The First Grammys

The Grammys were an outgrowth of the Walk of Fame and the Oscars. Industry types realized soon after creating the walkable monument and the award show that they were necessarily limited to just entertainers appearing on screen. A group was formed to recognize and honor musicians who worked behind the microphone rather than the camera — with a nod to its film counterpart calling itself the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Their version of the Oscar they decided to call the “Grammy”, after the Thomas Edison invention that started their business.

On this day, May 3, in 1959, NARAS held their first Grammy Awards ceremony was held. Ella Fitzgerald was honored with two awards, as was Henry Mancini and Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., better known as David Seville, the Chipmunks performer.

Notably, although the late 50s and early 60s saw the beginning of the rock n’ roll genre, not one rock performer received an award, a trend that would continue for years. The Recording Academy has been criticised for snubbing great performers of the past, such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones, for their style of music.