Prince won his first Grammy Awards in 1985. At the 27th Annual Grammy Awards, he won three awards connected with Purple Rain: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Purple Rain,” Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special for Purple Rain, and Best R&B Song as the writer of Chaka Khan’s “I Feel for You.”
The confusion comes from the fact that the eligible recordings were released in 1984, especially the Purple Rain album and film. Grammy ceremonies are named for the year in which they take place, so the awards were presented in 1985, not 1984.
That ceremony marked a major breakthrough for Prince. Purple Rain had turned him into a global star, and his Grammy wins recognized both his performance and songwriting. He also delivered a celebrated performance of “Baby, I’m a Star” during the broadcast.