The 2011 Grammy Awards start soon – so to whet your appetite here are some Grammy fun facts:

The first Grammy Awards were presented on May 4, 1959 in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hilton. The Record of the Year was “Volare” by Domenico Modugno, Album of the Year was “Peter Gunn” by Henry Mancini. Best R&B performance was “Tequila” by the Champs.

     The first Grammy given out for a Rap Performance was awarded to The Fresh Prince (Will Smith) and DJ Jazzy Jeff in 1989.

     In 1989, Milli Vanilli became the first artists to be stripped of their Grammy for Best New Artist when it was discovered that it was not actually them singing on their album.

     LeAnn Rimes became the youngest person to win a top Grammy in 1997 when she won the Best New Artist award at age 14.

     Stevie Wonder holds the record for most Grammys won by a solo artist with 19.

     Sir George Solti holds the record for most Grammys with a 30 awards while directing the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic.

     Lauryn Hill broke Carol King’s record for most wins by a female artist in one year with five Grammys in 1999. Alicia Keys tied Lauryn’s record in 2002, and Norah Jones also tied with five in 2004.

     Norah Jones’ five wins in 2004 included Best New Artist and Record of the Year. Sheryl Crow and Christopher Cross are the only other artists to win those two top awards in the same year.

     U2 has won five Grammys, the most of any group in the Best Rock Duo or Group Performance category.

     Comic Robin Williams has won four Grammy Awards, including one for “Robin Williams Live at the Met on HBO,” the culmination of a 23-city tour.

     The record for the most nominations in one year is held by two artists. Michael Jackson was nominated 12 times in 1983 and Babyface was nominated 12 times in 1992.

     In 2001, the Bahamian group Baha Men won a Grammy in the Dance-Recording category for their hit “Who Let the Dogs Out?”