Artist

Kurt Elling

Wins

2

Nominations

17

Category

Composing/Arranging Jazz

Biography

"You don't know what bravery is until you overcome fear."

  • Born Nov. 2, 1967, in Chicago
     
  • Kurt Elling signed to Blue Note Records after catching the label's attention with an early demo that he created with the help of pianist Laurence Hobgood. The tracks on that demo later went on to be included in his GRAMMY-nominated debut, 1995's Close Your Eyes.
     
  • The jazz vocalist won his first career GRAMMY for 2009 for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman.
     
  • Elling has cited Tony Bennett and the Woody Herman Band as among his early music influences.
     
  • He was among the performers at the inaugural GRAMMY Park in 2016, the first GRAMMY-branded, multiday live music experience held in New York.
     
  • In 2003 Elling was elected as Vice Chair for The Recording Academy and went on to serve two terms.

 

All Grammy Awards and Nominations for Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Wildflowers Vol. 1

    Kurt Elling, Sullivan Fortner

  • Best Alternative Jazz Album

    SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree

    Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Corey Fonville, DJ Harrison, Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, SuperBlue

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    SuperBlue

    Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album Winner

    Secrets Are The Best Stories

    Chris Allen, Kurt Elling, Danilo Perez

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    The Questions

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Upward Spiral

    Kurt Elling, Joey Calderazzo, Branford Marsalis, Eric Revis, Branford Marsalis Quartet, Justin Faulkner

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    The Gate

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album Winner

    Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman

    Kurt Elling, Laurence Hobgood, Rob Macomber, Dave O'Donnell

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Nightmoves

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Man In The Air

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

    Easy Living

    Kurt Elling, Laurence Hobgood

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Flirting With Twilight

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Live in Chicago (Album)

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    This Time It's Love (Album)

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    The Messenger (Album)

    Kurt Elling

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Close Your Eyes (Album)

    Kurt Elling

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