The 23rd Grammy Awards were held in 1981, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1980.
- Record of the Year
- Michael Omartian (producer) & Christopher Cross for "Sailing"
- Michael Omartian (producer) & Christopher Cross for "Sailing"
- Album of the Year
- Michael Omartian (producer) & Christopher Cross for Christopher Cross
- Michael Omartian (producer) & Christopher Cross for Christopher Cross
- Song of the Year
- Christopher Cross for "Sailing"
- Christopher Cross for "Sailing"
- Best New Artist
- Best Recording for Children
- David Levine & Lucy Simon (producers) for In Harmony/A Sesame Street Record\ performed by various artists
- David Levine & Lucy Simon (producers) for In Harmony/A Sesame Street Record\ performed by various artists
- Best Classical Orchestral Recording
- Raymond Minshull (producer), Georg Solti (conductor) & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A
- Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance
- Henry Lewis (conductor), Leontyne Price & the Philharmonia Orchestra for Prima Donna, Vol. 5 - Great Soprano Arias From Handel to Britten
- Best Opera Recording
- Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Toni Blankenheim, Franz Mazura, Yvonne Minton, Teresa Stratas & the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris for Berg: Lulu
- Best Choral Performance, Classical
- Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor), Norbert Balatsch (chorus master) & the Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus for Mozart: Requiem
- Best Classical Performance- Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (with orchestra)
- Bernard Haitink (conductor), Itzhak Perlman, Mstislav Rostropovich & the Concertgebouw Orchestra for Brahms: Violin and Cello Concerto in A Minor (Double Concerto)
- Seiji Ozawa (conductor), Itzhak Perlman & the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Berg: Violin Concerto/Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D
- Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (without orchestra)
- Itzhak Perlman for The Spanish Album
- Best Chamber Music Performance
- Itzhak Perlman & Pinchas Zukerman for Music for Two Violins (Moszkowski: Suite For Two Violins/Shostakovich: Duets/Prokofiev: Sonata for Two Violins)
- Best Classical Album
- Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Toni Blankenheim, Franz Mazura, Yvonne Minton, Teresa Stratas, & the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris for Berg: Lulu
- Gunther Breest, Michael Horwath (producers), Pierre Boulez (conductor), Toni Blankenheim, Franz Mazura, Yvonne Minton, Teresa Stratas, & the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris for Berg: Lulu
- Best Comedy Recording
- Rodney Dangerfield for No Respect
- Rodney Dangerfield for No Respect
- Best Instrumental Composition
- John Williams (composer) for The Empire Strikes Back
- Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special
- John Williams (composer) for The Empire Strikes Back
- Best Instrumental Arrangement
- Jerry Hey & Quincy Jones (arrangers) for "Dinorah, Dinorah" performed by George Benson
- Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
- Christopher Cross & Michael Omartian (arrangers) for "Sailing" performed by Christopher Cross
- Best Arrangement for Voices
- Janis Siegel (arranger) for "Birdland" performed by The Manhattan Transfer
- Janis Siegel (arranger) for "Birdland" performed by The Manhattan Transfer
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Female
- Anne Murray for "Could I Have This Dance?"
- Best Country Vocal Performance, Male
- George Jones for "He Stopped Loving Her Today"
- Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
- Emmylou Harris & Roy Orbison for "That Lovin' You Feelin' Again"
- Best Country Instrumental Performance
- Gilley's Urban Cowboy Band for "Orange Blossom Special/Hoedown"
- Best Country Song
- Willie Nelson (songwriter) for "On the Road Again"
- Willie Nelson (songwriter) for "On the Road Again"
- Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording
- Norman Dayron (producer) for Rare Blues performed by various artists
- Norman Dayron (producer) for Rare Blues performed by various artists
- Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational
- Andrae Crouch, the Archers, B.J. Thomas, Cynthia Clawson, Dony McGuire, Reba Rambo, Tramaine Hawkins & Walter Hawkins for The Lord's Prayer
- Best Gospel Performance, Traditional
- Blackwood Brothers for We Come to Worship
- Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional
- James Cleveland & the Charles Fold Singers for Lord, Let Me Be an Instrument
- Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary
- Shirley Caesar for Rejoice
- Best Inspirational Performance
- Debby Boone for With My Song I Will Praise Him
- Debby Boone for With My Song I Will Praise Him
- Best Historical Reissue Album
- Keith Hardwick (producer) for Segovia - The EMI Recordings 1927-39 performed by Andrés Segovia
- Keith Hardwick (producer) for Segovia - The EMI Recordings 1927-39 performed by Andrés Segovia
- Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female
- Ella Fitzgerald for A Perfect Match - Ella and Basie
- Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
- George Benson for "Moody's Mood"
- Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
- Bill Evans for I Will Say Goodbye
- Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Group
- Bill Evans for We Will Meet Again
- Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Big Band
- Count Basie for On the Road
- Count Basie for On the Road
- Best Latin Recording
- Cal Tjader for La Onda Va Bien
- Cal Tjader for La Onda Va Bien
- Best Cast Show Album
- Andrew Lloyd Webber (producer and composer), Tim Rice (producer and lyricist) & the original cast with Patti Lupone & Mandy Patinkin for Evita - Premier American Recording
- Andrew Lloyd Webber (producer and composer), Tim Rice (producer and lyricist) & the original cast with Patti Lupone & Mandy Patinkin for Evita - Premier American Recording
- Best Album Package - Incl. Album Cover, Graphic Arts, Photography
- Roy Kohara (art director) for Against the Wind performed by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
- Best Album Notes
- David McClintick (notes writer) for Trilogy: Past, Present and Future performed by Frank Sinatra
- David McClintick (notes writer) for Trilogy: Past, Present and Future performed by Frank Sinatra
- Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
- Bette Midler for "The Rose"
- Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
- Kenny Loggins for "This Is It"
- Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
- Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb for "Guilty"
- Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- Bob James & Earl Klugh for One on One
- Bob James & Earl Klugh for One on One
- Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical
- James Guthrie (engineer) for The Wall performed by Pink Floyd
- Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
- Phil Ramone
- Best Classical Engineered Recording
- Karl-August Naegler (engineer), Pierre Boulez & the Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris for Berg: Lulu (Complete Version) conducted by Pierre Boulez
- Classical Producer of the Year
- Robert Woods
- Robert Woods
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
- Stephanie Mills for "Never Knew Love Like This Before"
- Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
- George Benson for Give Me the Night
- Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
- The Manhattans for "Shining Star"
- Best R&B Song
- James Mtume & Reggie Lucas (songwriters) for "Never Knew Love Like This Before" performed by Stephanie Mills
- James Mtume & Reggie Lucas (songwriters) for "Never Knew Love Like This Before" performed by Stephanie Mills
- Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
- Pat Benatar for Crimes of Passion
- Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
- Billy Joel for Glass Houses
- Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
- Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band for ''Against the Wind"
- Best Rock Instrumental Performance
- The Police for "Reggatta de Blanc"
- The Police for "Reggatta de Blanc"
- Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama
- Pat Carroll for Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein
- Pat Carroll for Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein
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