Story: Jack Foley
SOUL legend, Ray Charles, received eight posthumous Grammy Awards
at the 2005 ceremony in recognition of his musical genius and
enduring popularity.
The late singer, who passed away in 2004, was recognised with
awards for album of the year and best record, as well as recordings
in more specialist categories (such as gospel).
His last album, Genius Loves Company, comprised a collection
of duets and has sold more than two million copies. It was named
album of the year and best pop vocal album.
Songs from it also fared well, with Here We Go Again,
his duet with Norah Jones, winning record of the year and best
pop vocal collaboration, while Heaven Help Us All, featuring
Gladys Knight, picked up the best gospel performance prize.
Actor Jamie Foxx, who performed
a musical tribute to him with Alicia Keys, and who is hotly-tipped
to win an Oscar for his movie portrayal of the legend in Ray,
dedicated a rendition of Charles' classic, Georgia on My Mind,
to 'old friends'.
Of the other notable award winners on the night, R&B star,
Alicia Keys, won four awards, while U2, Usher, Norah Jones and
Kanye West - who led the nominations field with 10 - got three
each.
U2 picked up their awards for the single Vertigo, which
was named best rock song, best short video and best rock vocal
performance by a duo or group. The track is taken from the band's
latest album, How To Dismantle
An Atomic Bomb.
|
|
Alicia Keys, meanwhile, received
best R&B song, for You Don't Know My Name, and best
R&B album, for The Diary of Alicia Keys.
She also shared the award for best R&B vocal performance
by a duo or group with Usher, for My Boo.
Usher's two other victories were for best contemporary R&B
album, for Confessions, and best rap/sung collaboration
for Yeah!, featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris.
Pre-awards favourite, Kanye West won best rap song for Jesus
Walks and best rap album for The College Dropout.
But he lost out in the battle to be named best new artist, being
beaten by Maroon 5.
Of the Brits looking to do well, there had been high hopes for
the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Elvis Costello - but both left
empty-handed.
There were, however, successes for dance act, Basement Jaxx,
metal rockers, Motorhead, and singer-songwriter, Annie Lennox.
Rod Stewart also picked up his first Grammy of his career, for
best traditional pop album , for Stardust... The Great American
Songbook: Volume III.
Another veteran to get a first-time award was former Beach Boys
singer, Brian Wilson, who won for best rock instrumental performance.
And Britney Spears picked up her first Grammy for her song Toxic,
which was named best dance recording.
In the classical section, a live recording of composer John Adams'
September 11 tribute, On the Transmigration of Souls,
performed by the New York Philharmonic, won three prizes.
While former US President, Bill Clinton, received the second
Grammy of his career - the spoken word award for the audio version
of his autobiography, My Life.
The music awards were handed out at a glittering Los Angeles
ceremony on Sunday, February 13, 2005.
|