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.