The Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording was awarded from 1960 to 1986. During this time the award had several minor name changes:
From 1960 to 1961 the award was known as Best Performance - Folk From 1962 to 1967 it was awarded as Best Folk Recording From 1968 to 1970 it was awarded as Best Folk Performance In 1971 and from 1973 to 1974 the award was known as Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording (including traditional blues) In 1972 and from 1975 to 1982 it was awarded as Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording From 1983 to 1986 it was awarded as Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording
In 1987 the award was split into two new awards: the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album and the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
Winners and nominees Year Album Artist(s) 1960 The Kingston Trio at Large The Kingston Trio Belafonte at Carnegie Hall Harry Belafonte Tennessee Stud Eddy Arnold The Wild, Wild West The Ralph Hunter Choir The Wilderness Road Jimmy Driftwood 1961 Swing Dat Hammer Harry Belafonte Cheers: Drinking Songs Around the World The Belafonte Folk Singers Greenfields The Brothers Four Here We Go Again! The Kingston Trio Miriam Makeba Miriam Makeba 1962 The Belafonte Folk Singers... At Home and Abroad The Belafonte Folk Singers The Big Bill Broonzy Story Big Bill Broonzy The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem Folk Songs of Britain Vol. 1 Alan Lomax The Slightly Fabulous Limeliters The Limeliters 1963 If I Had a Hammer Peter, Paul and Mary The Ballad of Jed Clampett Flatt and Scruggs Bob Dylan Bob Dylan Joan Baez in Concert Joan Baez Midnight Special Harry Belafonte Presenting The New Christy Minstrels The New Christy Minstrels Something Special The Kingston Trio 1964 Blowin' in the Wind Peter, Paul and Mary We Shall Overcome Pete Seeger Walk Right In The Rooftop Singers Green, Green The New Christy Minstrels Judy Collins 3 Judy Collins Odetta Sings Folk Songs Odetta The World of Miriam Makeba Miriam Makeba 1965 We'll Sing in the Sunshine Gale Garnett Belafonte at The Greek Theatre Harry Belafonte Peter, Paul and Mary in Concert Peter, Paul and Mary Woody Guthrie: Library of Congress Recordings Woody Guthrie The Times They Are a-Changin' Bob Dylan Today The New Christy Minstrels The Voice of Africa Miriam Makeba 1966 An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba The High Lonesome Sound Roscoe Holcomb Makeba Sings! Miriam Makeba A Song Will Rise Peter, Paul and Mary Strangers and Cousins Pete Seeger There but for Fortune Joan Baez The Womenfolk Live at the Hungry I The Womenfolk 1967 Blues in the Street Cortelia Clark God Bless the Grass Pete Seeger Lead Belly Lead Belly Oliver Smith Oliver Smith Reflections in a Crystal Wind Mimi & Richard Fariña Violets of Dawn The Mitchell Trio 1968 Gentle on My Mind John Hartford Album 1700 Peter, Paul and Mary Alice's Restaurant Arlo Guthrie In My Life Judy Collins Janis Ian Janis Ian Waist Deep in the Big Muddy Pete Seeger 1969 Both Sides, Now Judy Collins Did She Mention My Name? Gordon Lightfoot The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter Incredible String Band John Wesley Harding Bob Dylan Late Again Peter, Paul and Mary The Unicorn The Irish Rovers 1970 Clouds Joni Mitchell Any Day Now Joan Baez Donovan Donovan Bird on the Wire Judy Collins Day is Done Peter, Paul and Mary Young vs. Old Pete Seeger 1971 Good Feelin' T-Bone Walker Black Music of South America David Lewisohn Folk Fiddling From Sweden Bjorn Stabi & Ole Hjorth I Do Not Play No Rock'n'Roll Mississippi Fred McDowell Sail On Muddy Waters Shree Rag Ali Akbar Khan & Shankha Ghosh 1972 They Call Me Muddy Waters Muddy Waters 18th Century Traditional Music of Japan Keiko Matsuo The Esso Trinidad Steel Band Esso Trinidad Steel Band Javanese Court Gamelan Javanese Players Message to the Young Howlin' Wolf Mississippi Fred McDowell Mississippi Fred McDowell Stormy Monday Blues T-Bone Walker 1973 The London Muddy Waters Sessions Muddy Waters Blues Piano Orgy Various Artists Lightnin' Strikes Lightnin' Hopkins Live at Soledad Prison John Lee Hooker Walking the Blues Otis Spann 1974 Then and Now Doc Watson Can't Get No Grindin' Muddy Waters John Lee Hooker's Detroit John Lee Hooker King Curtis & Champion Jack Dupree: Blues at Montreux King Curtis & Champion Jack Dupree Lead Belly: Live in Concert Lead Belly 1975 Two Days in November Doc Watson & Merle Watson Big Daddy Bukka White The Back Door Wolf Howlin' Wolf Catalyst Willie Dixon London Revisited Muddy Waters & Howlin' Wolf 1976 The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album Muddy Waters I Got What It Takes Koko Taylor Memphis Blues Memphis Slim Music of Guatemala The San Lucas Band Wake Up Dead Man Bruce Jackson 1977 Mark Twang John Hartford Bagpipe Marches and Music of Scotland Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band Beware of the Dog! Hound Dog Taylor If You Love These Blues, Play 'Em As You Please Michael Bloomfield Proud Earth Chief Dan George, Arliene Nofchissey Williams & Rick Brousseau 1978 Hard Again Muddy Waters Blues Hit Big Town Junior Wells Right Place, Wrong Time Otis Rush The Things That I Used to Do Big Joe Turner What Happened to My Blues Willie Dixon 1979 I'm Ready Muddy Waters Chicago Blues at Home Various Artists Clifton Chenier and His Red Hot Louisiana Band in New Orleans Clifton Chenier I Hear Some Blues Downstairs Fenton Robinson U.S.A. Memphis Slim & His House Rockers ft. Matt "Guitar" Murphy 1980 Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live Muddy Waters The Chieftains 7 The Chieftains Ice Pickin' Albert Collins Laugh Your Blues Away Uncle Dave Macon Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 1 Shaw and the Wolf Gang & Left Hand Frank and His Blues Band Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 3 Lonnie Brooks Blues Band, Pinetop Perkins & Sons of Blues New England Traditional Fiddling John Edwards Memorial Foundation New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Various Artists So Many Roads Otis Rush 1981 Rare Blues Various Artists Atlanta Blues: '33 Various Artists The Chieftains 9: Boil the Breakfast Early The Chieftains Kidney Stew Is Fine Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson Queen Ida & the Bon Temps Zydeco Band In New Orleans Queen Ida 1982 There Must Be a Better World Somewhere B.B. King Blues Deluxe Various Artists From the Heart of a Woman Koko Taylor Frozen Alive! Albert Collins Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 4 Various Artists 1983 Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band On Tour Queen Ida In the Tradition The Boys of the Lough Live in America The John Renbourn Group Metropolis The Klezmorim Reggae Sunsplash '81: A Tribute to Bob Marley Various Artists Tennessee: Folk Heritage - The Mountain Various Artists 1984 I'm Here Clifton Chenier & His Red Hot Louisiana Band The Grey Fox The Chieftains Raga Mishra Piloo Ali Akbar Khan & Ravi Shankar Renaissance of the Celtic Harp Alan Stivell Syncro System King Sunny Adé 1985 Elizabeth Cotten Live! Elizabeth Cotten 100% Fortified Zydeco Buckwheat Zydeco Good Rockin''' | Rockin' Dopsie |- | On A Saturday Night | Queen Ida |- | Open Road | Boys of the Lough |- |rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 1986 |-style="background:#FAEB86;" | My Toot Toot| Rockin' Sidney |- | Live at the San Francisco Blues Festival | Clifton Chenier |- | Souvenirs | Dewey Balfa |- | Turning Point | Buckwheat Zydeco |- | Zydeco Gris Gris'' BeauSoleil
Individuals with multiple wins
6 wins Muddy Waters
2 wins Harry Belafonte Peter, Paul and Mary John Hartford Doc Watson
References