The great Grammy Awards mystery of 1967 might never be known

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As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours delving into the labyrinth of trivia and mysteries, I can confidently say that the Grammy Awards saga of 1967 remains one of the most enigmatic conundrums I’ve ever encountered. I remember the first time I stumbled upon this peculiar tale – it was akin to stumbling upon an abandoned treasure chest in a forgotten corner of a video game world, only to find that the loot inside was not gold or jewels but a piece of music history shrouded in mystery.

Among history’s enduring enigmas, few are as puzzling, perplexing, and just plain strange as the one that unfolded at the 1967 Grammy Awards, an event honoring musical accomplishments. This particular mystery revolves around the Best New Artist category. To clarify further, there was no winner in this category.

What’s the reason behind it? Regrettably, we might never find out as the Recording Academy, responsible for the awards, chose not to comment at the time, and they’ve remained silent on the matter since then (approximately 50 years ago). It’s plausible that those involved in the decision may no longer be alive or have forgotten about it. If any related documents exist, they remain hidden as nobody has access to them.

Let’s rewind a bit… Initially, The Recording Academy did not bestow the title of Best New Artist in its inaugural Grammy Awards held in 1959, which recognized recordings released in 1958. However, this category was introduced in the following year and has been consistently awarded every year since 1960, as it proved to be a popular and successful addition.

What happened to the Grammy Awards in 1967?

Except in 1967.

The eligibility rules and the number of nominees have changed over the years – a common occurrence in Grammy-land. But the award has remained and has become recognized as one of the Big Four – along with Record, Album, and Song of the year. Recent winners have included Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Dua Lipa. Heavy hitters like Adele, Lauryn Hill, and Mariah Carey have been recognized. There have even been a few boys in the club.

In 1990, there was no winner announced because the award given to Milli Vanilli was later retracted when it was revealed they didn’t sing their own songs. However, this fact isn’t particularly significant to me. I think it would be nice if Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus received their awards again, but honestly, it’s not something that keeps me awake at night.

Not like I am over 1967.

In 1960, Bobby Darin was the first recipient of the New Artist award. This was certainly a fitting selection. Known for his versatility, Darin excelled across various genres before his untimely death at age 37 due to health issues. Following Darin, it was Bob Newhart’s turn, who was a comedian at that time (a role once considered worthy of mainstream awards alongside classical musicians). Next came pianist Peter Nero, singer Robert Goulet, the lesser-known Swingle Singers, and in a clear acknowledgment of the times, The Beatles received the award in 1965.

This collection is quite diverse, indeed. While I don’t dispute the outcomes like Goulet triumphing over The Four Seasons, Peter, Paul, and Mary, or even The Swingle Singers, personally, I’m not particularly fond of any nominee from 1964.

Given that the Academy has remained silent about the matter and appears uninterested in discussing it, we’re left to make assumptions. To be honest, I’ve never encountered plausible theories as to why they withdrew the award in ’67. With that said, here’s a theory I’ve formulated based on my knowledge of how the Grammy system works and what was happening around 1966.

As a gamer, I’d say: I believe they took back the award due to a shiver of apprehension. These new performers, like Elvis, Jagger, and even the Beatles, were shaking things up with their raw sexuality, which was unprecedented for the public eye. And let me tell you, they were absolutely petrified by Tom Jones.

In 1966, Tom Jones, the Welshman known for inciting women to toss undergarments and room keys during performances, received the Best New Artist award. His win was entirely validated. “It’s Not Unusual” and “What’s New Pussycat” were massive hits during the qualifying period. Jones’s success foreshadowed a future that caused some traditional members of the Academy to seize up with discomfort.

Back in the swing of things, it wasn’t unheard of for the Recording or Album awards to go to established stars back in the mid-60s. Herb Alpert clinched Record of the Year in ’66 and Frank Sinatra followed suit in ’67. Now, I’m not implying they didn’t stir up a bit of controversy during their time, but let’s face it, they weren’t spearheading any musical revolutions then. However, things got trickier when it came to the New Artist award since most of the rising stars were from the rock ‘n’ roll scene.

Back in 1966, The Byrds, Herman’s Hermits, Sonny & Cher, along with other emerging artists when Jones was recognized, might appear a bit dated nowadays. However, they were quite revolutionary then, sporting long hair and occasionally performing songs with suggestive undertones. I must admit, Sonny Bono gave me the chills back in those days!

It seems to me that the Recording Academy may have inadvertently overlooked the new artist category, possibly due to a lost or ignored memo. This assumption could be intentional, but it’s highly unlikely; I’d estimate a 5% chance that it was an honest mistake. (Just like some historical enigmas, clerical errors can sometimes lead to puzzling situations.)

To rectify a past oversight, I’ll announce the Grammy for Best New Artist from 1967. Since the awards have historically shown a carefree approach to consistency, I’ve decided on six nominees. In 1966, there were seven (including mild-mannered artists Horst Jankowski and Glenn Yarbrough), while there were only five in 1968 when it suddenly resurfaced. This time, I’m finding a middle ground.

And the nominees are:

The Association
Gordon Lightfoot
The Mamas & the Papas
The Monkees
Simon & Garfunkel
The Young Rascals

1966 was a significant year for music with several notable groups, including Buffalo Springfield, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, and the Who, releasing their debut albums. However, according to the Academy’s “breakthrough” standards, none of these bands would have been eligible for nomination in that year. Interestingly, Cream and Jefferson Airplane were nominated for New Artist categories at later points in time.

As a dedicated music enthusiast, I can’t help but share this exciting piece of history: Starting today, it’s clear as day that the recipients of the Best New Artist Grammy in 1967 were none other than Simon & Garfunkel. Although they had already released an album in 1964, their journey to major commercial success truly began in 1966. This was marked by the release of “Sounds of Silence” in January and “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme” in October.

I’ll inform both Paul and Art about their accomplishment. By the way, do we have their contact details?

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2024-12-14 17:00