Rick Springfield Won a Grammy in 1982

Rick Springfield Grabbed a Grammy 40 Years Ago

Rick Springfield Won For Jessie’s Girl

40 years ago, Rick Springfield took home a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male for “Jessie’s Girl.” It was Springfield’s first (and only) win and first nomination. He would later be nominated 3 more times. Back in 1982, the awards were held February 24 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Springfield was surprised at his win, and gave a short acceptance speech, you can watch it here. Springfield won over fellow nominees Rod Stewart, Rick James, Gary U.S. Bonds and Bruce Springsteen. Springfield and Springsteen have a musical connection based on their names being mistaken for each other (and a few other reasons), read about that here: Who is Bruce Springfield?

Other winners that night include Pat Benatar for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for “Fire and Ice;” The Police, Best Rock Performance Duo or a Group for “Don’t Stand So Close to Me.” Best Record of the Year and Album of the Year was “Bette Davis Eyes.” Album of the Year was John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy.

1982 was the first year the Grammys introduced Video of the Year (winner: Michael Nesmith, “Elephant Parts”). Olivia Newton-John won in 1983 (“Physical”). The Grammys discontinued the category after that.