Which recording won the first Grammy for Record of the Year?

“Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” performed by Domenico Modugno, won the first Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1959. The song is widely known internationally by its informal title, “Volare.”

Modugno’s recording was a worldwide hit after Italy’s entry became a sensation in 1958. The song also won Song of the Year at the first Grammys, making it one of the ceremony’s defining early successes. Record of the Year honors the overall recorded performance, including the artist and production, while Song of the Year honors songwriting.

A common mix-up is treating “Volare” as the official title. The Italian title is “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” and “Volare” is the refrain and commonly used alternate name. Another mix-up is confusing the award with Album of the Year, which recognizes an entire album rather than one recording.

The first Grammy results reflected the academy’s international outlook: the inaugural major winners included recordings from both American and Italian artists.