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Jet, Feb 28, 2005

The late Ray Charles showed his enduring power and legacy as he emerged as the big winner at the recent 47th Annual Grammy Awards, taking home eight coveted statuettes.

Charles, who died last June, recorded the duet-filled album Genius Loves Company months before his death. That album has sold more than 2 million copies.

Here We Go Again, his collaboration with Norah Jones, was named record of the year. The album was named album of the year. Charles also won in best pop vocal album, best pop collaboration with vocals, best gospel performance for Heaven Help Us All with Gladys Knight, best surround sound album, best vocal album and best engineered album.

After she accepted the record of the year award at Los Angeles' Staples Center, Norah Jones told reporters: "He was a very charming man. He made me feel pretty comfortable. I was a little scared, but he put me at ease."

In a tribute to Charles, Alicia Keys was joined by Jamie Foxx who portrayed the late singer in the hit, Oscar-nominated film Ray. The two received a huge ovation for their rendition of Charles' signature hit Georgia.

The evening also saw Alicia Keys win tour awards while Usher and Kanye West both took home three. Keys won in the categories of best R&B album for Diary of Alicia Keys along with best R&B female vocal performance for If I Ain't Got You; best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for My Boo with Usher and best R&B song for You Don't Know My Name.

West's The College Dropout was named best rap album and the single Jesus Walks picked up the best rap song award. He also was named best R&B songwriter for You Don't Know My Name with Keys and Harold Lilly.

When he took the stage to accept the best rap album award, West told the black-tie crowd: "Everybody wanted to know what I'd do if I didn't win." As he displayed his award above his head, he added, "I guess we'll never know."

Usher's Confessions was named best contemporary R&B album. He also won as best rap/sung collaboration for Yeah and best R&B duo for My Boo with Keys.

Other Black winners included Prince, who won as best R&B male vocalist for Call My Name and best traditional R&B performance for Musicology, a single from the album of the same name. Ladysmith Black Mambazo was named best traditional world music album for Raise Your Spirit High; the Blind Boys of Alabama and Ben Harper, best traditional soul gospel album for There Will Be a Light; Smokie Norful, best contemporary soul gospel album for Nothing Without You; The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, best gospel choir or chorus album for Live ... This is Your House; Etta James, best traditional blues album for Blues to the Bone; Keb' Mo', best contemporary blues album for Keep it Simple; Nancy Wilson, best jazz vocal album for R.S. V. P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal); Herbie Hancock, best jazz instrumental solo for Speak Like a Child; Jill Scott, best urban/alternative performance for Cross My Mind; Jay-Z, best rap solo performance for 99 Problems; The Black Eyed Peas, best rap performance by a duo or group for Let's Get it Started.

The evening saw Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys join in a vocal tribute for the Southeast Asian Tsunami victims. Also, Usher was joined onstage by James Brown for a roaring rendition of Caught Up and Sex Machine. Also, Kanye West and legendary R&B artist Mavis Staples participated in a gospel music tribute.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to the Staple Singers, Pinetop Perkins, Art Blakey and Jelly Roll Morton while jazz educator Dr. Billy Taylor and former "Soul Train" host Don Cornelius were given trustee awards.

After she received a standing ovation for her Grammy win, Nancy Wilson told reporters that her win was "special because I'm retiring after 52 years and 75 albums." She said she still may record albums, but she is completely done with the rigors of touring.

"I don't want to have any plans. I want to be with my grandsons. And I want to be with my husband who hasn't seen much of me."