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Alicia Keys wins three Grammys, U2 a pair
R&B singer Alicia Keys, one of the leading lights of the "neo-soul" movement, picked up three early Grammy Awards on Wednesday, while Irish rockers U2 snagged two prizes but lost one race. Besides Keys, producer T-Bone Burnett won three Grammys, all in the early ceremony, mostly for his work on album of the year nominee "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" the sound track from the hit Coen brothers movie. Keys, who went into the event with six nominations, began her winning streak in the non-televised portion before the main show, when her piano ballad "Fallin"' won Grammys for female R&B vocal and R&B song. In the main event, her debut release "Songs In A Minor" was named best R&B album. "This album was a lot of years in the making, a lot of struggle in the making," the 21-year-old classically trained pianist said. "I would like to dedicate this to thinking out of the box, not being afraid to be who you are." U2 led the nominees with nods in eight categories, followed by R&B singer India.Arie with seven. (Classical conductor-composer Pierre Boulez tied with Keys for third among all nominees.) In the non-televised portion, U2 won the rock album award for its 10 million-selling opus "All That You Can't Leave Behind," which will compete for the coveted album of the year award later in the evening. U2 kicked off the main ceremony at the Staples Center with a performance of "Walk On," an anthem of hope and freedom dedicated to Burmese dissident Aung San Suu Kyi. It then snagged the first award of the main ceremony in the pop performance by a duo or group with vocal for "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of," a ballad inspired by the 1997 suicide of Australian rocker Michael Hutchence. A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE "Thank God. There's two in the bag," singer Bono said, after he and his three bandmates took turns to kiss presenter Britney Spears. "Being Irish, if you get eight nominations and got no awards they wouldn't let you back in the country. So this a public safety issue." U2 lost the best rock song race to San Francisco rock band Train's "Drops of Jupiter," the third song performed. U2 had two songs in the race, "Walk On" and "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of." Besides album of the year, U2 will also compete for best song, best record and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal. The second Grammy also went to the evening's second performers: Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil' Kim, Mya and Missy Elliott, for their cover of "Lady Marmalade" from the film "Moulin Rouge." During their saucy routine, the scantily clad ladies were joined by Patti LaBelle, who had a chart-topping hit with the original 1970s version. "I actually lost my virginity to that song," host Jon Stewart told the crowd. "Not the original. That version." The fifth Grammy went to Canadian pop singer Nelly Furtado, whose hit single "I'm Like A Bird" won the female pop vocal category. "I had fun writing it, so WOOOOO!," said Furtado, who is also a best new artist nominee along with Arie and Keys. Artists who won two awards each, all in the early ceremony, included comedian Mel Brooks for his hit Broadway stage musical "The Producers," jazz/bluegrass banjoist Bela Fleck and bluegrass act Alison Krauss and Union Station. Rocker Lenny Kravitz won his fourth consecutive Grammy for male rock vocal, beating a distinguished field that included veterans Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. But Dylan won a folk Grammy and Clapton won for pop instrumental. "The Blind Boys of Alabama," a gospel group that has been together for 58 years ever since their five members met at a school for the blind, won their first Grammy for their album "Spirit of the Century" in the traditional soul gospel category. Lead singer Clarence Fountain said, "I feel like a Morning Glory." Other performances included collaborations by Alejandro Sanz and Destiny's Child on "Quisiera Ser," Tony Bennett and Billy Joel on "New York State of Mind," boy band 'N Sync and rapper Nelly on a medley of "Gone" and "Girlfriend."
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