Taciturn OutKast in with big win at Grammys

Hip-hop duo OutKast won the album of the year Grammy at yesterday's ceremony in Los Angeles for their chart-topping double package Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

OutKast won three Grammys from six nominations.

When OutKast's Hey Ya! won for urban/alternative performance, group member Andre "3000" Benjamin made one of the shortest acceptance speeches in Grammy history, taking to the stage to say "Thank you," and then bounding off.

His cohort, Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, was not present.

R&B singer Beyonce Knowles won five Grammy awards, but was prevented from making a clean sweep of her six nominations when English rock band Coldplay surprisingly won the coveted record of the year prize.

In another unexpected development, rock band Evanescence were named best new artist - to the chagrin of favoured fellow nominee, rapper 50 Cent, who briefly took to the stage while the band were accepting their award.

Amid the fallout from Janet Jackson's breast-baring stunt at the Super Bowl last weekend, US network CBS broadcast the event with a five-minute time delay.

The network also insisted that Jackson and her partner-in-crime, Justin Timberlake, apologise on air as a condition for appearing as planned.

Timberlake obliged. Jackson, who had been scheduled to take part in a tribute to soul singer Luther Vandross, opted out of the event altogether.

Along with rapper Jay-Z, hip-hop duo OutKast and producer Pharrell Williams, Knowles led the Grammy contenders with nominations in six categories.

Critically acclaimed rock band Coldplay rained on her parade by winning the record of the year prize for their tune Clocks.

Frontman Chris Martin dedicated the award to late country singer Johnny Cash - a posthumous winner for best video for Hurt - and to leading Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry, "who hopefully will be your President one day".

OutKast were also nominated for record of the year, for their infectious dance hit Hey Ya!

Rock band Evanescence were also in contention for album of the year. Besides the best new artist Grammy, they also won the best hard rock performance category.

Former Evanescence member Ben Moody, when asked about the gangsta rapper's impromptu appearance on stage, joked: "50 Cent is actually a former member of Evanescence".

Knowles, the 22-year-old frontwoman with R&B trio Destiny's Child, was lauded largely for her debut solo release, Dangerously in Love.

She told reporters backstage that she was not disappointed about losing to Coldplay. "I love that song, and they definitely deserved it. That song was just genius," Knowles said.

Her album Dangerously in Love was named best contemporary R&B album, while the title track was honoured for female R&B vocal performance. She and boyfriend Jay-Z, who also had six nominations, shared Grammys for the song, Crazy in Love, which won for rap/sung collaboration and R&B song.

Her other Grammy was for a duet with soul icon Luther Vandross, The Closer I Get To You, which won for R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Vandross, who was stricken by a near-fatal stroke last April, won three other Grammys. Dance With My Father was named best R&B album, and its title track best male R&B vocal performance and best song.

Vandross had five nominations and had hoped to attend the Grammys but was not well enough.

In his absence, singers Alicia Keys, Celine Dion and Richard Marx performed a tribute to him. Vandross sent his greetings in a videotaped message, and sang the line, "I believe in the power of love".

Bluegrass musician Alison Krauss also picked up three Grammy Awards, taking her career total to 17 - eighth on the all-time list of Grammy winners.

Other double-winners included rapper Eminem (best rap song, best rap male solo performance), rock band White Stripes (best alternative music album for Elephant, best rock song for Seven Nation Army), and Timberlake.

It was also a night for posthumous awards. As well as Johnny Cash's prize for best video, the country legend's wife June Carter Cash won best traditional folk album and best female country vocal performance.

The late Warren Zevon was awarded best rock vocal performance by a duo or group with Bruce Springsteen for Disorder in the House, and best contemporary folk album.

The late George Harrison won best pop instrumental performance for Marwa Blues while the Beatles - marking the 40th anniversary of their first American tour - were honoured with the President's Award.

And while it was a music awards, The Lord of the Rings' winning streak continued with composer Howard Shore winning best soundtrack album for The Two Towers.

- REUTERS

Full winners list on the Grammy website