Join with a codeGuideBallotsDataToolsBlog

A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Male R&B Vocal.

44 ceremonies, 1968–2011. 27 different winners. The longest run belongs to Stevie Wonder, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Usher in 2011 for There Goes My Baby.
Who has won the most?
Stevie Wonder, 6 wins (1974, 1975, 1977, 1986, 1996, 1999).
  1. There Goes My BabyUsher
  2. Pretty WingsMaxwell
  3. Miss IndependentNe-Yo
  4. Future Baby MamaPrince
  5. HeavenJohn Legend
  6. Ordinary PeopleJohn Legend
Years explored
1968–2011
Different winners
27
Category leader
Stevie Wonder · 6
About this record

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance was first awarded in 1968, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best R&B Performance instead.

2000–2011

12 ceremonies

19682011

01 / The reigns

Usher set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2011 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Usher3 wins
  2. 02
    John Legend2 wins
  3. 03
    Prince2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Barry White'00
D'Angelo'01
Usher'02–'03×2
Luther Vandross'04
Prince'05
John Legend'06–'07×2
Prince'08
Ne-Yo'09
Maxwell'10
Usher'11

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 5 wins, 2000–2011. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony5 wins
G.O.O.D.2 wins
NPG2 wins
Private Music1 win
Universal1 win
Virgin1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony542%
  2. G.O.O.D.217%
  3. NPG217%
  4. Private Music18%
  5. Universal18%
  6. Virgin18%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2011.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Musiq Soulchild
    5 noms
  2. 02
    R. Kelly
    5 noms
  3. 03
    Brian McKnight
    4 noms
  4. 04
    Anthony Hamilton
    2 noms
  5. 05
    Joe
    2 noms
  6. 06
    Tyrese
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Musiq Soulchild
    5L · 0W
  2. 02
    R. Kelly
    5L · 0W
  3. 03
    Brian McKnight
    4L · 0W
  4. 04
    Usher
    3L · 3W
  5. 05
    Anthony Hamilton
    2L · 0W
  6. 06
    Joe
    2L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2011. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2011Usher (There Goes My Baby)
beat 4 others
  • Jaheim (Finding My Way Back)
  • El DeBarge (Second Chance)
  • Musiq Soulchild (We're Still Friends)
  • Kem (Why Would You Stay)
LaFace
2010Maxwell (Pretty Wings)
beat 4 others
  • Anthony Hamilton (The Point Of It All)
  • Musiq Soulchild (SoBeautiful)
  • Charlie Wilson (There Goes My Baby)
  • Pleasure P (Under)
Columbia
2009Ne-Yo (Miss Independent)
beat 4 others
  • Trey Songz (Can't Help but Wait)
  • Usher (Here I Stand)
  • Chris Brown (Take You Down)
  • Eric Benét (You're the Only One)
Def Jam
2008Prince (Future Baby Mama)
beat 4 others
  • Ne-Yo (Because of You)
  • Musiq Soulchild (B.U.D.D.Y.)
  • Tank (Please Don't Go)
  • Raheem DeVaughn (Woman)
NPG/Columbia
2007John Legend (Heaven)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Prince (Black Sweat)
  • Luther Vandross (Got You Home)
  • Lionel Richie (I Call It Love)
  • Ne-Yo (So Sick)
G.O.O.D./Sony Music
2006John Legend (Ordinary People)
beat 4 others
  • Jamie Foxx (Creepin')
  • Mario (Let Me Love You)
  • Stevie Wonder (So What the Fuss)
  • Usher (Superstar)
G.O.O.D./Sony Urban
2005Prince (Call My Name)
beat 4 others
  • Usher (Burn)
  • Anthony Hamilton (Charlene)
  • R. Kelly (Happy People)
  • Brian McKnight (What We Do Here)
NPG
2004Luther Vandross (Dance with My Father)
beat 4 others
  • Tyrese (How You Gonna Act Like That)
  • Brian McKnight (Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda)
  • R. Kelly (Step in the Name of Love)
  • Ruben Studdard (Superstar)
J
2003Usher (U Don't Have to Call)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Musiq Soulchild (Halfcrazy)
  • Joe (Let's Stay Home Tonight)
  • Remy Shand (Take a Message)
  • R. Kelly (The World's Greatest)
Arista
2002Usher (U Remind Me)
beat 4 others
  • Maxwell (Lifetime)
  • Musiq Soulchild (Love)
  • Brian McKnight (Love of My Life)
  • Case (Missing You)
Arista
2001D'Angelo (Untitled (How Does It Feel))
beat 4 others
  • Joe (I Wanna Know)
  • R. Kelly (I Wish)
  • Brian McKnight (Stay or Let It Go)
  • Sisqo (Thong Song)
Virgin/Cheeba Sound
2000Barry White (Staying Power)
beat 4 others
  • Peabo Bryson (Did You Ever Know)
  • Maxwell (Fortunate)
  • Tyrese (Sweet Lady)
  • R. Kelly (When A Woman's Fed Up)
Private Music/BMG