorn player, trumpeter and composer. He came to prominence as a member of Art Blakey's band in the 1960s, and later co-led the Jazz Brothers with his brother, Gap Mangione, ...

- " Birdland" and " Give It All You Got" *

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

- " I Can't Turn You Loose" * Barbara Mandrell - " The Best of Strangers" *

George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American Country music, country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for a long list of hit records, and is well known for his distinctive voice an ...

- "

He Stopped Loving Her Today "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is a song recorded by American country music artist George Jones. It has been named in several surveys as the greatest country song of all time. It was released in April 1980 as the lead single from the album '' I Am ...

" * The Oak Ridge Boys - " Heart of Mine" * Gilley's Urban Cowboy Band - " Orange Blossom Special/Hoedown" *

The Archers ''The Archers'' is a British radio soap opera currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word Radio broadcasting, channel. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now pr ...

, Cynthia Clawson, Andraé Crouch, Tramaine Hawkins, Walter Hawkins, Dony McGuire, Reba Rambo McGuire, and B. J. Thomas - "The Lord's Prayer" (medley) *

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...

- " Late in the Evening" *

Lionel Richie Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores; writing and recor ...

- "

Lady ''Lady'' is a term for a woman who behaves in a polite way. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the female counterpart of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. "Lady" is al ...

" * Amanda McBroom - " The Rose" * Christopher Cross - "

" * Fred Ebb &

John Kander John Harold Kander (born March 18, 1927) is an American composer, known largely for his work in the musical theater. As part of the songwriting team Kander and Ebb (with lyricist Fred Ebb), Kander wrote the scores for 15 musicals, including ''Cab ...

- " Theme from ''New York, New York''"

Presenters

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte ( ; born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, actor, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. Belafonte ...

Herb Alpert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American trumpeter, pianist, singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, conductor, painter, sculptor and theatre producer, who led the band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (sometimes called "Herb Alpe ...

- Best New Artist * Al Jarreau & Woody Herman - Best Jazz Fusion Performance Vocal or Instrumental *

The Commodores Commodores, often billed as The Commodores, are an American funk and Soul music, soul group. The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was the co-lead singer. The members of the group met as m ...

- Best R&B Female Performance *

Charley Pride Charley Frank Pride (March 18, 1934 – December 12, 2020) was an American Country music, country singer. Beginning his career as a Negro league baseball player in the early-1950s, he later pursued a career in country music, becoming the gen ...

& Conway Twitty - Best Country Performance Male and Female; Best Vocal Country Performance Duo or Group * Rev. James Cleveland & James Blackwood - Best Gospel Performance * Judy Collins & Harry Chapin - Announced winners in previous categories * Andy Gibb &

Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick ( ; born Marie Dionne Warrick; December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. During her career, Warwick has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards. She has been inducted into the Hollywood Wa ...

- Best Pop Male Performance * Donna Summer & Michael McDonald - Album of the Year * Placido Domingo - Announced winners in the Classical category *

Olivia Newton-John Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British and Australian singer and actress. With over 100 million records sold, Newton-John was one of the List of best-selling music artists#100 million to 119 million record ...

& Peter Allen - Song of the Year *

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Known as the "Queen of Motown Records", she was the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown#Major divisions, Motown's most suc ...

Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a m ...

- Record of the Year *

- Paid tribute to

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

Award winners

** Michael Omartian (producer) & Christopher Cross for "

" * Album of the Year ** Michael Omartian (producer) & Christopher Cross for '' Christopher Cross'' * Song of the Year ** Christopher Cross for "Sailing" * Best New Artist ** Christopher Cross

Children's

* Best Recording for Children ** David Levine & Lucy Simon (producers) for '' In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record'' performed by various artists

Classical

* Best Classical Orchestral Recording ** Raymond Minshull (producer), Georg Solti (conductor) & the

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891, the ensemble has been based in the Symphony Center since 1904 and plays a summer season at the Ravinia F ...

for '' Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A'' * Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance ** Henry Lewis (conductor), Leontyne Price & the

Philharmonia Orchestra The Philharmonia Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, a classical music record producer for EMI Classics, EMI. Among the conductors who worked with the orchestra in its early years were Rich ...

for ''Prima Donna, Vol. 5 - Great Soprano Arias From Handel to Britten'' * Best Opera Recording ** Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers),

Pierre Boulez Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez (; 26 March 19255 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor and writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of post-war contemporary classical music. Born in Montb ...

(conductor), Toni Blankenheim, Franz Mazura, Yvonne Minton, Teresa Stratas & the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris for '' Berg:

Lulu Lulu may refer to: Companies * LuLu, an early automobile manufacturer * Lulu.com, an online e-books and print self-publishing platform, distributor, and retailer * Lulu Hypermarket, a retail chain in Asia * Lululemon Athletica or simply Lulu, a C ...

'' * Best Choral Performance, Classical ** Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor), Norbert Balatsch (chorus master) & the Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus for ''

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

: Requiem'' * Best Classical Performance- Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (with orchestra) ** Bernard Haitink (conductor), Itzhak Perlman,

Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian Cello, cellist and conducting, conductor. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enl ...

& the Concertgebouw Orchestra for '' Brahms: Violin and Cello Concerto in A Minor (Double Concerto)'' ** Seiji Ozawa (conductor), Itzhak Perlman & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for '' Berg: Violin Concerto/ Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D'' * Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (without orchestra) ** Itzhak Perlman for ''The Spanish Album'' * Best Chamber Music Performance ** Itzhak Perlman & Pinchas Zukerman for ''Music for Two Violins ( Moszkowski: Suite For Two Violins/ Shostakovich: Duets/ Prokofiev: Sonata for Two Violins)'' * Best Classical Album ** Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers),

(conductor), Toni Blankenheim, Franz Mazura, Yvonne Minton, Teresa Stratas, & the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris for '' Berg:

Comedy

* Best Comedy Recording ** Rodney Dangerfield for ''No Respect''

Composing and arranging

* Best Instrumental Composition **

John Williams John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932)Nylund, Rob (November 15, 2022)Classic Connection review, ''WBOI'' ("For the second time this year, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic honored American composer, conductor, and arranger John Williams, who w ...

(composer) for '' The Empire Strikes Back'' * Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special **John Williams (composer) for '' The Empire Strikes Back'' * Best Instrumental Arrangement **

Jerry Hey Jerry Hey (born 1950) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Michael Jackson's '' Thriller'', '' Rock with Y ...

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...

(arrangers) for " Dinorah, Dinorah" performed by George Benson * Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) ** Christopher Cross & Michael Omartian (arrangers) for "

" performed by Christopher Cross * Best Arrangement for Voices ** Janis Siegel (arranger) for "Birdland" performed by The Manhattan Transfer

Country

* Best Country Vocal Performance, Female ** Anne Murray for " Could I Have This Dance?" * Best Country Vocal Performance, Male **

for "

" * Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group **

Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader, and activist. She is considered one of the leading music artists behind the country rock genre in the 1970s and the Americana (music), Americana genre ...

& Roy Orbison for " That Lovin' You Feelin' Again" * Best Country Instrumental Performance ** Gilley's Urban Cowboy Band for " Orange Blossom Special/Hoedown" * Best Country Song **

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...

(songwriter) for " On the Road Again"

Folk

* Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording ** Norman Dayron (producer) for ''Rare Blues'' performed by various artists

Gospel

* Best Gospel Performance, Traditional ** Blackwood Brothers for ''We Come to Worship'' * Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational **

, Cynthia Clawson, Andrae Crouch, Tramaine Hawkins, Walter Hawkins, Dony McGuire, Reba Rambo & B.J. Thomas for ''The Lord's Prayer'' * Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional ** James Cleveland & the Charles Fold Singers for ''Lord, Let Me Be an Instrument'' * Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary **

Shirley Caesar Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams (Birth name, née Caesar; born October 13, 1938), known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American Gospel music, gospel singer. Her career began in 1951, when she signed to Federal Records at the age of 12. Thro ...

for ''Rejoice'' * Best Inspirational Performance **

Debby Boone Deborah Anne Boone (born September 22, 1956) is an American singer, author, and actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, " You Light Up My Life", which spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the G ...

for ''With My Song I Will Praise Him''

Historical

* Best Historical Reissue Album ** Keith Hardwick (producer) for ''

Segovia Segovia ( , , ) is a city in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Segovia. Segovia is located in the Meseta central, Inner Pl ...

- The EMI Recordings 1927-39''

Jazz

* Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female ** Ella Fitzgerald for '' A Perfect Match'' * Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male ** George Benson for " Moody's Mood" * Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist ** Bill Evans for '' I Will Say Goodbye'' * Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Group ** Bill Evans for '' We Will Meet Again'' * Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Big Band **

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

for '' On the Road'' * Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental ** The Manhattan Transfer for " Birdland"

Latin

* Best Latin Recording **

Cal Tjader Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, often described as the most successful non-Latino Latin music (genre), Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, especially small group mod ...

for ''La Onda Va Bien ''

Musical show

* Best Cast Show Album ** Andrew Lloyd Webber (producer and composer), Tim Rice (producer and lyricist) & the original cast with Patti Lupone & Mandy Patinkin for '' Evita - Premier American Recording''

Packaging and notes

* Best Album Package ** Roy Kohara (art director) for '' Against the Wind'' performed by

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Robert Clark Seger ( ; born May 6, 1945) is a retired American singer, songwriter, and musician. As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded with the groups Bob Seger and the Last Heard and the Bob Seger System throu ...

* Best Album Notes ** David McClintick (notes writer) for '' Trilogy: Past, Present and Future'' performed by

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

Pop

* Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female ** Bette Midler for The Rose * Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male ** Kenny Loggins for This Is It * Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal **

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand ( ; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being the ...

Barry Gibb Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb (born 1 September 1946) is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Along with his younger fraternal twin brothers, Robin Gibb, Robin and Maurice Gibb, Maurice, he rose to global fame as a member ...

for Guilty * Best Pop Instrumental Performance ** Bob James & Earl Klugh for One on One

Production and engineering

* Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical ** James Guthrie (engineer) for '' The Wall'' performed by

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...

* Best Engineered Recording, Classical ** Karl-August Naegler (engineer),

(conductor) & the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris for '' Berg: Lulu (Complete Version)'' * Producer of the Year, (Non-Classical) ** Phil Ramone * Classical Producer of the Year ** Robert Woods

R&B

* Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female **

Stephanie Mills Stephanie Dorthea Mills (born March 22, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She rose to stardom as Dorothy Gale in the original seven-time Tony Awards, Tony Award winning Broadway theatre, Broadway run of the musical ''The Wiz'' ...

for " Never Knew Love Like This Before" * Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male ** George Benson for '' Give Me the Night'' * Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal ** The Manhattans for " Shining Star" * Best R&B Instrumental Performance ** George Benson for "Off Broadway" * Best Rhythm & Blues Song ** James Mtume & Reggie Lucas (songwriters) for " Never Knew Love Like This Before" performed by

Rock

* Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female ** Pat Benatar for '' Crimes of Passion'' * Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male **

Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Piano Man" after his Signature song, signature 1973 song Piano Man (song), of the same name, Joel has ha ...

for '' Glass Houses'' * Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal ** Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band for '' Against the Wind'' * Best Rock Instrumental Performance ** The Police for " Reggatta de Blanc"

Spoken word

* Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording ** Pat Carroll for ''Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein''

Trivia

* Christopher Cross became the first artist to win all four general-field awards in one night: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.

References

External links

23rd Grammy Awards
at the Internet Movie Database {{DEFAULTSORT:Grammy Awards 023 023 1981 music awards 1981 in New York City Radio City Music Hall 1981 in American music Grammy February 1981 in the United States