Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female
Encyclopedia
The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female was an honor presented at the Grammy Award
s, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality jazz
vocal performances (songs or albums). Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually 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 regard to album sales or chart position".
Prior to 1981, the gender-neutral category of Best Jazz Vocal Performance
existed. The first award specifically for female performances was presented to Ella Fitzgerald
in 1981 for the album A Perfect Match. The category remained unchanged until 1985, when it was combined with the award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
and presented in the genderless category. Gender-specific awards were once again presented from 1986 until 1991. In 1992, the two categories were combined and presented as the category Best Jazz Vocal Performance. This category was later renamed to Best Jazz Vocal Album beginning in 2001. While the gender-specific award has not been presented since the category merge in 1992, an official confirmation of its retirement has not been announced.
Fitzgerald holds the record for the most wins in this category, with four. Diane Schuur
is the only other artist to receive the award more than once, with two consecutive wins. American artists have been presented with the award more than any other nationality, though it has been presented to a vocalist from the United Kingdom once. Betty Carter
and Maxine Sullivan
share the record for the most nominations without a win, with three each.
Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
Award was combined with the Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
category and presented in a genderless category known as Best Jazz Vocal Performance
.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
vocal performances (songs or albums). Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
Prior to 1981, the gender-neutral category of Best Jazz Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album
The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album has been presented since 1977. Until 2001 this award was titled the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance...
existed. The first award specifically for female performances was presented to Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
in 1981 for the album A Perfect Match. The category remained unchanged until 1985, when it was combined with the award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to male recording artists for quality jazz vocal performances...
and presented in the genderless category. Gender-specific awards were once again presented from 1986 until 1991. In 1992, the two categories were combined and presented as the category Best Jazz Vocal Performance. This category was later renamed to Best Jazz Vocal Album beginning in 2001. While the gender-specific award has not been presented since the category merge in 1992, an official confirmation of its retirement has not been announced.
Fitzgerald holds the record for the most wins in this category, with four. Diane Schuur
Diane Schuur
Diane Schuur is an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Deedles", she has won two Grammy Awards, headlined many of the world's most prestigious music venues, including Carnegie Hall and The White House and has toured the world performing with such greats as Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, B. B...
is the only other artist to receive the award more than once, with two consecutive wins. American artists have been presented with the award more than any other nationality, though it has been presented to a vocalist from the United Kingdom once. Betty Carter
Betty Carter
Betty Carter was an American jazz singer renowned for her improvisational technique and idiosyncratic vocal style...
and Maxine Sullivan
Maxine Sullivan
Maxine Sullivan , born Marietta Williams, was an American blues and jazz singer.She was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, and married jazz musician John Kirby in 1938 , and stride pianist Cliff Jackson in 1956...
share the record for the most nominations without a win, with three each.
Recipients
| Year | Performing artist(s) | Nationality | Work | Nominees | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 |
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| 1982 |
Ernestine Anderson Ernestine Anderson is an American jazz and blues singer. In a career spanning more than five decades, she has recorded over 30 albums. She was nominated four times for a Grammy Award. She has sung at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Monterey Jazz Festival , as well as at jazz festivals all... – Never Make Your Move Too Soon Helen Humes Helen Humes was an American jazz and blues singer.Humes was successively a teenaged blues singer, band vocalist with Count Basie, saucy R&B diva and a mature interpreter of the classy popular song.-Career:... – Helen Helen (album) Helen is an album released by Helen Humes in 1981 on Muse MR 5233, her second for that company. The album was in the final nominations for the 24th Annual Grammy Awards in the category of “Best Jazz Vocal Performance.” -Personnel:* Helen Humes - vocals... Etta Jones Etta Jones was an American jazz singer. She is not to be confused with the more popular singer Etta James nor her namesake, a member of the Dandridge Sisters, who recorded with Jimmy Lunceford and was Gerald Wilson's first wife. Her best known recordings were "Don't Go To Strangers" and "Save... – Save Your Love for Me Janet Lawson Janet Lawson, born Janet Polun on November 13, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a jazz singer and educator. She was born into a family of professional musicians... – The Janet Lawson Quintet |
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| 1983 |
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist... – A Classy Pair A Classy Pair The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album three stars and said that "Basie's sidemen are unfortunately restricted in the Benny Carter arrangements to backup work but Basie has a few piano solos and Fitzgerald is in good voice and in typically swinging form" -Track listing:-Personnel:*... Chaka Khan Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career... – Echoes of an Era Echoes of an Era Echoes of an Era is an album by American R&B/jazz singer Chaka Khan with Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White, released in 1982 on Elektra Records.... Cleo Laine Dame Cleo Laine, Lady Dankworth, DBE is a jazz singer and an actress, noted for her scat singing and vocal range... – Smilin' Through Maxine Sullivan Maxine Sullivan , born Marietta Williams, was an American blues and jazz singer.She was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, and married jazz musician John Kirby in 1938 , and stride pianist Cliff Jackson in 1956... – Maxine Sullivan with the Ike Isaacs Quartet |
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| 1984 |
Ernestine Anderson Ernestine Anderson is an American jazz and blues singer. In a career spanning more than five decades, she has recorded over 30 albums. She was nominated four times for a Grammy Award. She has sung at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Monterey Jazz Festival , as well as at jazz festivals all... – Big City Betty Carter Betty Carter was an American jazz singer renowned for her improvisational technique and idiosyncratic vocal style... – Whatever Happened to Love? Whatever Happened to Love? Whatever Happened to Love? is a 1982 live album by the American jazz singer Betty Carter. It is her only live album to include a string section on some tracks."Abre la Puerta" is a wordless version of Carter's signature tune "Open the Door".... Sue Raney Sue Raney is an American jazz singer. Signed by Capitol Records at the age of seventeen, her debut album, the Nelson Riddle-produced When Your Lover Has Gone, was released in 1958. Raney begin singing at only four years of age, and encouraged by her mother, began working as a professional before... – Sue Raney Sings the Music of Johnny Mandel Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."... – Crazy and Mixed Up Crazy and Mixed Up Crazy and Mixed Up is a 1982 album by the American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan.-Track listing:# "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" - 4:02# "That's All" - 4:04... |
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| 1985 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1986 |
Cheryl Bentyne (singer) Cheryl Bentyne is a Grammy-winning singer best known as a member of the vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer.-Biography:... – Meet Benny Bailey Tania Maria Tania Maria is a Brazilian artist, singer, composer, bandleader and piano player, singing mostly in Portuguese or English. Her Brazilian-style music is mostly vocal, sometimes pop, often jazzy, and includes samba, bossa, Afro-Latin, Pop and Jazz fusion.-Biography:Born in São Luís, Maranhão,... – Made in New York Flora Purim Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style. She became prominent for her part in Chick Corea's landmark album Return to Forever... – "20 Years Blue" Janis Siegel (singer) Janis Siegel is a singer with the vocal group The Manhattan Transfer . In 1965 Siegel recorded with a group called Young Generation on Red Bird records. In 1972 the original Manhattan Transfer had disbanded, and founder Tim Hauser re-formed the band with different singers, including Siegel... – Sing Joy Spring Maxine Sullivan Maxine Sullivan , born Marietta Williams, was an American blues and jazz singer.She was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, and married jazz musician John Kirby in 1938 , and stride pianist Cliff Jackson in 1956... – The Great Songs from the Cotton Club |
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| 1987 |
Etta James Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer... – Blues in the Night, Volume 1: The Early Show Flora Purim Flora Purim is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style. She became prominent for her part in Chick Corea's landmark album Return to Forever... – "Esquinas" Sue Raney Sue Raney is an American jazz singer. Signed by Capitol Records at the age of seventeen, her debut album, the Nelson Riddle-produced When Your Lover Has Gone, was released in 1958. Raney begin singing at only four years of age, and encouraged by her mother, began working as a professional before... – Flight of Fancy Maxine Sullivan Maxine Sullivan , born Marietta Williams, was an American blues and jazz singer.She was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, and married jazz musician John Kirby in 1938 , and stride pianist Cliff Jackson in 1956... – Uptown |
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| 1988 |
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist... – Easy Living Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable... – Any Old Time Janis Siegel (singer) Janis Siegel is a singer with the vocal group The Manhattan Transfer . In 1965 Siegel recorded with a group called Young Generation on Red Bird records. In 1972 the original Manhattan Transfer had disbanded, and founder Tim Hauser re-formed the band with different singers, including Siegel... – At Home Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."... – Brazilian Romance Brazilian Romance Brazilian Romance is a 1987 studio album by Sarah Vaughan.This was Vaughan's last album, though she later contributed to Quincy Jones' 1989 Back on the Block... |
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| 1989 |
Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the... – The Men in My Life The Men in My Life The Men in My Life is a 1988 studio album by Lena Horne, featuring Horne in duet with Joe Williams and Sammy Davis, Jr.. At the 31st Grammy Awards, Horne was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female, for her performance on this album.- Track listing :# "I Wish I'd Met... Rickie Lee Jones Rickie Lee Jones is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards.-Childhood:... – "Autumn Leaves" Peggy Lee Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and... – Miss Peggy Lee Sings the Blues Miss Peggy Lee Sings the Blues -Track listing:# "See See Rider" – 5:06# "Basin Street Blues" – 3:10# "Squeeze Me" – 2:47# "You Don't Know" – 4:09# "Fine and Mellow" – 5:13... Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable... – Fine and Mellow |
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| 1990 |
Dee Dee Bridgewater Dee Dee Bridgewater is an American Jazz singer. She is a three-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, as well as a Tony Award - winning stage actress and host of National Public Radio's syndicated radio show JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater... – Live in Paris Anita O'Day Anita O'Day was an American jazz singer.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer"... – In a Mellow Tone In a Mellow Tone (album) In a Mellow Tone is a 1989 studio album by Anita O'Day. -Track listing:#"In a Mellow Tone" – 4:20#"On the Trail" – 3:43#"The Man with a Horn" – 3:24... Diane Schuur Diane Schuur is an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Deedles", she has won two Grammy Awards, headlined many of the world's most prestigious music venues, including Carnegie Hall and The White House and has toured the world performing with such greats as Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, B. B... – "The Christmas Song The Christmas Song "The Christmas Song" is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer... " Janis Siegel (singer) Janis Siegel is a singer with the vocal group The Manhattan Transfer . In 1965 Siegel recorded with a group called Young Generation on Red Bird records. In 1972 the original Manhattan Transfer had disbanded, and founder Tim Hauser re-formed the band with different singers, including Siegel... – Short Stories |
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| 1991 |
Betty Carter Betty Carter was an American jazz singer renowned for her improvisational technique and idiosyncratic vocal style... – Droppin' Things Droppin' Things Droppin' Things is a 1990 live album by the American jazz singer Betty Carter.At the 32nd Grammy Awards, Carter's performance on this album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female.-Track listing:... Peggy Lee Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and... – The Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring The Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring The Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring is a 1989 studio album by Peggy Lee.-Track listing:# "Circle in the Sky" 2:58# "I Just Want to Dance All Night" 4:01# "He's a Tramp" 2:34... Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable... – Carmen Sings Monk Carmen Sings Monk Carmen Sings Monk is a 1988 studio album by the American jazz singer Carmen McRae, focusing on the songs composed by Thelonious Monk.-Track listing:# "Get It Straight" – 3:58... Dianne Reeves Dianne Reeves is an American jazz singer. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado.-Early life:Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan to a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke, is a... – "I Got It Bad and Ain't That Good I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good) "I Got It Bad " is a pop and jazz standard with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster published in 1941... " |
Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
Award was combined with the Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to male recording artists for quality jazz vocal performances...
category and presented in a genderless category known as Best Jazz Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album
The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album has been presented since 1977. Until 2001 this award was titled the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance...
.
See also
- Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or GroupGrammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or GroupThe Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group was presented from 1981 to 1990.Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.-1980s:*Grammy Awards of 1989...
- List of Grammy Award categories