The Grammys last night honoured Ray Charles' posthumous duets recording with eight awards.
Charles, who died in June aged 73 from liver disease, won five Grammys for Genius Loves Company, taking his career haul to 17. U2 also secured three awards.
The album also won production awards for arrangement, engineering and surround sound. Genius Loves Companyhas become the biggest of Charles's career, selling 2.1 million copies since its release in September.
While the album had been a heavy and sentimental favorite, the show also delivered some of the biggest shocks in its stormy 47-year-history, snubbing leading nominee Kanye West in most categories, including best new artist. West won only three awards, having led the field with 10 nominations.
The best new artist prize went to pop band Maroon5, whose members were stunned when their names were announced. Singer/songwriter John Mayer also seemed a little ashamed to win the song of the year prize, deferring to R&B singer Alicia Keys, who won four Grammys.
"I'm gonna screw the top half off this Grammy and give her the base," he told reporters backstage.
Rock band U2 and R&B singer Usher also won three grammys, while among those winning two awards were country veteran Loretta Lynn, funk musician Prince, jazz pianist Norah Jones, roots rocker Ben Harper and punk rock trio Green Day.