THE GRAMMY AWARDS
Photos
from L to R: #1. :
Five-time nominee Justin Timberlake keeps it clean, looked
conservative and reasonable. Good for him and for us. #2.
1.R&B diva Mary J. Blige in cacanary yellow faux-fur jacket and matching
ensemble
Off camera, Dave Matthews said the controversy cast a pall over the awards night. "I'm surprised that it's shocking that a boob might be seen somewhere unless it's National Geographic," he said, adding that it's amusing to him that such a big stink is being made of the affair. Even Yoko One commented about the controversy saying she and John Lennon went through something similar when they posed nude together in a magazine photo. The show was packed with performances including a Fab Four dedication featuring Vince Gill, Sting, Dave Matthews and Pharrell Williams. Ringo Star and Paul McCartney, and the widows of George Harrison and Lennon thanked the Academy for honouring their Ed Sullivan 40th anniversary. A musical tribute to Vandross by Celine Dion, who flew in from Las Vegas, got off to a rocky start when her microphone failed and had to be replaced on stage. Elephant, by The White Stripes, was named best alternative music album and its hit song Seven Nation Army won for best rock song. Krauss netted three trophies including best bluegrass album for Live.
Photos
from L to R: #1. Record
of the Year nominees Black Eyed Peas in colorful and challenging fashion
attires
Alberta's Northern Cree lost out to Black Eagle in the best native American music album category. St. Catharines' polka king Walter Ostanek, who's had 16 nods over the years, lost in his category. Ontario musician Rob McConnell was shut out for the best instrumental arrangement award as was Winnipeg's rock gospel nominee Fresh I.E. and Toronto-based Latin jazz artist Jane Bunnett. Shania Twain and Nickelback, who weren't present, also lost in their categories. The Cash family walked away with three trophies: Johnny Cash's video for Hurt, which showed a frail but defiant Cash, and two for June Carter Cash. Another posthumous winner was Warren Zevon, who won best rock performance by a group and best contemporary folk album for The Wind, which he recorded while dying of lung cancer. The unusual team of former U.S. president Bill Clinton, former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev and Sophia Loren won best spoken word album for children for their reading on Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf/Beintus: Wolf Tracks. Sean Paul won best reggae album and Livin', Lovin', Losin'-- Songs of the Louvin Brothers snagged best country album. The majority of the awards were presented during a pre-telecast ceremony next door to the Staples Center. The Grammys are awarded by the U.S. Recording Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. About 15,000 members vote in 105 categories.
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