Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed The Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance was awarded between 1968 and 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:

• In 1968 it was awarded as Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male
• From 1969 to 1994 it was awarded as Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male
• From 1995 to 2011 it was awarded as Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

The award category was discontinued in 2012 as part of a major overhaul of the Grammy categories. It was merged with Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals into a single category for Best R&B Performance.

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

Recipients

Ray Charles was the first recipient of the award. He won the award three times.

Stevie Wonder has most nominations in this category, with 16 nominations. He also has the most wins with seven.

Singer James Brown won the award in 1987.

Artist Prince won the award two times.

Eight time nominee Usher won the award three times. He was the last winner in this category.

Two time winner John Legend.

YearTemplate:Ref	Winner(s)	Performance	Nominees	Ref.
1967	Template:Sortname	"Crying Time"	"It's A Man's Man's Man's World" – James Brown "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" – Lou Rawls "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" – Stevie Wonder "When a Man Loves a Woman" – Percy Sledge	<ref name="Past Winners Search">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1968	Template:Sortname	"Dead End Street"	"Funky Broadway" – Wilson Pickett "Higher and Higher" – Jackie Wilson "Skinny Legs and All" – Joe Tex "Try A Little Tenderness" – Otis Redding	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1969	Template:Sortname	"(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay"	"For Once in My Life" – Stevie Wonder "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" – Joe Simon "I Heard It through the Grapevine" – Marvin Gaye "Who's Making Love" – Johnnie Taylor	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1970	Template:Sort	"The Chokin' Kind"	Doing His Thing – Ray Charles The Ice Man Cometh – Jerry Butler Live & Well – B.B. King "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" – Lou Rawls	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1971	Template:Sortname	"The Thrill Is Gone"	"Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number 9" – Wilson Pickett "Patches" – Clarence Carter "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" – Stevie Wonder "War" – Edwin Starr	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1972	Template:Sortname	"A Natural Man"	"Ain't Nobody Home" – B.B. King Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye Never Can Say Goodbye – Isaac Hayes We Can Work It Out – Stevie Wonder	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1973	Template:Sortname	"Me and Mrs. Jones"	"Drowning in the Sea of Love" – Joe Simon "Freddie's Dead" – Curtis Mayfield "I Gotcha" – Joe Tex "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma" – Ray Charles	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1974	Template:Sortname	"Superstition"	"Call Me (Come Back Home)" – Al Green "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby" – Barry White "Keep on Truckin'" – Eddie Kendricks "Let's Get It On" – Marvin Gaye	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1975		"Boogie on Reggae Woman"	"Boogie Down" – Eddie Kendricks "Hang on in There Baby" – Johnny Bristol Marvin Gaye Live! – Marvin Gaye "Rock Your Baby" – George McCrae	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1976	Template:Sortname	"Living for the City"	Chocolate Chip – Isaac Hayes "L.O.V.E." – Al Green "Love Won't Let Me Wait" – Major Harris "Supernatural Thing, Part I" – Ben E. King	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1977	Template:Sortname	"I Wish"	"Disco Lady" – Johnnie Taylor "Groovy People" – Lou Rawls "I Need You, You Need Me" – Joe Simon "I Want You" – Marvin Gaye "Lowdown" – Boz Scaggs	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1978	Template:Sortname	Unmistakably Lou	"A Real Mother For Ya" – Johnny "Guitar" Watson "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)" – Joe Tex "Got To Give It Up (Part 1)" – Marvin Gaye "It's Just a Matter of Time" – B.B. King	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1979	Template:Sortname	"On Broadway"	"Close the Door" – Teddy Pendergrass "Dance with Me" – Peter Brown "I Can See Clearly Now" – Ray Charles "When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All" – Lou Rawls	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1980	Template:Sortname	"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"	"Cruisin'" – Smokey Robinson "Don't Let Go" – Isaac Hayes "Love Ballad" – George Benson "Mama Can't Buy You Love" – Elton John "Some Enchanted Evening" – Ray Charles	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1981	Template:Sortname	Give Me the Night	"Let's Get Serious" – Jermaine Jackson "Master Blaster (Jammin')" – Stevie Wonder "Never Givin' Up" – Al Jarreau One in a Million You – Larry Graham	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male">Template:Cite web</ref>
1982	Template:Sortname	"One Hundred Ways"	"I Can't Live Without Your Love" – Teddy Pendergrass Never Too Much – Luther Vandross "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)" – Carl Carlton Street Songs – Rick James	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1983	Template:Sortname	"Sexual Healing"	"Do I Do" – Stevie Wonder Forever, For Always, For Love – Luther Vandross "The Other Woman" – Ray Parker Jr. "Turn Your Love Around" – George Benson	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1984	Template:Sortname	"Billie Jean"	"International Lover" – Prince Midnight Love – Marvin Gaye "Party Animal" – James Ingram Stay With Me Tonight – Jeffrey Osborne	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1985	Template:Sortname	"Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)"	Don't Stop – Jeffrey Osborne In the Name of Love – Bill Withers It's Your Night – James Ingram "The Woman In Red" – Stevie Wonder	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1986	Template:Sortname	In Square Circle	Chinese Wall – Philip Bailey High Crime – Al Jarreau The Night I Fell in Love – Luther Vandross "You Are My Lady" – Freddie Jackson	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1987	Template:Sortname	"Living in America"	"Give Me The Reason" – Luther Vandross Love Zone – Billy Ocean "The Rain" – Oran "Juice" Jones "Since I Fell for You" – Al Jarreau	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1988	Template:Sortname	"Just to See Her"	"Bad" – Michael Jackson "In The Midnight Hour" – Wilson Pickett "Lies" – Jonathan Butler "Skeletons" – Stevie Wonder	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1989	Template:Sortname	Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby	Any Love – Luther Vandross Characters – Stevie Wonder Joy – Teddy Pendergrass "Nite and Day" – Al B. Sure!	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1990	Template:Sortname	"Every Little Step"	Heart's Horizon – Al Jarreau "Batdance" – Prince "We've Saved the Best for Last" – Smokey Robinson "She Won't Talk to Me" – Luther Vandross	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1991	Template:Sortname	"Here and Now"	"Misunderstanding" – Al B. Sure! "Whip Appeal" – Babyface "Round and Round" – Tevin Campbell Johnny Gill – Johnny Gill	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1992		"Power of Love/Love Power"	Love Over-Due – James Brown "Can You Stop the Rain" – Peabo Bryson "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" – Teddy Pendergrass "Kissing You" – Keith Washington "Gotta Have You" – Stevie Wonder	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1993	Template:Sortname	Heaven and Earth	"Humpin' Around" – Bobby Brown "Lost in the Night" – Peabo Bryson T.E.V.I.N. – Tevin Campbell "Jam" – Michael Jackson	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1994	Template:Sortname	"A Song for You"	"For the Cool in You" – Babyface "Can We Talk" – Tevin Campbell "Voodoo" – Teddy Pendergrass "How Deep Is Your Love" – Luther Vandross	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1995	Template:Sort	"When Can I See You"	"I'm Ready" – Tevin Campbell "Wait for the Magic" – Al Jarreau "Always and Forever" – Luther Vandross "Practice What You Preach" – Barry White	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1996	Template:Sortname	"For Your Love"	"Brown Sugar" – D'Angelo "This Is How We Do It" – Montell Jordan "I Hate U" – Prince "Baby's Home" – Barry White	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1997	Template:Sortname	"Your Secret Love"	"Lady" – D'Angelo "A Change Is Gonna Come" – Al Green "New World Order" – Curtis Mayfield "Like a Woman" – Tony Rich Project	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1998	Template:Sortname	"I Believe I Can Fly"	"For You" – Kenny Lattimore "Back To Living Again" – Curtis Mayfield "You Make Me Wanna..." – Usher "When You Call On Me / Baby That's When I Come Runnin'" – Luther Vandross	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
1999	Template:Sortname	"St. Louis Blues"	"Maybe You" – Maxwell "The Only One for Me" – Brian McKnight "My Way" – Usher "I Know" – Luther Vandross	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2000	Template:Sortname	"Staying Power"	"Did You Ever Know" – Peabo Bryson "Fortunate" – Maxwell "Sweet Lady" – Tyrese "When A Woman's Fed Up" – R. Kelly	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2001	Template:Sort	"Untitled (How Does It Feel)"	"I Wanna Know" – Joe "I Wish" – R. Kelly "Stay or Let It Go" – Brian McKnight "Thong Song" – Sisqo	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2002	Template:Sort	"U Remind Me"	"Lifetime" – Maxwell "Love" – Musiq Soulchild "Love of My Life" – Brian McKnight "Missing You" – Case	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2003		"U Don't Have to Call"	"Halfcrazy" – Musiq Soulchild "Let's Stay Home Tonight" – Joe "Take a Message" – Remy Shand "The World's Greatest" – R. Kelly	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2004	Template:Sortname	"Dance with My Father"	"How You Gonna Act Like That" – Tyrese "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda" – Brian McKnight "Step in the Name of Love" – R. Kelly "Superstar" – Ruben Studdard	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2005	Template:Sort	"Call My Name"	"Burn" – Usher "Charlene" – Anthony Hamilton "Happy People" – R. Kelly "What We Do Here" – Brian McKnight	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2006	Template:Sortname	"Ordinary People"	"Creepin'" – Jamie Foxx "Let Me Love You" – Mario "So What the Fuss" – Stevie Wonder "Superstar" – Usher	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2007		"Heaven"	"Black Sweat" – Prince "Got You Home" – Luther Vandross "I Call It Love" – Lionel Richie "So Sick" – Ne-Yo	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2008	Template:Sort	"Future Baby Mama"	"Because of You" – Ne-Yo "B.U.D.D.Y." – Musiq Soulchild "Please Don't Go" – Tank "Woman" – Raheem DeVaughn	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2009	Template:Sort	"Miss Independent"	"Can't Help but Wait" – Trey Songz "Here I Stand" – Usher "Take You Down" – Chris Brown "You're the Only One" – Eric Benét	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2010	Template:Sort	"Pretty Wings"	"The Point Of It All" – Anthony Hamilton "SoBeautiful" – Musiq Soulchild "There Goes My Baby" – Charlie Wilson "Under" – Pleasure P	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>
2011	Template:Sort	"There Goes My Baby"	"Finding My Way Back" – Jaheim "Second Chance" – El DeBarge "We're Still Friends" – Musiq Soulchild "Why Would You Stay" – Kem	<ref name="Past Winners Search"/><ref name="Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male"/>

Category records

Most wins

Rank	1st	2nd	3rd
Artist	Stevie Wonder	Luther Vandross	Lou Rawls Ray Charles Usher
Total wins	7 Wins	4 wins	3 wins

Most nominations

Rank	1st	2nd	3rd
Artist	Stevie Wonder	Luther Vandross	Marvin Gaye Usher
Total nominations	16 nominations	15 nominations	8 nominations

External links

• Official Site of the Grammy Awards