The second Grammy Award ceremony was held on November 29, 1959 in Los Angeles (New York). Grammy awards are presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The awards are considered as the most coveted of the many contemporary music awards. 1959-1961 is categorized under non-televised era in the history of Grammys. The award show was aired on television in episodes as special "Sunday Showcase". Grammys have made their home in all the prestigious locations. The awards were honored to the artists for their outstanding performance in that particular year (i.e. 1959). Duke Ellington won three Grammys in the second award ceremony. The biggest winner of the night was Frank Sinatra, who was honored with 4 Grammys for the year. Given below is the list of nominees and winners who walked away with an award for the year 1959.
Grammy Award Winners 1959
Best Album Cover
The nominees were:
- Howard Mitchell - Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
- Duke Ellington - Anatomy of a Murder
- Elvis Presley - For LP Fans Only
- Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte - Porgy and Bess
- Phil Harris - The South Shall Rise Again
Winner: Howard Mitchell - Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
Best Album Of The Year
The nominees were:
- Frank Sinatra - Come Dance with Me
- Harry Belafonte - Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
- Henry Mancini - More Music from Peter Gunn
- Robert Russell Bennett - Victory at Sea, Vol. 1
- Van Cliburn - Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3
Winner: Frank Sinatra - Come Dance with Me
Best Arrangement
Frank Sinatra - Come Dance with Me
- Esquivel - Strings Aflame
- Henry Mancini - More Music from Peter Gunn
- Johnny Green - An Evening with Lerner and Loewe
- Bobby Darin - Mack the Knife
Winner: Frank Sinatra - Come Dance with Me
Best Broadway Show Album
The nominees were:
- Ethel Merman - Gypsy
- Gwen Verdon - Redhead
- Betty Comden, Adolph Green - A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green
- Hal Hastings, conductor - Once Upon a Mattress
- John Gielgud - Ages of Man
Winner: Ethel Merman – Gypsy
Best Classical Performance – Chamber Music (Including Chamber Orchestra)
The nominees were:
- Artur Rubinstein - Beethoven: Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53; Sonata No.' in E Flat, Op. 53, No. 3 (Waldstein)
- Nathan Milstein - 4 Italian Sonatas
- Festival Quartet - Beethoven: Piano Quartet in E Flat, Op. 16; Schumann: Piano Quartet in E Flat, Op. 47
- Felix Slatkin - Cello Galaxy
- Felix Slatkin - Villa-Lobos: String Quartet
Winner: Artur Rubinstein - Beethoven: Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53; Sonata No.' in E Flat, Op. 53, No. 3 (Waldstein)
Best Classical Performance – Concerto Or Instrumental Soloist (Full Orchestra)
The nominees were:
- Van Cliburn (Kondrashin conducting the Symphony of the Air) - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3
- Artur Rubinstein (Krips conducting the RCA Victor Symphony) - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2
- Henryk Szeryng (Monteux conducting the London Symphony) - Brahms: Violin Concerto in D
- Vladimir Horowitz (Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony) - Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Winner: Van Cliburn (Kondrashin conducting the Symphony of the Air) - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3
Best Classical Performance – Instrumental Soloist (Without Orchestral Accompaniment)
The nominees were:
- Artur Rubinstein - Beethoven: Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53; Sonata No.' in E Flat, Op. 53, No. 3 (Waldstein)
- Nathan Milstein - 4 Italian Sonatas
- Laurindo Almeida - Danzas
- Leonard Pennario - Pennario Plays
- Jaime Laredo - Presenting Jaime Laredo
Winner: Artur Rubinstein - Beethoven: Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53; Sonata No.' in E Flat, Op. 53, No. 3 (Waldstein)
Best Classical Performance – Opera Cast Of Choral
The nominees were:
- Erich Leinsdorf conducting the Vienna Philharmonic (solos: Peters, London, Della, Cassa) - Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro
- Erich Leinsdorf conducting the Metropolitan Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Peter, Valetti, Merrill, Tozzi) - Rossini: The Barber of Seville
- Fausto Cleva conducting the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Stevens, Del Monago) - Saint-Saens: Samson and Delilah
- Richard Condie conducting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - The Beloved Choruses
- Fernando Previtali conducting the Accademia de Santa Cecilia, Rome, Orchestra and Chorus (solos: Milanov, Tozzi) - Verdi: La Forza del Destino
Winner: Erich Leinsdorf conducting the Vienna Philharmonic (solos: Peters, London, Della, Cassa) - Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro
Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
The nominees were:
- Charles Munch conducting the Boston Symphony - Debussy: Images for Orchestra
- Pierre Monteux conducting the Vienna Philharmonic - Beethoven: Symphony No. 6
- Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony - Rossini: Overtures
- Morton Gould & His Orchestra - Tchaikovsky:'12 Overture; Ravel: Bolero
Winner: Charles Munch conducting the Boston Symphony - Debussy: Images for Orchestra
Best Classical Performance – Vocal Soloist (With Or Without Orchestra)
The nominees were:
- Jussi Bjorling - Bjorling in Opera
- Maureen Forrester - A Brahms/Schumann Recital
- Maria Callas - Maria Callas Portrays Verdi
- Zinka Milanov - Milanov Operatic Arias
- Cesare Valletti - The Art of Song
Winner: Jussi Bjorling - Bjorling in Opera
Best Comedy Performance - Musical
The nominees were:
- Homer & Jethro - The Battle of Kookamonga
- Betty Comden, Adolph Green - A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green
- Cliff Arquette - Charlie Weaver Sings for His People
- Hans Conreid, Alice Pearce - Monster Rally
- Bernie Green - Musically Mad
Winner: Homer & Jethro - The Battle of Kookamonga
Best Comedy Performance – Spoken Word
The nominees were:
- Shelley Berman - Inside Shelly Berman
- Andy Griffith - Hamlet
- Mort Sahl - Look Foward in Anger
- Lenny Bruce - Sick Humor
- Stan Freberg - Stan Freberg with Original Cast
Winner: Shelley Berman - Inside Shelly Berman
Best Country and Western Performance
The nominees were
- Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans Lyrics
- Don Gibson - Don't Tell Me Your Troubles Lyrics
- Jim Reeves - Home Lyrics
- Skeeter Davis - Set Him Free Lyrics
- Eddy Arnold - Tennessee Stud Lyrics
Winner: Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans Lyrics
Best Documentary or Spoken Word Recording
The nominees were:
- Carl Sandburg - A Lincoln Portrait
- Basil Rathbone - Basil Rathbone Reads Sherlock Holmes
- Hal Holbrook - Mark Twain Tonight
- John Gielgud - Ages of Man
- Tony Schwartz - New York Taxi Driver
Winner: Carl Sandburg - A Lincoln Portrait
Best Engineered Recording – Novelty
The nominees were:
- David Seville - Alvin's Harmonica
- Markko Polo Adventurers - Orienta
- Billy Mure - Supersonics in Flight
- Alvino Rey - The Bat
- Ralph Hunter Choir - The Wild Wild West
Winner: David Seville - Alvin's Harmonica
Best Engineering Contribution – Classical Recording
The nominees were:
- Robert Russell Bennett - Victory at Sea, Vol 1
- Morton Gould - Doubling in Brass
- Fritz Reiner - Rossini Overtures
- Morton Gould - Tchaikovsky:'12 Overture / Ravel: Bolero
- Kiril Kondrashin - Tchaikovsky: Capricio Italien / Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol
Winner: Robert Russell Bennett - Victory at Sea, Vol 1
Best Engineering Contribution – Other Than Classical Or Novelty
The nominees were:
- Harry Belafonte - Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
- Buddy Morrow - Big Band Guitar
- Henri Rene - Compulsion to Swing
- Larry Elgart - New Sounds at the Roosevelt
- Esquivel - Strings Aflame
Winner: Harry Belafonte - Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
Best Female Vocal Performance
The nominees were:
- Ella Fitzgerald - But Not for Me Lyrics
- Peggy Lee - Alright, Okay
- Pat Suzuki - Broadway '59
- Caterina Valenta - La Starda del Amore
- Lena Horne - Porgy and Bess
Winner: Ella Fitzgerald - But Not for Me Lyrics
Best Folk Performance
The nominees were:
- Kingston Trio - The Kingston Trio at Large
- Harry Belafonte - Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
- Eddy Arnold - Tennessee Stud Lyrics
- Ralph Hunter Choir - The Wild Wild West
- Jimmy Driftwood - The Wilderness Road
Winner: Kingston Trio - The Kingston Trio at Large
Best Group Or Chorus Vocal Performance
The nominees were:
- Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Battle Hymn Of The Republic Lyrics
- The Ames Brothers - The Ames Brothers Sing Famous Hits of Famous Quartets
- The Kingston Trio - The Kingston Trio at Large
- The Browns - Three Bells Lyrics
Winner: Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Battle Hymn Of The Republic Lyrics
Best Jazz Peformance – Soloist
The nominees were:
- Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Swings Lightly
- Urbie Green - Best of New Broadway Show Hits
- Ruby Braff - Easy Now
- Andre Previn - Like Young
- Red Norvo - Red Norvo in Hi-Fi
Winner: Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Swings Lightly
Best Jazz Performance – Group
The nominees were:
- Jonah Jones - I Dig Chicks
- Shorty Rogers - Chances Are It Swings
- Duke Ellington - Ellington Jazz Party
- Henry Mancini - More Music from Peter Gunn
- Red Norvo - Red Norvo in Hi-Fi
Winner: Jonah Jones - I Dig Chicks
Best Male Vocal Performance
The nominees were:
- Frank Sinatra - Come Dance With Me Lyrics
- Robert Merrill - An Evening with Lerner and Loewe
- Harry Belafonte - Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
- Jess Belvin - Guess Who
- Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife Lyrics
Winner: Frank Sinatra - Come Dance With Me Lyrics
Best Musical Composition
The nominees were:
- Duke Ellington - Anatomy of a Murder
- Dmitri Shostakovitch - Shostakovitch: Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 101
- Henry Mancini - More Music from Peter Gunn
- Morton Gould - St. Lawrence Suite
- Serge Prokofiev - Prokofiev: The Overture Russe, Op. 72
Winner: Duke Ellington - Anatomy of a Murder
Best New Artist
The nominees were:
- Bobby Darin Lyrics
- Johnny Restivo
- Mavis Rivers
- Mark Murphy
- Edd Byrnes
Winner: Bobby Darin Lyrics
Best Performance by a Dance Band
The nominees were:
- Duke Ellington - Anatomy of a Murder
- Count Basie - Breakfast Dance and Barbecue
- Glenn Miller - For the Very First Time
- Larry Elgart - New Sounds at the Roosevelt
- Perez Prado - Pops and Prado
Winner: Duke Ellington - Anatomy of a Murder
Best Performance by a Top 40 Artist
The nominees were:
- Nat King Cole - Midnight Flyer
- Elvis Presley - A Big Hunk O' Love Lyrics
- The Coasters - Charlie Brown
- Floyd Robinson - Makin' Love
- Neil Sedaka - Neil Sedaka
Winner: Nat King Cole - Midnight Flyer
Best Performance by an Orchestra
The nominees were:
- David Rose & His Orchestra with Andre Previn - Like Young
- Bob Thompson & Orchestra - Just for Kicks
- Henry Mancini - More Music from Peter Gunn
- Esquivel - Strings Aflame
- Hugo Winterhalter - Two Sides of Winterhalter
Winner: David Rose & His Orchestra with Andre Previn - Like Young
Best Record of the Year
The nominees were:
- Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife Lyrics
- Andre Previn - Like Young
- Elvis Presley - A Fool Such As I Lyrics
- Frank Sinatra - High Hopes Lyrics
- The Browns - Three Bells Lyrics
Winner: Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife Lyrics
Best Recording for Children
The nominees were:
- Peter Ustinov (von Karajan conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra) - Peter and the Wolf
- Captain Allen Swift - Popeye's Favorite Sea Chanties
- Franz Allers - Hansel and Gretel
- Maria Ray - The Arabian Nights
- Mary Martin - Three to Make Music/Cinderella
Winner: Peter Ustinov (von Karajan conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra) - Peter and the Wolf
Best Rhythm & Blues Performance
The nominees were:
- Dinah Washington - What a Diff'rence a Day Makes
- Elvis Presley - A Big Hunk o' Love
- The Coasters - Charlie Brown
- Jesse Belvin - Guess Who
- Nat King Cole - Midnight Flyer
Winner: Dinah Washington - What a Diff'rence a Day Makes
Best Song of the Year
The nominees were:
- Jimmy Driftwood - The Battle of New Orleans
- Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim - Small World
- Karl Stutz, Edith Linderman - I Know
- Paul Francis Webster, Andre Previn - Like Young
- Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen - High Hopes
Winner: Jimmy Driftwood - The Battle of New Orleans
Best Soundtrack Album of Background Score from a Motion Picture or Television
The nominees were:
- Duke Ellington - Anatomy of a Murder
- Dick Cathcart - Pete Kelly's Blues
- Franz Waxman - The Nun's Story
- Henry Mancini - More Music from Peter Gunn
- Stanley Wilson - The Music from M Squad
Winner: Duke Ellington - Anatomy of a Murder
Best Soundtrack of Original Cast from a Motion Picture or Television
The nominees were:
- Andre Previn, Ken Darby - Porgy and Bess
- Mario Lanza - For the First Time
Winner: Andre Previn, Ken Darby - Porgy and Bess