Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song 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 four 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 Winners Certificate. The performing artist does not receive an award.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for music released in the previous year.
Recipients
| Year | Songwriter | Title | Artist | Nominees | Ref. |
| 1969 | Otis Redding Steve Cropper | " The Dock of the Bay" | Otis Redding | ||
| 1970 | Richard Lewis Spencer | "Color Him Father" | The Winstons | ||
| 1971 | Ronald Dunbar General Johnson | "Patches" | Clarence Carter | ||
| 1972 | Bill Withers | "Ain't No Sunshine" | Bill Withers | ||
| 1973 | Barrett Strong Norman Whitfield | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | The Temptations | ||
| 1974 | Stevie Wonder | "Superstition" | Stevie Wonder | ||
| 1975 | Stevie Wonder | "Living for the City" | Stevie Wonder | ||
| 1976 | Harry Wayne Casey Willie Clarke Richard Finch Betty Wright | "Where Is the Love" | Betty Wright | ||
| 1977 | Boz Scaggs David Paich | "Lowdown" | Boz Scaggs | ||
| 1978 | Leo Sayer Vini Poncia | "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" | Leo Sayer | ||
| 1979 | Paul Jabara | "Last Dance" | Donna Summer | ||
| 1980 | David Foster Jay Graydon Bill Champlin | "After the Love Has Gone" | Earth, Wind & Fire | ||
| 1981 | Reggie Lucas James Mtume | "Never Knew Love Like This Before" | Stephanie Mills | ||
| 1982 | Bill Withers William Salter Ralph MacDonald | "Just the Two of Us" | Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers | ||
| 1983 | Jay Graydon Steve Lukather Bill Champlin | "Turn Your Love Around" | George Benson | ||
| 1984 | Michael Jackson | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson | ||
| 1985 | Prince | "I Feel for You" | Chaka Khan | ||
| 1986 | Jeffrey E. Cohen Narada Michael Walden | "Freeway of Love" | Aretha Franklin | ||
| 1987 | Anita Baker Louis A. Johnson Gary Bias | "Sweet Love" | Anita Baker | ||
| 1988 | Bill Withers | "Lean on Me" | Club Nouveau | ||
| 1989 | Anita Baker Randy Holland Skip Scarborough | "Giving You the Best That I Got" | Anita Baker | ||
| 1990 | Kenny Gamble Leon Huff | "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | Simply Red | ||
| 1991 | MC Hammer Rick James Alonzo Miller | "U Can't Touch This" | MC Hammer | ||
| 1992 | Marcus Miller Luther Vandross Teddy Vann | "Power of Love/Love Power" | Luther Vandross | ||
| 1993 | Babyface L.A. Reid Daryl Simmons | "End of the Road" | Boyz II Men | ||
| 1994 | Janet Jackson Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis | "That's the Way Love Goes" | Janet Jackson | ||
| 1995 | Babyface | "I'll Make Love to You" | Boyz II Men | ||
| 1996 | Stevie Wonder | "For Your Love" | Stevie Wonder | ||
| 1997 | Babyface | "Exhale " | Whitney Houston | ||
| 1998 | R. Kelly | "I Believe I Can Fly" | R. Kelly | ||
| 1999 | Lauryn Hill | "Doo Wop " | Lauryn Hill | ||
| 2000 | Kandi Burruss Kevin Briggs Tameka Cottle | "No Scrubs" | TLC | ||
| 2001 | Beyoncé Rodney Jerkins LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III LeToya Luckett LaTavia Roberson Kelly Rowland | "Say My Name" | Destiny's Child | ||
| 2002 | Alicia Keys | "Fallin'" * | Alicia Keys | ||
| 2003 | Erykah Badu Glenn Standridge James Poyser Madukwu Chinwah Raphael Saadiq Lonnie Lynn Robert Ozuna | "Love of My Life " | Erykah Badu featuring Common | ||
| 2004 | Beyoncé Jay Z Rich Harrison | "Crazy in Love" | Beyoncé featuring Jay Z | ||
| 2005 | Alicia Keys Harold Lilly Kanye West | "You Don't Know My Name" | Alicia Keys | ||
| 2006 | Mariah Carey Johntá Austin Manuel Seal Jr. Jermaine Dupri | "We Belong Together" | Mariah Carey | ||
| 2007 | Bryan-Michael Cox Jason Perry Johntá Austin Mary J. Blige | "Be Without You" | Mary J. Blige | ||
| 2008 | Alicia Keys Dirty Harry Kerry "Krucial" Brothers | "No One" | Alicia Keys | ||
| 2009 | Mikkel Eriksen Tor Hermansen Ne-Yo | "Miss Independent" | Ne-Yo | ||
| 2010 | Thaddis Harrell Beyoncé Knowles Terius Nash Christopher Stewart | "Single Ladies " * | Beyoncé | ||
| 2011 | John Legend | "Shine" | John Legend & The Roots | ||
| 2012 | CeeLo Green Melanie Fiona Jack Splash | "Fool for You" | CeeLo Green featuring Melanie Fiona | ||
| 2013 | Miguel Pimentel | "Adorn" | Miguel | ||
| 2014 | James Fauntleroy Jerome Harmon Timothy Mosley Justin Timberlake | "Pusher Love Girl" | Justin Timberlake | ||
| 2015 | Shawn Carter Rasool Diaz Noel Fisher Jerome Harmon Beyoncé Knowles Timothy Mosley Andre Eric Protor Brian Soto | "Drunk in Love" | Beyoncé | ||
| 2016 | D'Angelo Gina Figueroa Kendra Foster | "Really Love" | D'Angelo & The Vanguard | ||
| 2017 | Hod David Musze | "Lake by the Ocean" | Maxwell | ||
| 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 | ||
| 2019 | Larrance Dopson Joelle James Ella Mai Dijon McFarlane | "Boo'd Up" | Ella Mai | ||
| 2020 | PJ Morton | "Say So" | PJ Morton |
- Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
- The performing artist is only listed but does not receive the award.
Category facts
- Most Wins:
| Rank | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Artist | Beyoncé | Stevie Wonder Alicia Keys Babyface Bill Withers | Johnta Austin Anita Baker Jay Graydon Jay Z |
| Total Wins | 4 wins | 3 wins | 2 wins |
- Most Nominations
| Rank | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Artist | Babyface | Stevie Wonder | Beyoncé Leon Huff Luther Vandross | Rodney Jerkins L.A. Reid Daryl Simmons | Alicia Keys Prince Richard Finch Erykah Badu |
| Total Nominations | 14 nominations | 8 nominations | 7 nominations | 6 nominations | 5 nominations |