The Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance was awarded between 1969 and 2011.
- In 1969 it was awarded as Best Contemporary-Pop Performance, Instrumental
- From 1970 to 1971 it was awarded as Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance
- In 1972 it was awarded as Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- In 1973 it was awarded as Best Pop Instrumental Performance by an Instrumental Performer
- From 1974 to 1975 it was again awarded as Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- From 1986 to 1989 it was awarded as Best Pop Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist)
- Since 1990 it has again been awarded as Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- The award was discontinued from 2011 in a major overhaul of Grammy categories. From 2012, all instrumental performances in the pop category (solo or with a duo/group) were shifted to either the newly formed Best Pop Solo Performance or Best Pop Duo/Group Performance categories.
A similar award for Best Instrumental Performance was awarded from 1965 to 1968. This was also in the pop field, but did not specify pop music.
Recipients
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:5em;" | Year
! scope="col" | Performing artist(s)
! scope="col" | Work
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Nominees
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
| align="center"|1969
| Mason Williams
| "Classical Gas"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1970
| Blood, Sweat & Tears
| "Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1971
| Henry Mancini
| Theme from Z and Other Film Music
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1972
| Quincy Jones
| Smackwater Jack
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1973
| Billy Preston
| "Outa-Space"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1974
| Eumir Deodato
| "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1975
| Marvin Hamlisch
| "The Entertainer"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1976
| Van McCoy
| "The Hustle"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1977
| George Benson
| Breezin
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1978
| John Williams & the London Symphony Orchestra
| Star Wars
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1979
| Chuck Mangione
| Children of Sanchez
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1980
| Herb Alpert
| "Rise"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1981
| Bob James and Earl Klugh
| One on One
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1982
| Larry Carlton and Mike Post
| "The Theme From Hill Street Blues"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1983
| Ernie Watts
| "Chariots of Fire Theme (Dance Version)"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1984
| George Benson
| "Being with You"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1985
| Ray Parker Jr.
| "Ghostbusters (Instrumental)"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1986
| Jan Hammer
| "Miami Vice Theme"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1987
| Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens
| "Top Gun Anthem"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1988
| Larry Carlton
| "Minute by Minute"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1989
| David Sanborn
| Close-Up
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1990
| The Neville Brothers
| "Healing Chant"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1991
| Angelo Badalamenti
| "Twin Peaks Theme"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1992
| Michael Kamen
| Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1993
| Richard Kaufman
| "Beauty and the Beast"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1994
| Branford Marsalis and Bruce Hornsby
| "Barcelona Mona"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1995
| Booker T. & the M.G.'s
| "Cruisin'"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1996
| Los Lobos
| "Mariachi Suite"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1997
| Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
| "The Sinister Minister"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1998
| Sarah McLachlan
| "Last Dance"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|1999
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra
| "Sleepwalk"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2000
| Santana
| "El Farol"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2001
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra
| "Caravan"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2002
| Eric Clapton
| "Reptile"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2003
| B. B. King
| "Auld Lang Syne"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2004
| George Harrison
| "Marwa Blues"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2005
| Ben Harper
| "11th Commandment"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2006
| Les Paul
| "Caravan"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2007
| George Benson and Al Jarreau
| "Mornin'"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2008
| Joni Mitchell
| "One Week Last Summer"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2009
| Eagles
| "I Dreamed There Was No War"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2010
| Béla Fleck
| "Throw Down Your Heart"
|
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"|2011
| Jeff Beck
| "Nessun Dorma"
|
| align="center"|
|}
- <sup></sup> Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
See also
- List of Grammy Award categories
- Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Performance
References
External links
- Official site of the Grammy Awards