Grammy Awards of 1981
The 23rd Grammy Awards were held in 1981, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1980.
- Record of the Year
- Michael Omartian (producer) & Christopher Cross for "Sailing"
- Michael Omartian (producer) & Christopher Cross for "Sailing"
- Album of the Year
- Christopher Cross for Christopher Cross
- Christopher Cross for Christopher Cross
- Song of the Year
- Christopher Cross for "Sailing"
- Christopher Cross for "Sailing"
- Best New Artist
- Best Recording for Children - Single or Album, Musical or Spoken
- David Levine & Lucy Simon (producers) for In Harmony/A Sesame Street Record performed by various artists
- David Levine & Lucy Simon (producers) for In Harmony/A Sesame Street Record performed by various artists
- Best Classical Album
- Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers), Pierre Boulez, Franz Mazura, Teresa Stratas, Toni Blankenheim, Yvonne Minton & the Orchestre De L'Opera De Paris for Berg: Lulu conducted by Pierre Boulez
- Best Classical Orchestral Performance
- Raymond Minshull (producer), Georg Solti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 In A conducted by Georg Solti
- Best Opera Recording
- Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers), Pierre Boulez, Franz Mazura, Teresa Stratas, Toni Blankenheim, Yvonne Minton & the Orchestre De L'Opera De Paris for Berg: Lulu conducted by Pierre Boulez
- Best Choral Performance, Classical
- Norbert Balatsch, Carlo Maria Giulini, the Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus for Mozart: Requiem conduted by Carlo Maria Giulini, chorus directed by Norbert Balatsch
- Best Classical Performance-Instrumental Soloist(s) (with orchestra)
- Itzhak Perlman, Seiji Ozawa & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Berg: Violin Concerto/Stravinsky: Violin Concerto In D conducted by Seiji Ozawa
- Itzhak Perlman, Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Haitink, & the Concertgebouw Orchestra for Brahms: Violin and Cello Concerto in A Minor (Double Concerto) conducted by Bernard Haitink
- Best Classical Performance-Instrumental Soloist(s) (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 Vocal Performance
- Leontyne Price, Henry Lewis & the Philharmonia Orchestra for Prima Donna, Vol. 5 - Great Soprano Arias From Handel To Britten conducted by Henry Lewis
- Leontyne Price, Henry Lewis & the Philharmonia Orchestra for Prima Donna, Vol. 5 - Great Soprano Arias From Handel To Britten conducted by Henry Lewis
Composing and arranging
- Best Instrumental Composition (other than Jazz)
- John Williams for The Empire Strikes Back
- Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show
- John Williams for The Empire Strikes Back
- Best Arrangement For Voices
- Janis Siegel (arranger) for "Birdland" performed by The Manhattan Transfer
- Best Instrumental Arrangement
- Jerry Hey & Quincy Jones (arrangers) for "Dinorah, Dinorah" performed by George Benson
- Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
- Christopher Cross & Michael Omartian (arrangers) for "Sailing" performed by Christopher Cross
- Christopher Cross & Michael Omartian (arrangers) for "Sailing" performed by Christopher Cross
- Best Female Country Vocal Performance
- Anne Murray for "Could I Have This Dance?"
- Best Male Country Vocal Performance
- George Jones for "He Stopped Loving Her Today"
- Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
- Emmylou Harris & 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 for "On The Road Again"
- Willie Nelson for "On The Road Again"
- Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording
- Norman Dayron (producer) for Rare Blues performed by various artists
- Norman Dayron (producer) for Rare Blues performed by various artists
- Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational
- Andrae Crouch, the Archers, B.J. Thomas, Cynthia Clawson, Dony McGuire, Reba Rambo, Tramaine Hawkins & Walter Hawkins for The Lord's Prayer
- Best Gospel Performance, Traditional
- Blackwood Brothers for We Come To Worship
- 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 for Rejoice
- Best Inspirational Performance
- Debby Boone for With My Song I Will Praise Him
- Debby Boone for With My Song I Will Praise Him
- Best Historical Reissue Album
- Keith Hardwick (producer) for Segovia - The EMI Recordings 1927-39 performed by Andres Segovia
- Keith Hardwick (producer) for Segovia - The EMI Recordings 1927-39 performed by Andres Segovia
- Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female
- Ella Fitzgerald for A Perfect Match - Ella and Basie
- 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 for On The Road
- Count Basie for On The Road
- Best Latin Recording
- Cal Tjader for La Onda Va Bien
- Cal Tjader for La Onda Va Bien
- 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
- Andrew Lloyd Webber (producer and composer), Tim Rice (producer and lyricist) & the original cast with Patti Lupone & Mandy Patinkin for Evita - Premier American Recording
- Best Album Package - Incl. Album Cover, Graphic Arts, Photography
- Roy Kohara (art director) for Against The Wind performed by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
- Best Album Notes
- David McClintick (notes writer) for Trilogy: Past, Present And Future performed by Frank Sinatra
- David McClintick (notes writer) for Trilogy: Past, Present And Future performed by Frank Sinatra
- Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
- Bette Midler for "The Rose"
- Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
- Kenny Loggins for "This Is It"
- Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
- Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb for "Guilty"
- Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- Bob James & Earl Klugh for One On One
- Bob James & Earl Klugh for One On One
- Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical
- James Guthrie (engineer) for The Wall performed by Pink Floyd
- Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
- Phil Ramone
- Best Classical Engineered Recording
- Karl-August Naegler (engineer), Pierre Boulez & the Orchestre De L'Opera De Paris for Berg: Lulu (Complete Version) conducted by Pierre Boulez
- Classical Producer Of The Year
- Robert Woods
- Robert Woods
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
- Stephanie Mills for "Never Knew Love Like This Before"
- Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
- 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 Song
- James Mtume & Reggie Lucas (songwriters) for "Never Knew Love Like This Before" performed by Stephanie Mills
- James Mtume & Reggie Lucas (songwriters) for "Never Knew Love Like This Before" performed by Stephanie Mills
- Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
- Pat Benatar for Crimes Of Passion
- Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
- Billy Joel 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"
- The Police for "Reggatta De Blanc"
- Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama
- Pat Carroll for Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein
- Pat Carroll for Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein
Other Grammy Award Years
1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
