MOST AWARDS DIDN'T MAKE IT ON TELEVISION.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

Beyonce won four of her Grammys at a preshow before Sunday's telecast. Also picking up Grammys early in the day were lesser-known acts like a group of Tibetan monks, an American Indian tribe of singers and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

The earlier portion of the recording academy's trophy fest saw awards handed out in 94 categories at L.A.'s Convention Center before the televised Staples Center event. Unfortunately, few winners made it to the early ceremonies. Those who did represented the community of artists, engineers and other behind-the-scenes folk who often work away from the spotlight.

For example, there was video producer Mary Wharton, who won along with her two partners for long form music video for ``Legend,'' a documentary about the late soul singer Sam Cooke. Wharton explained backstage that all the work involved in putting together the project paid off, not just in light of the golden gramophone she took home, but in bringing attention to a worthy artist.

``Sam created the archetype for soul,'' she said. ``He was a visionary who took rhythm and blues and gospel and married it to pop for all time.''

Andy McKaie accepted the Grammy for historical album for the compilation that accompanied the Martin Scorsese blues series on PBS last year. He simply mentioned the greats - ``Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy and Little Walter'' - before his partners in the project said their thank-yous.

The early ceremony began with a full crowd, but their numbers dwindled as the hours - and arcane categories - wore on. But not everyone who was invited was allowed to attend. A delegation of nominated Cuban musicians was denied visas, as guitarist Ry Cooder pointed out when he was forced to accept the trophy for pop instrumental album for ``Mambo Sinuendo'' without his partner on the disc, Havana's Manuel Galban. Galban, like his countryman Ibrahim Ferrer (winner of traditional tropical Latin album for ``Buenos Hermanos''), was refused entry into the U.S. as a result of the Bush Administration's new restrictions linked to terrorism.

``Come November, there may be a remedy,'' a wry Ry commented, referring to the forthcoming election.

Also winning a Grammy was a congregation of 450 Tibetan monks whose chanting, recorded in a monastery in the Himalayas, won the award for traditional world music album for ``Sacred Tibetan Chant.'' The sect sent an emissary, Tenam Lama, to accept. The monk, in full robes and shaved head, was an unlikely presence backstage, and denied suggestions that such worldly favors would have unintended consequences at home.

``We chant,'' Lama said, ignoring a question about whether the trophy may cause egos to swell. ``This is life music. This is what we do.''

Also receiving honors was Black Eagle, a group of American Indian tribal singers that won for native American music album for ``Flying Free.'' Also winning were the Blind Boys of Alabama, the long-running gospel outfit, which received the trophy for traditional soul gospel album for ``Go Tell it On the Mountain.''

Other pretelecast winners included Jeff Beck for rock instrumental performance for the track ``Plan B'' and the White Stripes for alternative music album for ``Elephant.'' Both artists didn't attend the early ceremony, although the White Stripes performed on the CBS telecast. Beyonce also was a no-show at the early show.

Fred Shuster, [phone]

fred.shuster(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Tenam Lama accepts the Grammy award on behalf of the Monks of Sherab Ling Monastery for best traditional world music album ``Sacred Tibetan Chant.''

John McCoy/Staff Photographer