EARLY GRAMMY AWARDS GO OUT TO CHARLES, EX-PRESIDENT.Byline: David Kronke Staff Writer Ray Charles' posthumous domination of the Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Annual awards given by the Recording Academy (officially the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences). The first Grammies (the name is a dimunitive of “gramophone”) were given in 1958. began hours before the televised version of the ceremony began, with virtually anything with Charles' name attached to it cleaning up in the afternoon trophy distribution ceremony. Charles - and his collaborators - won six Grammys before the cameras even blinked to life in Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. on Sunday. The only Grammys Charles lost in the afternoon trophy free-for-all were one to himself and another to Prince in the traditional R&B category. It was an afternoon boasting an eclectic group of winners. Awards went to both former President Bill Clinton and political satirist Jon Stewart Not to be confused with John Stewart or John Stuart. Jon Stewart (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz on November 28,1962) is an American comedian, satirist, actor, writer, and producer. , both for spoken-word performances. The former president won for the audiobook of his best-selling autobiography, ``My Life''; Stewart and his ``Daily Show'' colleagues were victorious for the audiobook of their best-selling textbook parody, ``America (The Book).'' Hip-hop anthems that have become sports-venue staples carried the day, as well. Usher picked up three trophies, including for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for ``Yeah!'', Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Black Eyed Peas' ``Let's Get It Started'' was named Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Jay-Z won the Best Rap Solo Performance trophy for ``99 Problems.'' Kanye West, a surprise loser in the Best New Artist category, comforted himself with his trophies for Best Rap Song and Best R&B Song, which he shared with Alicia Keys, who also took home Grammys for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Past snubbees were finally honored. Former Beach Boy Brian Wilson won his first Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, for ``Mrs. O'Leary's Cow,'' from his reconstructed album ``Smile.'' Wilco's ``A Ghost is Born'' received two trophies - Best Alternative Album and Best Recording Packaging - after a previous snub for its critically acclaimed ``Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'' CD. Zach Braff, star of the NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. series ``Scrubs,'' won a trophy for the compilation soundtrack for his film ``Garden State.'' Bounding onstage and pumping his fist, the actor/director/writer proclaimed, ``I can't believe I won a Grammy!'' John Adams dominated the classical category, with wins in three categories for ``On the Transmigration of Souls On the Transmigration of Souls, for orchestra, chorus, children’s choir and pre-recorded tape is a composition by composer John Adams commissioned by The New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center’s Great Performers (and an anonymous but well known New York family) ,'' a composition about Sept. 11, 2001. Charles' victories included Best Pop Vocal Album (``Genius Loves Company,'' his duets CD), Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (``Here We Go Again,'' with Norah Jones Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30 1979 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and occasional actress of American and Indian descent. ) and Best Gospel Performance (``Heaven Help Us All,'' with Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American R&B/soul singer, actress and author. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s, for both the Motown and Buddah Records labels, with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the most ). The album also won Grammys for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, Best Surround Sound An audio recording and playback system that uses five or more channels plus a subwoofer channel. See 5.1 channel and 3D audio. Album and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals. With more than 100 trophies to distribute, the afternoon ceremony is a crucial if occasionally dispiriting dis·pir·it tr.v. dis·pir·it·ed, dis·pir·it·ing, dis·pir·its To lower in or deprive of spirit; dishearten. See Synonyms at discourage. [di(s)- + spirit.] Adj. affair. In a sprawling hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center (abbreviated LACC) is a convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, and was best known to video games fans as host to E3 until its cessation in 2006. , seats ranged from half to three-quarters to less than a third full while Grammys were rotely distributed to winners in categories considered not quite glamorous enough for prime-time television, while nobodies copiously mock-whispered into cell phones in the back. About half the winners were no-shows, with many of those claiming the trophies on their behalf coming from the victor's independent label, using their time onstage to tout the label. Those arriving late (after 1:30 p.m.) were not even allowed beverages for nearly two hours: A friend of multiple nominee T Bone Burnett was turned away from a bar, even after offering a food-service employee $5 for a bottle of water. Later in the afternoon, when some of the more significant awards were presented, winners weren't present because they were busily shuffling into Staples Center. Norah Jones was perhaps the biggest star to appear in the afternoon ceremony, and she was almost overlooked by presenter Cyndi Lauper. ``It's hard to run in heels,'' Jones apologized, picking up trophies for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (''Sunrise'' from her album ``Feels Like Home'') and her collaboration with Charles, ``Here We Go Again,'' which won the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals Grammy. Outside the venue, a few protesters shouted slogans, but as one police officer noted, ``This isn't even interesting. The Democratic National Convention was interesting.'' Curiously, for an awards ceremony known for its winners thanking God, three winners of gospel recordings in fact did not thank their deity for their success, although Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962 in Paducah, Kentucky, U.S.) is a contemporary Christian musician who has won five Grammy awards and more Gospel Music Association awards than any other artist in history. , whose ``All Things New'' was named Best Pop Gospel Album, did conclude his acceptance speech with ``God bless.'' David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 7 photos Photo: (1 -- 3) At right, chanteuse chan·teuse n. A woman singer, especially a nightclub singer. [French, feminine of chanteur, singer, from chanter, to sing; see chant.] Norah Jones holds her two Grammy Awards after the early ceremony; above, former Beach Boy Brian Wilson shows off his first Grammy; at far right, ``Garden State'' actor/director/writer Zach Braff clowns around with his award for the film's soundtrack. Michael Owen
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