Template:Short description Template:Infobox award

The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1969. From 1969 to 2000, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. Beyoncé has won it a record five times, while Babyface, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Alicia Keys have three wins each.

The award goes to the songwriter. If the winning song contains samples or interpolations of songs, the original songwriter and publisher can apply for a Winner’s Certificate. Only Sza has won back to back from 2024 up to 2025<ref>Grammy Blue Book (edition 2021)</ref> The performing artist does not receive an award unless they are also credited as a songwriter.

Years reflect the year in which the grammy Awards were presented, for music released in the previous year.

RecipientsEdit

File:Otis Redding (2).png
Otis Redding, one of the inaugural winners of the award.
File:Steve Cropper Bilbao BBK Live 2008.jpg
Steve Cropper, one of the inaugural winners of the award.
File:The Formation World Tour Milan (6).jpg
Five-time award-winning artist Beyoncé, she is the most awarded artist in the category.
File:Bill Withers 1976.JPG
Three-time award winner, Bill Withers.
File:Stevie Wonder 1994.jpg
Three-time award winner, Stevie Wonder.
File:KennethBabyfaceEdmondsHWOFMay2013.jpg
Three-time winner Babyface holds the record of most nominations in the category, with fourteen.
An asterisk (*) indicates this recording also won Song of the Year.
File:Glaston2024 2806 300624 (158 of 173) (53836776232) (cropped).jpg
SZA has won this award twice consecutively in 2024 and 2025.
Year{{#if:[I]|[I]|[1]}} Recipient(s) Work Performing artist(s) Nominees
(Performer(s) in parentheses){{#if:[II]|[II]|[2]}}
Ref.
1969 Otis Redding
Steve Cropper
"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" Otis Redding Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1969>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1970 Richard Lewis Spencer "Color Him Father" The Winstons Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1971 Ronald Dunbar
General Johnson
"Patches" Clarence Carter Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1972 Bill Withers "Ain't No Sunshine" Bill Withers Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1973 Barrett Strong
Norman Whitfield
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" The Temptations Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1974 Stevie Wonder "Superstition" Stevie Wonder Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1975 Stevie Wonder "Living for the City" Stevie Wonder Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1976 Harry Wayne Casey
Willie Clarke
Richard Finch
Betty Wright
"Where Is the Love" Betty Wright Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1977 Boz Scaggs
David Paich
"Lowdown" Boz Scaggs Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1978 Leo Sayer
Vini Poncia
"You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" Leo Sayer Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1979 Paul Jabara "Last Dance" Donna Summer Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1979>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1980 David Foster
Jay Graydon
Bill Champlin
"After the Love Has Gone" Earth, Wind & Fire Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1980>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1981 Reggie Lucas
James Mtume
"Never Knew Love Like This Before" Stephanie Mills Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1981>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1982 Bill Withers
William Salter
Ralph MacDonald
"Just the Two of Us" Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1982>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1983 Jay Graydon
Steve Lukather
Bill Champlin
"Turn Your Love Around" George Benson Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1983>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1984 Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" Michael Jackson Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1984>Template:Cite news</ref>
1985 Prince "I Feel for You" Chaka Khan Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1985>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1986 Jeffrey E. Cohen
Narada Michael Walden
"Freeway of Love" Aretha Franklin Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1986>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1987 Anita Baker
Louis A. Johnson
Gary Bias
"Sweet Love" Anita Baker Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1987>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1988 Bill Withers "Lean on Me" Club Nouveau Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1988>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1989 Anita Baker
Randy Holland
Skip Scarborough
"Giving You the Best That I Got" Anita Baker Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1989>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1990 Kenny Gamble
Leon Huff
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" Simply Red Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1990>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1991 MC Hammer
Rick James
Alonzo Miller
"U Can't Touch This" MC Hammer Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1991>Template:Cite news</ref>
1992 Marcus Miller
Luther Vandross
Teddy Vann
"Power of Love/Love Power" Luther Vandross Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1992>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1993 Babyface
L.A. Reid
Daryl Simmons
"End of the Road" Boyz II Men Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1993>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1994 Janet Jackson
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
"That's the Way Love Goes" Janet Jackson Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1994>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1995 Babyface "I'll Make Love to You" Boyz II Men Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1995>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

1996 Stevie Wonder "For Your Love" Stevie Wonder Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1996>Template:Cite news</ref>
1997 Babyface "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" Whitney Houston Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1997>Template:Cite news</ref>
1998 R. Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly" R. Kelly Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1998>Template:Cite news</ref>
1999 Lauryn Hill "Doo Wop (That Thing)" Lauryn Hill Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy1999>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Dead link</ref>

2000 Kandi Burruss
Kevin Briggs
Tameka Cottle
"No Scrubs" TLC Template:Smalldiv <ref name="Grammy Nominations 2000">Template:Cite news</ref>
2001 Beyoncé
Rodney Jerkins
LaShawn Daniels
Fred Jerkins III
LeToya Luckett
LaTavia Roberson
Kelly Rowland
"Say My Name" Destiny's Child Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy2001>Template:Cite news</ref>
2002 Alicia Keys "Fallin'" * Alicia Keys Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy2002>Template:Cite news</ref>
2003 Erykah Badu
Glenn Standridge
James Poyser
Madukwu Chinwah
Raphael Saadiq
Lonnie Lynn
Robert Ozuna
"Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" Erykah Badu featuring Common Template:Smalldiv <ref name="Grammy Nominations 2003">Template:Cite news</ref>
2004 Beyoncé
Jay Z
Rich Harrison
"Crazy in Love" Beyoncé featuring Jay Z Template:Smalldiv <ref name="Grammy Nominations 2004">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2005 Alicia Keys
Harold Lilly
Kanye West
"You Don't Know My Name" Alicia Keys Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy2005>Template:Cite news</ref>
2006 Mariah Carey
Johntá Austin
Manuel Seal Jr.
Jermaine Dupri
"We Belong Together" Mariah Carey Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy2006>Template:Cite news</ref>
2007 Bryan-Michael Cox
Jason Perry
Johntá Austin
Mary J. Blige
"Be Without You" Mary J. Blige Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy2007>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2008 Alicia Keys
Dirty Harry
Kerry "Krucial" Brothers
"No One" Alicia Keys Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy2008>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2009 Mikkel Eriksen
Tor Hermansen
Ne-Yo
"Miss Independent" Ne-Yo Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy2009>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2010 Thaddis Harrell
Beyoncé Knowles
Terius Nash
Christopher Stewart
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" * Beyoncé Template:Smalldiv <ref name="Grammy Nominations 2010">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2011 John Legend "Shine" John Legend & The Roots Template:Smalldiv <ref name="Grammy Nominations 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2012 CeeLo Green
Melanie Fiona
Jack Splash
"Fool for You" CeeLo Green featuring Melanie Fiona Template:Smalldiv <ref name=Grammy2012>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2013 Miguel Pimentel "Adorn" Miguel Template:Smalldiv <ref name="Grammy2012"/>
2014 James Fauntleroy
Jerome Harmon
Timothy Mosley
Justin Timberlake
"Pusher Love Girl" Justin Timberlake Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2015 Shawn Carter
Rasool Diaz
Noel Fisher
Jerome Harmon
Beyoncé Knowles
Timothy Mosley
Andre Eric Proctor
Brian Soko
"Drunk in Love" Beyoncé Template:Small Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2016 D'Angelo
Gina Figueroa
Kendra Foster
"Really Love" D'Angelo & The Vanguard Template:Smalldiv <ref>Billboard.com, 7 December 2015</ref>
2017 Hod David
Musze
"Lake by the Ocean" Maxwell Template:Smalldiv <ref>Grammy.com, 31 December 2016</ref>
2018 Christopher Brody Brown
James Fauntleroy
Philip Lawrence
Bruno Mars
Ray Charles McCullough II
Jeremy Reeves
Ray Romulus
Jonathan Yip
"That's What I Like" * Bruno Mars Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2019 Larrance Dopson
Joelle James
Ella Mai
Dijon McFarlane
"Boo'd Up" Ella Mai Template:Smalldiv <ref>Grammy.com, 7 December 2018</ref>
2020 PJ Morton "Say So" PJ Morton featuring JoJo Template:Smalldiv <ref>Grammy.com, 22 November 2019</ref>
2021 Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson "Better Than I Imagined" Robert Glasper featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello Template:Smalldiv <ref>Grammy.com, 24 November 2020</ref>
2022 Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars "Leave the Door Open" * Silk Sonic Template:Smalldiv <ref>Grammy.com, 23 November 2021</ref>
2023 Denisia "Blu June" Andrews, Beyoncé, Brittany "Chi" Coney, Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant, Morten Ristorp, Nile Rodgers and Raphael Saadiq "Cuff It" Beyoncé Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2024 Kenny B. Edmonds, Blair Ferguson, Khris Riddick-Tynes, Solána Rowe and Leon Thomas "Snooze" SZA Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2025 Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Solána Rowe, Jared Solomon & Scott Zhang "Saturn" SZA Template:Smalldiv <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

  • <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^[I]{{#if:| }} Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
  • <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^[II]{{#if:| }} The performing artist is only listed but does not receive the award.

Category factsEdit

  • Most Wins
Rank 1st 2nd 3rd
Artist Beyonce Stevie Wonder
Alicia Keys
Babyface
Bill Withers
Johnta Austin
Anita Baker
Jay Graydon
Jay Z
Bruno Mars
Raphael Saadiq
SZA
Total Wins 5 wins 3 wins 2 wins
  • Most Nominations
Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Artist Babyface Beyoncé Stevie Wonder Leon Huff, Luther Vandross Rodney Jerkins, L.A. Reid, Daryl Simmons
Total Nominations 14 nominations 9 nominations 8 nominations 7 nominations 6 nominations

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

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General
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Specific

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