Back in the day, Rick Springfield was considered a “rock” artist. We love Rick, but these days his music can certainly be looked back on as “pop.”
Still, at the 1982 Grammy Awards, Rick had the opportunity to perform “Jessie’s Girl,” and he took advantage of it.
That guitar riff was killer, and so were Rick’s skinny tie and checkered blazer, which was orange, or pink, or salmon — it’s hard to tell due to the old video quality.
Rick was definitely Mr. Cool back then. This performance of “Jessie Girl” is available on the Grammy’s Greatest Moments Volume 4 audio and video release.
Stay tuned to the end of the video to see Springfield accept the Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal, presented by a bemused Ted Nugent alongside Adam Ant.
Springfield beat out some stellar competition to win this Grammy: Rick James’ “Super Freak,” Rod Stewart’s “Young Turks,” Gary U.S. Bonds’ Dedication album, and Bruce Springsteen’s The River album. (Back then, singles could compete with albums in the same category.)
This was Springfield’s only career Grammy win. He was nominated three other times. In 1983, he was up for two awards: “Don’t Talk to Strangers” lost to Lionel Richie‘s “Truly” for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and “I Get Excited” lost to John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Hurts So Good” for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
And in 1984, Springfield’s “Affairs of the Heart” was nominated for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, but was defeated by Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” one of a record eight Grammys that the King of Pop captured on that historic night.
UPDATE: The video of Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” Grammy performance has been removed from Youtube. But the video of his acceptance speech is available. He said he hadn’t prepared any remarks, and kept his speech brief.
Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” was one of the biggest highlights of the 1982 Grammys, which we rank as one of the worst Grammy shows ever.
Last Updated on January 27, 2026