GRAMMY WTF?  1977 Best New Talent. More: tomorrow.

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?

BEST NEW TALENT 1977

WINNER:

NOMINATED BETTER CHOICE:

By 1977, the Academy seemed to be making annual wrong calls on which new acts would prove to have the goods into the future. That year, the Best New Talent Grammy was presented to The Starland Vocal Band. The group had just come off a US #1 hit song entitled “Afternoon Delight”. It was perfect pop; both catchy and memorable. The band’s single reflected the sound that was popular during the 1970s.

At the time, the chances of Starland Vocal Band continuing to chart with more hits would have seemed very good. The reality is that the group would soon prove to be a one hit wonder. After the hit single, the band never bothered the Top 40 again in America.

Also nominated in the same category that year were: Wild Cherry, Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, The Brothers Johnson and Boston. The latter two were far worthier recipients.

Brothers George and Louis Johnson would become in- demand session musicians as well as releasing hit singles that included “Strawberry Letter #23”, “I’ll Be Good To You” and “Stomp!”. The duo’s talent was already evident in 1977. 

After its self-titled debut album peaked at #3 in the U.S.A., the group Boston scored two consecutive #1 LPs. By 1980, the band had achieved 3 Top 10 singles: “More Than A Feeling”, “Don’t Look Back” and the chart-topping “Amanda”.

As Starland Vocal Band had yet to demonstrate if the act would have much to offer after its sole hit single, The Brothers Johnson and Boston should have seemed safer bets for the Academy. The latter never collected a Grammy. The Brothers Johnson would receive their only trophy in the following year.

NEVER WON A GRAMMY AWARD*:

*(excludes life achievement categories)

 

QUEEN

Few acts manage to straddle genres as diverse as hard rock, pop, funk, rockabilly, heavy metal and prog rock with credibility the way Queen did. With legendary Brian May powering the group’s sound on guitar and lead vocalist Freddie Mercury’s unique flamboyant magic, the British group remains one of the best exports from that part of the world.

Drummer Roger Waters and bassist John Deacon completed the original Queen line-up that delivered countless rock classics. These staples include: “Another One Bites The Dust”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Under Pressure” (with David Bowie, who had to wait until 1984 to win his first Grammy Award!), “We Will Rock You”, “We Are The Champions” and “Radio Ga Ga”.

Not even “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Queen’s one -of-a -kind recording that is still lauded by critics and music fans, received a single nomination from the Academy. Despite placing two singles at #1 in America, no Grammy Awards  were forthcoming for Queen.