Awards in 94 of the 105 Grammy categories were presented Sunday (Feb. 8) afternoon from the Los Angeles Convention Center before the nationally televised broadcast from the adjacent Staples Center.
Beyoncé was the big afternoon winner, taking awards for best female R&B vocal (for “Dangerously in Love 2”); best R&B performance by a duo or group (for her duet with Luther Vandross, “The Closer I Get to You”); best rap sung collaboration (shared with Jay-Z for “Crazy in Love”) and as co-writer of the best R&B song (for “Crazy in Love”).
In addition to his win with Beyoncé, the ailing Vandross took awards for his J Records album “Dance With My Father” and the album’s self-titled single. Vandross was honored for best R&B album and best male R&B performance.
The final 11 categories — including the coveted record of the year, album of the year and song of the year trophies — will be handed out during the CBS telecast from 8-11 p.m. ET. Billboard.biz will have a wrap-up after the show, as well as backstage interviews with some of the night’s winners.
Alison Krauss took three Grammys. Her Rounder Records set “Live” with Union Station won best bluegrass album, while the set’s “Cluck Old Hen” won best country instrumental performance. Finally, her duet with James Taylor, “How’s the World Treating You,” was recognized as best country collaboration with vocals. The latter is a track from Universal South’s Louvin Brothers tribute album “Livin’, Lovin’, Losin'”
Eminem took awards for best male rap solo and as co-writer of the best rap song, both for “Lose Yourself.” The White Stripes took home best alternative music album, for V2’s “Elephant,” and the band’s Jack White took best rock song honors for “Seven Nation Army.”
Justin Timberlake won best pop vocal album for his Jive Records set “Justified.” The Foo Fighters took best rock album for their RCA set, “One By One.”
The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) received producer of the year honors. Williams took his acceptance speech as an opportunity to defend Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, who he described as “great individuals who have done things to support people around the world.”
Several recently deceased performers were honored with awards. Johnny Cash, who died in September, won the best short-form music video Grammy, for Mark Romanek’s clip for “Hurt.” His wife June Carter Cash, who died in May, received the best traditional folk album award for “Wildwood Flower” (Dualtone).
Warren Zevon, who succumbed to cancer in September, took best contemporary folk album for “The Wind” (Artemis). George Harrison, who passed away in November 2001, won for best pop instrumental performance, for “Marwa Blues.” Celia Cruz, who died in July, won best salsa/merengue album for “Regalo del Alma” (Sony Discos).
Tony Bennett, who won for best traditional pop album with k.d. lang for “A Wonderful World” (RPM/Columbia), announced he would give his award to the late Rosemary Clooney, who was also nominated in the category. Bennett said, “Mike Nichols, the great director, said of Rosemary Clooney, ‘She was the Spencer Tracy of singers; the most natural, honest singer that lived.'”
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