Eight months after his death, Ray Charles‘ legendary career, which defied categorization and influenced generations of artists, was celebrated at the 47th annual Grammy Awards Sunday night.
The R&B musician’s final album, Genius Loves Company, won a leading eight Grammy awards, including album of the year, record of the year for “Here We Go Again” with Norah Jones, and pop vocal album. “I’m going to cry, actually,” Jones said as she accepted the trophy for record of the year. “I think it just shows how wonderful music can be.”
Other winners included U2, who won three awards, including best rock performance by a duo or group and Green Day, who won best rock album for their politically charged punk opera American Idiot. Alicia Keys and Usher shared an award Sunday night for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for their chart-topping duet “My Boo.” John Mayer won best song for his poignant “Daughters.”
Kanye West, probably the most nominated artist of the year (10 in all), won three, including best rap album for The College Dropout and best rap song for “Jesus Walks.” He was upset in the best new artist category, however, losing to Maroon 5 in a race that also included country singer Gretchen Wilson, Los Lonely Boys and soul siren Joss Stone.
But ultimately, it was Ray Charles‘ spirit that permeated the ceremony. Charles was 73 when he died in June, with a total of 12 Grammys in his 50-plus year career. The most he ever won in one night was four in 1960, including two for the classic “Georgia On My Mind.” The song performed Sunday by Keys and the actor Jamie Foxx, considered an Oscar lock for his portrayal of Charles in Ray. “For an old friend,” Foxx said as he began to play.
Here is a partial list of Grammy Awards 2005 winners:
Album of the Year
Genius Loves Company, Ray Charles & various artists
Record of the Year
“Here We Go Again,” Ray Charles & Norah Jones
Song of the Year
“Daughters,” John Mayer
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
“Sunrise,” Norah Jones
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
“Daughters,” John Mayer
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
“Heaven,” Los Lonely Boys
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
“Here We Go Again,” Ray Charles & Norah Jones
Best New Artist
Maroon 5
Best Contemporary R&B Album
“Confessions,” Usher
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
“If I Ain’t Got You,” Alicia Keys
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
“Call My Name,” Prince
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
“My Boo,” Alicia Keys & Usher
Best R&B Song
“You Don’t Know My Name,” Alicia Keys
Best R&B Album
The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys
Best Rock Song
“Vertigo,” U2
Best Rock Album
American Idiot, Green Day
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
“Vertigo,” U2
Best Rap Solo Performance
“99 Problems,” Jay-Z
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
“Let’s Get It Started,” Black Eyed Peas
Best Rap Song
“Jesus Walks,” Kanye West
Best Rap Album
The College Dropout, Kanye West
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
“Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim McGraw
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
“Redneck Woman,” Gretchen Wilson
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
“Top of the World,” Dixie Chicks
Best Country Song
“Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim McGraw
Best Country Album
“Van Lear Rose,” Loretta Lynn
