Who became the first person to win all four general-field Grammy Awards?

Christopher Cross became the first person to win all four general-field Grammy Awards.

At the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1981, Cross won Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Sailing,” Album of the Year for Christopher Cross, and Best New Artist. This made him the first artist to sweep the four principal general-field categories at one ceremony.

The achievement is often called a Grammy “clean sweep.” The general field consists of awards not restricted by genre: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Record and Album of the Year honor recordings, while Song of the Year honors songwriting.

Cross’s self-titled debut produced several successful singles, including “Ride Like the Wind” and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do).” His four-award sweep remains one of the clearest examples of a debut-era Grammy breakthrough.