Artists who never won a Grammy
Artists who walked away without a Grammy Sunday night can take solace in the fact that more than a few legendary bands and singers also got shut out by the Grammys.
While you let it sink in that the Baha Men (yes, of "Who Let the Dog Out?" fame) have won a Grammy, check out some artists and bands who have never won a competitive Grammy Award.
While you let it sink in that the Baha Men (yes, of "Who Let the Dog Out?" fame) have won a Grammy, check out some artists and bands who have never won a competitive Grammy Award.
Diana Ross
Despite 12 nominations over her career, the singer has never won a competitive Grammy. However, she has had three recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Queen
The Freddy Mercury-led band never won a Grammy, despite nominations for "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 1976 for best pop vocal performance by a duo or group (it lost to Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now") and for "Another One Bites the Dust" in 1980 for best rock performance (losing to Bob Seger's "Against the Wind"). The band has seen "Bohemian Rhapsody" earn a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame, along with the hits "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions," but has never even won a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Beach Boys
One of the pioneers of surf rock received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and even performed at the 2012 ceremony, but has never won a competitive Grammy. The Beach Boys were nominated for a few Grammys, including best contemporary recording in 1966 for "Good Vibrations." That song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994, but it lost its Grammy competition to the New Vaudeville Band's poppy "Winchester Cathedral."
Led Zeppelin
Although Robert Plant and Jimmy Page have won awards themselves, their legendary rock band only ever received one Grammy nomination, in 1969 for best new artist. Led Zeppelin lost out to Crosby, Stills & Nash for that honor, but was later recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.
Chuck Berry
The rock 'n' roll pioneer mostly got shut out because by the time the Grammys began in 1959, he was already a major established star with several hit songs, including "Maybellene," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B. Goode." While he never won a competitive Grammy, he did nab a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984.
Janis Joplin
The bluesy singer of "Piece of My Heart" and "Me and Bobby McGee" died at the age of 27 in 1970 just as her fame was peaking. After her death, she was nominated for best female pop vocal performance for "Me and Bobby McGee," but lost out to Carole King's "Tapestry." She did receive a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
The Who
The band that recorded such hits as "My Generation," "Pinball Wizard," "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" was never honored with a Grammy except for the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
The Doors
Jim Morrison's unique voice and charismatic personality drove the success of such songs as "Light My Fire," "Hello, I Love You" and "Touch Me," but the only Grammy The Doors ever received was the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, 36 years after Morrison's death.
Jimi Hendrix
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and guitar legend Jimi Hendrix is often named among the best, if not the best, electric guitarists of all time. But we went unrecognized by the Grammys during his career, which was cut short at the age of 27 in 1970. He was later awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award more than 20 years after his death.
Bob Marley
Legendary reggae singer Bob Marley, whose best-known hits included "I Shot the Sheriff," "No Woman, No Cry," "Get Up Stand Up," "Redemption Song" and "One Love," was another artist who later received a Lifetime Achievement Award after his death, but was never awarded with a Grammy during his career.
Buddy Holly
Like Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly missed out on Grammy recognition because his hits came before the Grammys even existed. A pioneer of rock 'n' roll in the 1950s for songs like "That'll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue" and "Oh Boy!", Holly died at age 22 in 1959. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award almost 40 years after his death.
Patsy Cline
The country great first hit the pop chart in February 1957 with "Walkin' After Midnight." She then cracked the top 10 in November 1961 with her version of Willie Nelson's "Crazy," but died in a plane crash in just two years later. She received the Lifetime Achievement Grammy posthumously in 1995.
Run-D.M.C.
Despite a career that spanned more than 20 years and being recognized as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture, rappers Run-D.M.C. was completely shut out by the Grammys. The group actually became the first hip hop group ever to receive a Grammy nomination, for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1987 for "Raising Hell," losing out to Prince and The Revolution for "Kiss," and earned two more nominations, but never won.
Tupac Shakur
Although the rapper died at the age of 25 in 1996, he still earned six Grammy nominations in his short career, losing ever single one.
Bjork
Although she's known more for her distinctive look and unique voice than any mainstream success, Icelandic pop star Bjork has racked up 14 Grammy nominations in her career to this point, but has walked away empty handed every time.
Journey
In the 1980s, it was almost impossible to turn on the radio without hearing a hit song by Journey, whether it be "Don't Stop Believin'," "Open Arms," "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" or "Faithfully." Despite their commercial success, the band never found much success with critics, or with the Grammys.
The Kinks
The band responsible for such top-10 hit songs as "You Really Got Me," "Tired of Waiting for You," "All Day and All of the Night" and "Lola," not only never won a Grammy, it has yet to receive the consolation prize of a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Two years after three Lynyrd Skynyrd band members, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, died in a 1977 plane crash, the Recording Academy added rock categories. As a result, the Grammys missed out on such hits as "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama," which had little chance going against pop music.
The Grateful Dead
The legendary jam band, which never really found chart success apart from the 1987 top-10 hit "Touch of Grey," still managed to attract a huge dedicated following while serving as a huge influence in a number of genres. While the Grateful Dead's 1970 album "Workingman's Dead" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, they never received a Grammy nomination. However, they were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, more than a decade after Jerry Garcia's death.
Rush
Like The Grateful Dead, the Canadian rock band Rush has a dedicated following but has not yet felt the love from the Grammys. Despite six nominations for Best Rock Instrumental Performance dating back to 1981, they've yet to win a Grammy Award, losing out to the likes of The Police, Pink Floyd, Brian Wilson and Bruce Springsteen.
Snoop Dogg
The rapper has been nominated a total of 13 times, most of them for collaborations with everyone from Dr. Dre to Katy Perry, but has yet to collect a Grammy Award despite career that has lasted for more than 20 years and a dozen studio albums.
