NEW YORK (AP) – Singers Stevie Wonder and Olivia Newton-John were named the best male and female pop vocalists respectively in the 17th annual Grammy Awards presentation Saturday night.
The year’s record was “I Honestly Love You,” by Miss Newton-John.
Wonder picked up three other awards as well, to go with the five he won last year, and composer, arranger, and performer Marvin Hamlisch also won a total of four in the ceremonies, which were seen in part on television.
Aretha Franklin retained her lock on the best rhythm and blues singer award, the only person who has won the honor in the ten years the award has been presented.
Anne Murray and Ronnie Milsap were named as the best female and male country performers.
In addition to his best male pop vocalist award, Wonder won for best album of the year, ‘Fulfillingness’ First Finale,” best rhythm and blues vocal with “Boogie On Reggae Woman,” and best rhythm and blues song, .”Living for the City.”
Hamlisch, who won three Oscars last year for his work in films, took his first Grammys in the following categories: Best new artist of the year, Song of the year for “The Way We Were,” best pop instrumental performance for “The Entertainer” and best original score for a movie, The Way We Were.”
A record by former Beatle Paul McCartney and his Wings, “Band on the Run,” won Grammys in the category best pop vocal by a duo or group and best-engineered recording.
Best arrangement accompanying vocalist was won by Joni Mitchell and saxophonist Tom Scott who arranged Miss Mitchell’s song, “Down To You.” Miss Mitchell won a Grammy in 1970 for best folk performance.
Country awards given before the televised show included the Atkins-Travis Traveling Show as best country instrumental performance. Merle Travis was winning his first Grammy and Chet Atkins his fourth. The best country song category was won by writers Norris Wilson and Billy Sherill for “A Very Special Love Song.”
