GRAMMY WTF? ELTON JOHN. More: on Friday.
The Grammy Awards are one of music’s most prestigious
trophies. Since the inaugural ceremony in 1959, winners have spanned a vast
array of musical styles and winners as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Aretha
Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Eminem and Lizzo. There have, however, been some
instances where one can’t comprehend the outcomes and omissions. Caffè Lattè
looks back on some of the most baffling moments and unsuccessful -yet
influential- acts…
GRAMMY WTF?
ELTON JOHN
Elton John dominated the singles and album charts throughout the 1970s and
has continued to release new material over a further five decades.
In America, Britain’s most famous piano player has achieved nine #1
singles and seven number one albums. Countless John tracks remain radio
staples. These classics include “Your Song”, “Tiny Dancer”, “Don’t Let The Sun
Go Down On Me”, “Crocodile Rock”, “Daniel”, “I’m Still Standing”, “Levon” and “Candle
In The Wind”.
Despite the rich output of his most popular period- the 1970s- Elton John inexplicably
never received a Grammy. He was rightly nominated for Best New Artist in 1970,
but lost to the duo Carpenters. His debut album also received nominations, so
we know the Academy was aware of his existence and talent.
Among other significant nominations John received was for Album of the
Year in 1975 for ‘Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy’. That LP was the
first to debut at #1 on the US Album Chart.
Elton failed to win a Grammy for any of his 1970s recordings. This
oversight continued in the early 1980s. He finally received his first Grammy in
1986, for “That’s What Friends Are For”, which won in the Best Pop Performance
by a Duo or Group with Vocal. This was a collaboration between Elton with Dionne
Warwick, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.
He had to wait until 1991 for a win in his own right. This was for "Basque" in the Best
Instrumental Composition category. He has since received three additional
trophies from the Academy. This is recognition that was long overdue.
