Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Recording Academy presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Bing Crosby in 1963. This honor was created one year prior in 1962 and marked the official birth of the award.
Frank Sinatra received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1965 following Bing Crosby's initial win. Duke Ellington followed with his own recognition in 1966 while Ella Fitzgerald won in 1967.
The criteria require outstanding artistic significance over a lifetime of work rather than specific recordings or non-performers. The committee looks for depth and influence across many years of recording instead of relying on single hit songs.
Miles Davis and Paul McCartney joined the ranks in 1990 alongside classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz. Bob Dylan and John Lennon received honors in 1991 despite their controversial reputations while James Brown and Jimi Hendrix were recognized in 1992.
Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the number of honorees each year to reflect changing tastes within the music industry. The 2025 ceremony included Prince and The Clash among other major acts while Whitney Houston and Cher were scheduled for recognition in 2026.