The award category was discontinued in 2012 as part of a major overhaul of the Grammy categories. It was merged with Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals into a single category for Best R&B Performance.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
Year{{ref|1|[I] | Winner(s) | Performance | Nominees | Ref. | row>1967 | Ray|Charles}} | "Crying Time"- "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" – James Brown
- "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" – Lou Rawls
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" – Stevie Wonder
- "When a Man Loves a Woman" – Percy Sledge
| [1][2] |
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row>1968 | Lou|Rawls}} | "Dead End Street"- "Funky Broadway" – Wilson Pickett
- "Higher and Higher" – Jackie Wilson
- "Skinny Legs and All" – Joe Tex
- "Try A Little Tenderness" – Otis Redding
| [1][3] |
---|
row>1969 | Otis|Redding}} | "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay"- "For Once in My Life" – Stevie Wonder
- "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" – Joe Simon
- "I Heard It through the Grapevine" – Marvin Gaye
- "Who's Making Love" – Johnnie Taylor
| [1][4] |
---|
row>1970 | Simon, Joe|Joe Simon}} | "The Chokin' Kind"- Doing His Thing – Ray Charles
- The Ice Man Cometh – Jerry Butler
- Live & Well – B.B. King
- "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" – Lou Rawls
| [1][5] |
---|
row>1971 | B.B.|King}} | "The Thrill Is Gone"- "Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number 9" – Wilson Pickett
- "Patches" – Clarence Carter
- "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" – Stevie Wonder
- "War" – Edwin Starr
| [1][6] |
---|
row>1972 | Lou|Rawls}} | "A Natural Man"- "Ain't Nobody Home" – B.B. King
- Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye
- Never Can Say Goodbye – Isaac Hayes
- We Can Work It Out – Stevie Wonder
| [1][7] |
---|
row>1973 | Billy|Paul}} | "Me and Mrs. Jones"- "Drowning in the Sea of Love" – Joe Simon
- "Freddie's Dead" – Curtis Mayfield
- "I Gotcha" – Joe Tex
- "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma" – Ray Charles
| [1][8] |
---|
row>1974 | Stevie|Wonder}} | "Superstition"- "Call Me (Come Back Home)" – Al Green
- "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby" – Barry White
- "Keep on Truckin'" – Eddie Kendricks
- "Let's Get It On" – Marvin Gaye
| [1][9] |
---|
row>1975 | Stevie|Wonder}} | "Boogie on Reggae Woman"- "Boogie Down" – Eddie Kendricks
- "Hang on in There Baby" – Johnny Bristol
- Marvin Gaye Live! – Marvin Gaye
- "Rock Your Baby" – George McCrae
| [1][10] |
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row>1976 | Ray|Charles}} | Living for the City- Chocolate Chip – Isaac Hayes
- "L.O.V.E." – Al Green
- "Love Won't Let Me Wait" – Major Harris
- "Supernatural Thing, Part I" – Ben E. King
| [1][11] |
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row>1977 | Stevie|Wonder}} | "I Wish"- "Disco Lady" – Johnnie Taylor
- "Groovy People" – Lou Rawls
- "I Need You, You Need Me" – Joe Simon
- "I Want You" – Marvin Gaye
- "Lowdown" – Boz Scaggs
| [1][12] |
---|
row>1978 | Lou|Rawls}} | Unmistakably Lou- "A Real Mother For Ya" – Johnny "Guitar" Watson
- "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)" – Joe Tex
- "Got To Give It Up (Part 1)" – Marvin Gaye
- "It's Just a Matter of Time" – B.B. King
| [1][13] |
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row>1979 | George|Benson}} | "On Broadway"- "Close the Door" – Teddy Pendergrass
- "Dance with Me" – Peter Brown
- "I Can See Clearly Now" – Ray Charles
- "When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All" – Lou Rawls
| [1][14] |
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row>1980 | Michael|Jackson}} | "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"- "Cruisin'" – Smokey Robinson
- "Don't Let Go" – Isaac Hayes
- "Love Ballad" – George Benson
- "Mama Can't Buy You Love" – Elton John
- "Some Enchanted Evening" – Ray Charles
| [1][15] |
---|
row>1981 | George|Benson}} | Give Me the Night- "Let's Get Serious" – Jermaine Jackson
- "Master Blaster (Jammin')" – Stevie Wonder
- "Never Givin' Up" – Al Jarreau
- One in a Million You – Larry Graham
| [1][16] |
---|
row>1982 | James|Ingram}} | "One Hundred Ways"- "I Can't Live Without Your Love" – Teddy Pendergrass
- Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
- "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)" – Carl Carlton
- Street Songs – Rick James
| [1][16] |
---|
row>1983 | Marvin|Gaye}} | "Sexual Healing"- "Do I Do" – Stevie Wonder
- "Forever, For Always, For Love" – Luther Vandross
- "The Other Woman" – Ray Parker, Jr.
- "Turn Your Love Around" – George Benson
| [1][16] |
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row>1984 | Michael|Jackson}} | "Billie Jean"- "International Lover" – Prince
- Midnight Love – Marvin Gaye
- "Party Animal" – James Ingram
- Stay With Me Tonight – Jeffrey Osborne
| [1][16] |
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row>1985 | Billy|Ocean}} | "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)"- Don't Stop – Jeffrey Osborne
- In the Name of Love – Bill Withers
- It's Your Night – James Ingram
- "The Woman In Red" – Stevie Wonder
| [1][16] |
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row>1986 | Stevie|Wonder}} | In Square Circle- Chinese Wall – Philip Bailey
- High Crime – Al Jarreau
- The Night I Fell in Love – Luther Vandross
- "You Are My Lady" – Freddie Jackson
| [1][16] |
---|
row>1987 | James|Brown}} | "Living in America"- "Give Me The Reason" – Luther Vandross
- Love Zone – Billy Ocean
- "The Rain" – Oran "Juice" Jones
- "Since I Fell For You" – Al Jarreau
| [1][16] |
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row>1988 | Smokey|Robinson}} | "Just to See Her"- "Bad" – Michael Jackson
- "In The Midnight Hour" – Wilson Pickett
- "Lies" – Jonathan Butler
- "Skeletons" – Stevie Wonder
| [1][16] |
---|
row>1989 | Terence Trent|D'Arby}} | Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby- Any Love – Luther Vandross
- Characters – Stevie Wonder
- Joy – Teddy Pendergrass
- "Nite and Day" – Al B. Sure!
| [1][16] |
---|
row>1990 | Bobby|Brown}} | "Every Little Step"- "Batdance" – Prince
- Heart's Horizon – Al Jarreau
- "She Won't Talk to Me" – Luther Vandross
- "We've Saved the Best for Last" – Smokey Robinson
| [1][16] |
---|
row>1991 | Luther|Vandross}} | "Here and Now"- Johnny Gill – Johnny Gill
- "Misunderstanding" – Al B. Sure!
- "Round and Round" – Tevin Campbell
- "Whip Appeal" – Babyface
| [1][16] |
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row>1992 | Luther|Vandross}} | Power of Love/Love Power- "Can You Stop the Rain" – Peabo Bryson
- "Gotta Have You" – Stevie Wonder
- "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" – Teddy Pendergrass
- "Kissing You" – Keith Washington
- Love Over-Due – James Brown
| [1][16] |
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row>1993 | Al|Jarreau}} | Heaven and Earth- "Humpin' Around" – Bobby Brown
- "Jam" – Michael Jackson
- "Lost in the Night" – Peabo Bryson
- T.E.V.I.N. – Tevin Campbell
| [1][16] |
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row>1994 | Ray|Charles}} | "A Song for You"- "Can We Talk" – Tevin Campbell
- "For the Cool in You" – Babyface
- "How Deep Is Your Love" – Luther Vandross
- "Voodoo" – Teddy Pendergrass
| [1][16] |
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row>1995 | Babyface|Babyface}} | "When Can I See You"- "Always and Forever" – Luther Vandross
- "I'm Ready" – Tevin Campbell
- "Practice What You Preach" – Barry White
- "Wait for the Magic" – Al Jarreau
| [1][16] |
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row>1996 | Stevie|Wonder}} | "For Your Love"- "Baby's Home" – Barry White
- "Brown Sugar" – D'Angelo
- "I Hate U" – Prince
- "This Is How We Do It" – Montell Jordan
| [1][16] |
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row>1997 | Luther|Vandross}} | "Your Secret Love"- "A Change Is Gonna Come" – Al Green
- "Lady" – D'Angelo
- "Like a Woman" – Tony Rich Project
- "New World Order" – Curtis Mayfield
| [1][16] |
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row>1998 | R.|Kelly}} | "I Believe I Can Fly"- "Back To Living Again" – Curtis Mayfield
- "For You" – Kenny Lattimore
- "When You Call On Me / Baby That's When I Come Runnin'" – Luther Vandross
- "You Make Me Wanna..." – Usher
| [1][16] |
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row>1999 | Stevie|Wonder}} | "St. Louis Blues"- "I Know" – Luther Vandross
- "Maybe You" – Maxwell
- "My Way" – Usher
- "The Only One for Me" – Brian McKnight
| [1][16] |
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row>2000 | Barry|White}} | "Staying Power"- "Did You Ever Know" – Peabo Bryson
- "Fortunate" – Maxwell
- "Sweet Lady" – Tyrese
- "When A Woman's Fed Up" – R. Kelly
| [1][16] |
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row>2001 | D'Angelo}} | "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"- "I Wanna Know" – Joe
- "I Wish" – R. Kelly
- "Stay or Let It Go" – Brian McKnight
- "Thong Song" – Sisqo
| [1][16] |
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row>2002 | Usher|Usher}} | "U Remind Me"- "Lifetime" – Maxwell
- "Love" – Musiq Soulchild
- "Love of My Life" – Brian McKnight
- "Missing You" – Case
| [1][16] |
---|
row>2003 | Usher|Usher}} | "U Don't Have to Call"- "Halfcrazy" – Musiq Soulchild
- "Let's Stay Home Tonight" – Joe
- "Take a Message" – Remy Shand
- "The World's Greatest" – R. Kelly
| [1][16] |
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row>2004 | Luther|Vandross}} | "Dance with My Father"- "How You Gonna Act Like That" – Tyrese
- "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda" – Brian McKnight
- "Step in the Name of Love" – R. Kelly
- "Superstar" – Ruben Studdard
| [1][16] |
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row>2005 | Prince|Prince}} | "Call My Name"- "Burn" – Usher
- "Charlene" – Anthony Hamilton
- "Happy People" – R. Kelly
- "What We Do Here" – Brian McKnight
| [1][16] |
---|
row>2006 | John|Legend}} | "Ordinary People"- "Creepin'" – Jamie Foxx
- "Let Me Love You" – Mario
- "So What the Fuss" – Stevie Wonder
- "Superstar" – Usher
| [1][16] |
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row>2007 | John|Legend}} | "Heaven"- "Black Sweat" – Prince
- "Got You Home" – Luther Vandross
- "I Call It Love" – Lionel Richie
- "So Sick" – Ne-Yo
| [1][16] |
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row>2008 | Prince|Prince}} | "Future Baby Mama"- "Because of You" – Ne-Yo
- "B.U.D.D.Y." – Musiq Soulchild
- "Please Don't Go" – Tank
- "Woman" – Raheem DeVaughn
| [1][16] |
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row>2009 | Ne-Yo}} | "Miss Independent"- "Can't Help but Wait" – Trey Songz
- "Here I Stand" – Usher
- "Take You Down" – Chris Brown
- "You're the Only One" – Eric Benét
| [1][16] |
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row>2010 | Maxwell|Maxwell}} | "Pretty Wings"- "The Point Of It All" – Anthony Hamilton
- "SoBeautiful" – Musiq Soulchild
- "There Goes My Baby" – Charlie Wilson
- "Under" – Pleasure P
| [1][16] |
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row>2011 | Usher|Usher}} | "There Goes My Baby"- "Finding My Way Back" – Jaheim
- "Second Chance" – El DeBarge
- "We're Still Friends" – Musiq Soulchild
- "Why Would You Stay" – Kem
| [1][16] |
---|
|
1. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 {{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=27|title=Past Winners Search|publisher=Grammy.Com}}
2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1967-242.html|title=Grammy Awards 1967|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
3. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1968-218.html|title=Grammy Awards 1968|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
4. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1969-243.html|title=Grammy Awards 1969|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
5. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1970-219.html|title=Grammy Awards 1970|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
6. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1971-220.html|title=Grammy Awards 1971|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
7. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1972-221.html|title=Grammy Awards 1972|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
8. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1973-222.html|title=Grammy Awards 1973|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
9. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1974-223.html|title=Grammy Awards 1974|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
10. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1975-240.html|title=Grammy Awards 1975|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
11. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1976-224.html|title=Grammy Awards 1976|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
12. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1977-225.html|title=Grammy Awards 1977|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
13. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1978-226.html|title=Grammy Awards 1978|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
14. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1979-227.html|title=Grammy Awards 1979|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
15. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1980-228.html|title=Grammy Awards 1980|publisher=Awards & Shows}}
16. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 {{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/randbmale.htm|title=Grammy Awards: Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male|publisher=Rock on the Net}}