Vocal wizard Bobby McFerrin stole the Grammy stage from singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, winning awards in four of the five categories in which he was nominated, including record of the year.
Chapman, who rocketed last year from student-performer on Boston`s club circuit to international superstardom with her debut album ”Tracy Chapman”
was nominated six times, and many had expected a record-setting sweep. Instead, she won three awards, for best new artist, best female pop vocal performance and contemporary folk recording.
McFerrin`s five nominations pitted him against some of music`s most popular heavyweights, and he was not expected to shine. But he wound up spending almost as much time on stage as Grammy host Billy Crystal.
McFerrin demonstrated his vocal gymnastics after accepting the award for the year`s best song and later returned to claim the best pop male vocal for his single ”Don`t Worry Be Happy.” He also won the Grammy for best male jazz vocal performance, ”Brothers,” a jazz track from bassist Rob Wasserman`s
”Duets” album. He then claimed the evening`s final, and most prestigious award, record of the year, for ”Don`t Worry.”
Chapman was tearful as she accepted the award for best pop female vocalist, saying simply: ”I want to thank my family: my mother, who bought me my first guitar, my sister, who`s always been my best audience, my best critic and my best friend.”
If she had won in all six categories, she would have surpassed Christopher Cross` 1980 sweep of five Grammys for his self-titled debut. But the wealth was shared at the 31st annual Grammy Awards ceremonies at the Shrine Auditorium.
George Michael, who was virtually shut out of the nominations, won album of the year for his multiplatinum ”Faith.” And in the new rap category,
”Parents Just Don`t Understand” by D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince took top honors.
The new hard rock-heavy metal category was won by Jethro Tull. Terence Trent D`Arby won best male rhythm & blues vocal for ”Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D`Arby.”
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor Sir Georg Solti, who holds the record for number of Grammys, was awarded his 27th and 28th trophies. He was honored for best classical recording, ”Wagner: Lohengrin,” conducting Vienna State Opera Choir and Vienna Philharmonic; and for chamber music, ”Bartok:
Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion,”-”Brahm s: Variation on Theme by Joseph Haydn for Two Pianos,” a collaboration with Murray Perahia and David Corkhill and Evelyn Glennie on percussion.
Jesse Jackson won for best spoken word recording for a speech included on Aretha Franklin`s ”One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” album.
Anita Baker, a triple winner two years ago, captured two more Grammys Wednesday, best R&B song and female performance, for the the title single from her second album, ”Giving You the Best That I Got.”
The evening`s first surprises came as the Beach Boys` No. 1 hit
”Kokomo” was edged out by Manhattan Transfer`s ”Brasil” in the best pop group performance category. That presentation was followed by Tina Turner`s selection for the best female rock performance for her album ”Tina Live In Europe.”
Ireland`s U2 captured two awards, winning best rock performance by a duo or group for the single ”Desire” and best performance music video for
”Where the Streets Have No Name.” Both were presented during the pre-telecast ceremonies.
Robert Palmer won in the best male rock vocal performance for his single
”Simply Irresistible.”
In the country category, singer K. T. Oslin took home honors for both the best country song and best female performance for ”Hold Me.” Randy Travis won for best male performance for his album ”Old 8×10.”
Among other winners:
Rock instrumental performance (orchestra, group or soloist): ”Blues for Salvador,” Carlos Santana.
Pop instrumental (orchestra group or soloist): ”Close Up,” David Sanborn.
R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal: ”Love Overboard,” Gladys Knight & the Pips.
R&B instrumental performance (orchestra, group or soloist): ”Light Years,” Chick Corea.
Latin pop performance: ”Roberto Carlos,” Roberto Carlos.
Tropical Latin performance: ”Antecedente,” Ruben Blades y Son Del Solar.
Rap performance: ”Parents Just Don`t Understand,” D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.
Jazz vocal performance, female: ”Look What I Got!” Betty Carter.
Jazz vocal performance, duo or group: ”Spread Love,” Take 6.
Jazz instrumental performance, group: ”Blues for Coltrane; A Tribute to John Coltrane,” various artists.
Jazz instrumental performance, soloist: ”Don`t Try This at Home,”
Michael Brecker.
Jazz instrumental performance, big band: ”Bud & Bird,” Gil Evans and The Monday Night Orchestra.
New age performance: ”Folksongs for a Nuclear Village,” Shadowfax.
Jazz fusion performance: ”Politics,” by Yellowjackets.
Traditional blues recording: ”Hidden Charms,” Willie Dixon.
Contemporary blues recording: ”Don`t Be Afraid of the Dark,” The Robert Cray Band.
Musical cast show album: ”Into the Woods,” Stephen Sondheim, lyricist and composer.
Album of original instrumental background score written for a motion picture or television: ”The Last Emperor,” various.
Song written specifically for a motion picture or television: ”Two Hearts,” Phil Collins.
Arrangement on an instrumental: ”Memos from Paradise,” Eddie Daniels.
Instrumental, accompanying vocal: ”No One Is Alone,” Cleo Laine.
Album package: ”Tired of the Runnin`,” O`Kanes.
Album notes: ”Crossroad,” Eric Clapton.
Historical album: ”Crossroad,” Eric Clapton.
Engineered recording (non-classical): ”Roll With It” (album), Steve Winwood.
Country vocal collaboration: ”Crying,” Roy Orbison and k. d. lang.
Country instrumental performance (orchestra, group or soloist):
”Sugarfoot Rag,” Asleep at the Wheel.
Country vocal, duo or group: ”Give a Little Love,” The Judds.
Mexican-American performance: ”Canciones de Me Padre,” Linda Ronstadt.
Best soul gospel performance group or duo, choir or chorus: ”Take 6,”
Take 6.
Bluegrass recording (vocal or instrumental): ”Southern Flavor,” Bill Monroe.
Gospel performance, female: ”Lead Me On,” Amy Grant.
Gospel performance, male: ”Christmas,” Larnelle Harris.
Gospel performance by duo or group, choir or chorus: ”The Winans Live at Carnegie Hall,” The Winans.
Soul gospel performance, female: ”One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism,”
Aretha Franklin.
Soul gospel performance, male: ”Abundant Life,” BeBe Winans.
Traditional folk recording: ”Folkways: A Vision Shared-A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly,” various artists.
Reggae recording: ”Conscious Party” (album), Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers.
Polka recording: ”Born to Polka,” Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra.
Recording for children: ”Pecos Bill,” Robin Williams, narrator.
Comedy recording: ”Good Morning, Vietnam,” Robin Williams.
Concept music video: ”I`m Fat,” ”Weird Al” Yankovic.
Classic performance producer of the year: Robert Woods.
Engineered recording, classical: ”Verdi: Requiem & Operatic Choruses,”
Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
Contemporary composition: ”Adams: Nixon in China,” John Adams composer, Edo de Waart conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke`s.
Classical vocal soloist: ”Luciano Pavarotti in Concert,” Luciano Pavarotti, tenor.
Chamber music: ”Bartok: Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion” and
”Brahms: Variation on Theme by Joseph Haydn for Two Pianos,” Murray Perahia and Sir Georg Solti on pianos with David Corkhill and Evelyn Glennie on percussion.
Classical, instrumental soloist or soloists (without orchestra):
”Albeniz: Iberia, Navarra and Suite Espagnola,” Alicia de Larrocka.
Best classical performance, instrumental soloist or soloists with orchestra: ”Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A,” Vladimir Horowitz, piano.
Choral (other than opera): ”Verdi: Requiem and Operatic Choruses,”
Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
Orchestral recording: ”Rorem: String Symphony, Sunday Morning and Eagles,” Robert Shaw, conductor, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Classical album: ”Verdi: Requiem and Operatic Choruses,” Robert Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
