- REUTERS
Bonnie Rait (L) and Billy Preston perform a tribute to Ray Charles during the 47th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. Ray Charles won the Grammy for album of the year for "Genius Loves Company."
LOS ANGELES (AP):
RAY CHARLES had a legendary career that defied categorisation and influenced generations of artistes, but he never had one of those blockbuster albums that many lesser artistes have enjoyed.
Eight months after his death, all is right with the world. Charles' final album, Genius Loves Company, won a leading eight Grammy awards on Sunday night, including album of the year, record of the year for Here We Go Again with Norah Jones, and pop vocal album.
The victories highlighted the astounding success of Genius Loves Company, which has sold more than two million copies the most of Charles' 60-plus albums.
"I'm going to cry, actually," Jones said as she accepted the trophy for record of the year. "I think it just shows how wonderful music can be."
U2 won three awards, including best rock performance by a duo or group. Green Day, the most nominated rock act with six for their politically charged punk opera American Idiot, won best rock album.
"Rock 'n' roll can be dangerous and fun at the same time, so thanks a lot," Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong said as he accepted the award.
Alicia Keyes and Usher shared an award Sunday night for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for their chart-topping duet My Boo. Each was nominated for eight Grammys; Keyes won four while Usher had three.
John Mayer was one of the artistes who prevented a record night by Keyes, as his mellow tribute Daughters won song of the year.
Keyes had a chance to win more than any other woman in one evening. In 2002 she won five Grammys for her debut album, Songs in A Minor, becoming only the second woman to win that many in one night. (Lauryn Hill won five in 1999; Jones and Beyonce also won five after Keyes did.)
The most nominated artiste of the year was perhaps the most multifaceted, Kanye West, the songwriter-producer who made his rap debut in 2004 with the cutting-edge CD The College Dropout. He was nominated for 10 Grammys, including album of the year, but only took home three, including best rap album and best rap song for Jesus Walks.
He was upset in the best new artist category, losing to Maroon 5 in a race that also included country singer Gretchen Wilson, Los Lonely Boys and soul siren Joss Stone.
Maroon 5's Adam Levine seemed almost apologetic after winning."Kanye West, I want to thank you so much for being wonderful," he said. The camera cut away to West, who looked less than pleased.
Some expected West to have a meltdown like at the American Music Awards, where he complained bitterly backstage after losing the same award to Wilson. But on Sunday night he went on to deliver an eye-popping performance of "Jesus Walks" and an emotional acceptance speech for best rap album.
After referencing the car accident a few years ago that almost took his life, West promised to live life to the fullest: "I plan to celebrate and scream and pop champagne every chance I get because I'm at the Grammys, baby!"
He also referenced his AMA embarrassment. "Everybody wanted to know what would I do if I didn't win. I guess we'll never know," he said, holding his trophy up high.
At least West didn't have to wait decades to get a trophy, as did some veterans finally honoured by the Recording Academy.
Steve Earle's left-leaning The Revolution Starts... Now won for contemporary folk album.
And Rod Stewart, who had complained in recent years about never winning a Grammy, won for traditional pop vocal album for his standards recording Stardust ... The Great American Songbook Vol. III.
