The late Ray Charles has topped this year's Grammy Awards by chalking up eight wins. Charles scored his multiple successes with his duets album Genius Loves Company, which was recorded during the final months of his life. He won album of the year, record of the year and best pop collaboration for his ballad with Norah Jones, Here We Go Again, as well as best pop album.
"I'm going to cry," said Jones, as she accepted the trophy for record of the year. "I think it just shows how wonderful music can be. It's at a hundred percent with Ray Charles."
Other winners included Alicia Keys, with four Grammys, and Usher, with three. They shared one award, for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for their duet My Boo. U2 also had three awards, including best rock performance by a duo or group.
Green Day, the most nominated rock act with six nods for their politically charged punk rock opera American Idiot, won best rock album.
Kanye West won two awards, including best rap song for Jesus Walks. But he was upset in the best new artist category, losing to Maroon 5 in a race that also included country singer Gretchen Wilson, the Los Lonely Boys and soul siren Joss Stone.
Rod Stewart - who had complained about never winning a Grammy - won for traditional pop vocal album for Stardust ... The Great American Songbook Vol. III. The oft-maligned Britney Spears also won her first Grammy - best dance recording for Toxic.
Although Kanye West, the new face of hip hop, went into Sunday's Grammy Awards the hot favourite with ten nominations, it was late music legend Ray Charles who scooped eight gongs, including record of the year for his posthumously released duets album Genius Loves Company.
"I'm going to cry, actually," said a misty-eyed Norah Jones as she accepted the award for record of the year for her performance with Ray Charles on Here We Go Again. "I think it just shows how wonderful music can be."
The star-studded gala turned into an impromptu memorial for the soul singer, who passed away aged 73 last June. Jamie Foxx, who has been nominated for an Academy Award for his lead role in the biopic Ray, took to the ivories with R&B star Alicia Keys to belt out versions of Georgia On My Mind and If I Ain't Got You.
Alicia and Usher, each nominated for eight Grammys, both took home three. They shared an award for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for their smash hit, My Boo. And in the end, Kanye West also scooped three awards, including rap album of the year.
Other winners included Britney Spears, who won her first Grammy for best dance recording for Toxic. Though Britney and Kevin Federline were a no-show, fellow newlyweds Jennifer Lopez and Marc Antony put on an astonishing spectacle for their first public performance, delivering an impassioned duet in Spanish on a satin-spread bed.
Perhaps the evening's most electrifying performance came from a barefoot Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge as they paid tribute to Janis Joplin. After Joss had whipped the crowd into a frenzy with a powerful version of Cry Baby, she teamed up with Melissa for a rousing rendition of Janis' classic Piece Of My Heart. Melissa, who is battling breast cancer, took to the stage with a shaved head but strong voice, and received a standing ovation.
"This is the best Grammys I've ever seen,'' claimed U2's Bono as he accepted one of the band's two trophies, which included best rock song for Vertigo.
Jamie Foxx and Alicia Keys after performing a moving tribute to Ray Charles with Georgia On My Mind
The much-touted singing debut of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony featured the couple belting out their new Spanish song Escapemonos /Let's Escape)from a bed
Norah Jones got a little misty when picking up the award she shared with Ray Charles for their duet
The loudest ovation on the evening was for Joss Stone (pictured) and Melissa Etheridge as they paid tribute to Janis Joplin
Record of the year presenters Sheryl Crowe and her beau cycling legend Lance Armstrong
J Lo and Marc belted out their new Spanish duet Escapemonos (Let's Escape) to the delight of the crowd at the 47th annual Grammys
02-15-2005 03:16 AM
