The late Ray Charles wins eight awards at the 47th annual Grammy Awards, stemming from his final release "Genius Loves Company" (Hear Music/Concord). Norah Jones "Here We Go Again" wins record of the year and best pop collaboration with vocals. Alicia Keys earns four awards, while Kanye West takes home three. More...

Charles' popularity also helped at the Oscars, where Jamie Foxx is crowned best actor at the 77th Academy Awards for his portrayal of the late music legend in the hit film "Ray." More...

After 20 years, alt-country rock act the Jayhawks announces its imminent disbanding. Meanwhile, pop-punk crew Blink-182 announces an indefinite hiatus in order "to spend some time enjoying the fruits of their labors with loved ones." More...

U2 vocalist Bono is reported to be considered for nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Bono earned attention by leading an effort in making various world governments cancel the debt of the poor countries. His name would surface in Nobel circles again later in the year alongside Live 8/Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof.

Capitol Records artist Houston gouges out his own eye while on an overseas performance junket. The rapper had attempted suicide only a week earlier. More...

LEGALITIES:

Singer Courtney Love pleads no contest to assault charges, wherein she broke into her ex-boyfriend's residence and allegedly threw a liquor bottle at and chased a woman who was sleeping on the man's couch. She pleads guilty to drug charges that stem from the same incident.

Kid Rock is arrested in Nashville on assault charges after he allegedly punched a DJ in the face at a strip club.

Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen, aka Tod Rex Salvador, is arrested on sexual assault, kidnapping and endangerment charges after allegedly assaulting an under-aged girl he met through the Internet.

A Sept. 16 trial date is set for veteran producer Phil Spector over the alleged murder of actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra, Calif., home.

Random House Inc. files a lawsuit against Sean "P. Diddy" Combs after the rapper failed to deliver an autobiography, for which he was paid a $300,000 advance

Death Row Records executive Marion "Suge" Knight is arrested in California after area police find marijuana in his truck.

Libertines frontman Pete Doherty is arrested in London on suspicion of assault and robbery. More...

A woman sues rapper Snoop Dogg two years after he allegedly raped her. The defendant claims he and his entourage drugged her drink and sexually assaulter her after a taping of "Jimmy Kimmel Live," an episode which the rapper was co-hosting. The accuser drops the suit in August, at which time a suit Snoop Dogg filed against the woman accusing her of extortion is also dropped.