| Year | Composer | Song | |
|---|
| 2009 | John Williams | The Adventures Of Mutt | |
| 2008 | Maria Schneider | Cerulean Skies | |
| 2007 | John Williams | A Prayer for Peace | |
| 2006 | Billy Childs | Into The Light | |
| 2005 | Paquito D'Rivera | Merengue | |
| 2004 | Wayne Shorter | Sacajawea | |
| 2003 | Thomas Newman | Six Feet Under Title Theme | |
| 2002 | Alan Silvestri | Cast Away End Credits | |
| 2001 | John Williams | Theme From Angela's Ashes | |
| 2000 | Don Sebesky | Joyful Noise Suite | |
| 1999 | Future Man and Victor Lemonte Wooten | Almost 12 | |
| 1998 | Wayne Shorter | Aung San Suu Kyi | |
| 1997 | Herbie Hancock and Jean Hancock | Manhattan (Island of Lights and Love) | |
| 1996 | Bill Holman | A View From the Side | |
| 1995 | Michael Brecker | African Skies | |
| 1994 | Kenny G | Forever in Love | |
| 1993 | Benny Carter | Harlem Renaissance Suite | |
| 1992 | Elton John | Basque | |
| 1991 | Pat Metheny | Change of Heart | |
| 1990 | Danny Elfman | The Batman Theme | |
| 1989 | Mike Post | The Theme From L.A. Law | |
| 1988 | Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Billy Higgins and Wayne Shorter | Call Sheet Blues | |
| 1987 | John Barry | Out of Africa | |
| 1986 | Jan Hammer | Miami Vice Theme | |
| 1985 | Randy Newman | The Natural | |
| 1984 | Giorgio Moroder | Love Theme From Flashdance | |
| 1983 | John Williams | Flying - Theme From E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | |
| 1982 | Mike Post | The Theme From Hill Street Blues | |
| 1981 | John Williams | The Empire Strikes Back - Soundtrack | |
| 1980 | John Williams | Superman Main Title Theme | |
| 1979 | John Williams | Theme From Close Encounters of the Third Kind | |
| 1978 | John Williams | Main Title From Star Wars | |
| 1977 | Chuck Mangione | Bellavia | |
| 1976 | Michel Legrand | Images | |
| 1975 | Mike Oldfield | Tubular Bells - Theme From The Exorcist | |
| 1974 | Gato Barbieri | Last Tango in Paris Theme | |
| 1973 | Michel Legrand | Theme from Brian's Song | |
| 1972 | Michel Legrand | Theme From Summer of '42 | |
| 1971 | Alfred Newman | Airport Love Theme | |
| 1970 | John Barry | Midnight Cowboy Theme | |
| 1969 | Mason Williams | Classical Gas | |
| 1968 | Lalo Schifrin | Mission: Impossible Theme | |
| 1967 | Neal Hefti | Batman Theme | |
| 1966 | No Award Given | - | |
| 1965 | Henry Mancini | The Pink Panther Theme | |
| 1964 | Riz Ortolani | More - Theme From Mondo Cane | |
| 1963 | Bobby Scott and Ric Marlowe | A Taste of Honey | |
| 1962 | Galt MacDermot | African Waltz | |
| 1961 | Duke Ellington | Anatomy of a Murder Soundtrack | |
| 1960 | Nelson Riddle | Cross Country Suite | |