On what date were the first Grammy Awards presented?

The first Grammy Awards were presented on May 4, 1959.

The inaugural ceremony recognized recordings released during the eligibility period ending in 1958. It took place simultaneously at two venues: the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills and the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York City. This unusual arrangement reflected the Recording Academy’s early connection to both major American music centers.

The ceremony presented awards in categories including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Domenico Modugno’s “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” widely known as “Volare,” won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

The date is sometimes confused with the first ceremony broadcast on television, which occurred later. The inaugural Grammys were not a live television event. Grammy ceremonies also changed venues and formats repeatedly as the awards grew from a small industry presentation into a major international broadcast.