thumb | 220x124px | right | Miles Davis at StratusbourgThe Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance was awarded from 1970 to 1990 and in 1993. The award had several minor name changes:
- From 1970 to 1985 the award was known as Best R&B Instrumental Performance
- From 1986 to 1989 it was awarded as Best R&B Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist)
- In 1990 and 1993 it was awarded as Best R&B Instrumental Performance
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
Recipients
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col" width=30%|Winner(s)
! scope="col" width=30%|Title
! scope="col" class="unsortable" width=30%|Nominees
! scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1970
| King Curtis
| "Games People Play"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center" style="text-align:center;"|1971
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| No Award Given
|-
! scope="row" align="center" style="text-align:center;"|1972
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| No Award Given
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1973
| Paul Riser & The Temptations
| "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (Instrumental)"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1974
| Ramsey Lewis
| "Hang On Sloopy"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1975
| MFSB
| "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1976
| Silver Convention
| "Fly, Robin, Fly"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1977
| George Benson
| "Theme From Good King Bad"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1978
| The Brothers Johnson
| "Q"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1979
| Earth, Wind & Fire
| "Runnin'"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1980
| Earth, Wind & Fire
| "Boogie Wonderland"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1981
| George Benson
| "Off Broadway"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1982
| David Sanborn
| "All I Need Is You"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1983
| Marvin Gaye
| "Sexual Healing (Instrumental Version)"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1984
| Herbie Hancock
| "Rockit"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1985
| Herbie Hancock
| "Sound-System"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1986
| Ernie Watts
| "Musician"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1987
| Yellowjackets
| "And You Know That"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1988
| David Sanborn
| "Chicago Song"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1989
| Chick Corea
| "Light Years"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1990
| Soul II Soul
| "African Dance"
|
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" align="center" style="text-align:center;"|1991
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| No Award Given
|-
! scope="row" align="center" style="text-align:center;"|1992
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| No Award Given
|-
! scope="row" align="center"|1993
| Miles Davis
| "Doo-Bop"
|
| align="center"|
|}