The Grammy AwardsKEY POINTS:
LOS ANGELES - Jazz veteran Herbie Hancock was the shock winner of the coveted album of the year award at the Grammy Awards today, preventing Amy Winehouse from enjoying an historic clean sweep.
Hancock claimed the best album Grammy for River: The Joni Letters, a tribute to Canadian singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell. He also won the contemporary jazz album Grammy, bringing his career haul to 12. Virtually no one among the Grammy pundits had expected him to take the big prize. Even his nomination was a surprise.
"What a beautiful day this is in Los Angeles," Hancock said, as he took the stage at the Staples Centre to pick up the album of the year award. "Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, thank you so much."
He said it was 43 years since a jazz artist won the album of the year award: Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto's Getz/Gilberto.
Winehouse took home five awards including the key awards for record and song of the year for her hit tune Rehab, as well as best new artist. Her haul was rounded out by the female pop vocal solo performance for Rehab, and pop vocal album for Back to Black, her breakthrough release.
The 24-year-old artist, whose promising career has been derailed by drug and legal problems, was the favourite to win the coveted award.
Winehouse accepted her award at a London recording studio, from which she is scheduled to perform via satellite feed during the Grammy telecast. She checked into a rehab clinic last month and was unable to secure a work visa to travel to the United States until late Friday. By that stage, it was too late to change her plans.
Rapper Kanye West, the leading nominee at the Grammy Awards, won three prizes during early proceedings today, while another top contender, Amy Winehouse, won a pair of statuettes.
Veteran rocker Bruce Springsteen also won three Grammys, helping to make up for his surprise omission from the coveted roster of candidates for album of the year.
Winners in all but 10 of the 110 categories were announced during a non-televised ceremony that preceded the main event. The live CBS telecast, which will be dominated by performances, begins at 8 pm EST/2pm NZT at the Staples Center.
West led the field going into the ceremony with eight nominations in six categories. He was honored for rap solo performance ("Stronger"), rap performance by a duo or group with vocals ("Southside"), and rap song ("Good Life"). He competed against himself in the latter two categories.
The Chicago rapper was the favorite to win two more races - rap album and rap/song collaboration - during the telecast. Along with Winehouse, he also is competing for album of the year.
Winehouse, scheduled to perform live via satellite from London, received six nominations. She won for female pop vocal solo performance for her signature hit, "Rehab," and pop vocal album for "Back to Black."
In addition to album of the year, she will compete for both record and song of the year, and best new artist. No performer has won all top four awards since Christopher Cross in 1981.
Winehouse, who is undergoing rehab for a drug problem that has devastated her career, was unable to secure a US work visa until Friday, by which time she had already made plans to perform from a London recording studio.
It is perhaps one of the most keenly anticipated appearances in the 50-year history of the music industry's top awards show - and not just because she will likely sing her big hit, "Rehab."
Just three weeks ago, she was filmed while appearing to be smoking crack cocaine at a party in London. Her misadventures last year included an arrest in Norway for marijuana possession, bloody self-mutilation, hospitalization for "severe exhaustion," canceled concerts, and a late-night stroll dressed only in jeans and bra.
Now, the brassy singer with the beehive bouffant and heavy eyeliner must try to remind fans why she was considered one of the most promising artists in the music industry last year.
Statuettes for Springsteen, Aretha and Madonna
Springsteen, meanwhile, won Grammys for solo rock vocal performance ("Radio Nowhere"), rock instrumental performance ("Once Upon a Time in the West") and best rock song ("Radio Nowhere"). His career haul now stands at 18 statuettes. His acclaimed album, "Magic," will compete for best rock album during the main ceremony.
"Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin also has 18 Grammys now, thanks to a win in the gospel category with R&B singer Mary J. Blige on "Never Gonna Break My Faith." For Franklin, the daughter of late gospel superstar the Rev. C.L. Franklin, it marked the third gospel Grammy of her career.
Blige was one of several two-time winners today. Others included R&B veteran Chaka Khan, late jazz soloist Michael Brecker, pop star Justin Timberlake, and rock band the White Stripes.
Madonna won her first Grammy in eight years - and the sixth of her career - in the long-form music video category for her "Confessions Tour" DVD.
The video for the late Johnny Cash's gospel song "God's Gonna Cut You Down" won the short-form race. Since it is a posthumous clip, his career tally stays at 12.
Beatles producer Sir George Martin won his fifth Grammy, for an album of remixed Beatles tunes, "Love." The recording, which he produced with his son, Giles, picked up the award for best surround sound. The disc was released in conjunction with the Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil stage show of the same name.
- REUTERS/Nielsen
