The Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording was awarded from 1960 to 1986. During this time the award had several minor name changes:

• From 1960 to 1961 the award was known as Best Performance - Folk
• From 1962 to 1967 it was awarded as Best Folk Recording
• From 1968 to 1970 it was awarded as Best Folk Performance
• In 1971 and from 1973 to 1974 the award was known as Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording (including traditional blues)
• In 1972 and from 1975 to 1982 it was awarded as Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording
• From 1983 to 1986 it was awarded as Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording

In 1987 the award was split into two new awards: the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album and the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

1980s

• Grammy Awards of 1986
  • Rockin' Sidney for "My Toot Toot"
• Grammy Awards of 1985
  • Elizabeth Cotton for Elizabeth Cotten Live!
• Grammy Awards of 1984
  • Clifton Chenier for I'm Here performed by Clifton Chenier & His Red Hot Louisiana Band
• Grammy Awards of 1983
  • Queen Ida for Queen Ida & the Bon Temps Zydeco Band on Tour
• Grammy Awards of 1982
  • B. B. King for There Must Be a Better World Somewhere
• Grammy Awards of 1981
  • Norman Dayron (producer) for Rare Blues performed by various artists
• Grammy Awards of 1980
  • Muddy Waters for Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live

1970s

• Grammy Awards of 1979
  • Muddy Waters for I'm Ready
• Grammy Awards of 1978
  • Muddy Waters for Hard Again
• Grammy Awards of 1977
  • John Hartford for Mark Twang
• Grammy Awards of 1976
  • Muddy Waters for The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album
• Grammy Awards of 1975
  • Doc Watson & Merle Watson for Two Days in November
• Grammy Awards of 1974
  • Doc Watson for Then and Now
• Grammy Awards of 1973
  • Muddy Waters for The London Muddy Waters Session
• Grammy Awards of 1972
  • Muddy Waters for They Call Me Muddy Waters
• Grammy Awards of 1971
  • T-Bone Walker for Good Feelin'
• Grammy Awards of 1970
  • Joni Mitchell for Clouds

1960s

• Grammy Awards of 1969
  • Judy Collins for "Both Sides Now"
• Grammy Awards of 1968
  • John Hartford for "Gentle on My Mind"
• Grammy Awards of 1967
  • Cortelia Clark for Blues in the Street
• Grammy Awards of 1966
  • Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba for An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba
• Grammy Awards of 1965
  • Gale Garnett for We'll Sing in the Sunshine
• Grammy Awards of 1964
  • Peter, Paul and Mary for "Blowin' in the Wind"
• Grammy Awards of 1963
  • Peter, Paul and Mary for "If I Had a Hammer"
• Grammy Awards of 1962
  • Belafonte Folk Singers for Belafonte Folk Singers at Home and Abroad
• Grammy Awards of 1961
  • Harry Belafonte for "Swing Dat Hammer"
• Grammy Awards of 1960
  • The Kingston Trio for The Kingston Trio at Large