Santana ties record for most Grammys

Carlos Sanatana holds one of his eight Grammy awards backstage after the ceremony

February 23, 2000
Web posted at: 11:56 p.m. EST (0456 GMT)

(CNN) -- It was Carlos Santana's comeback night as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences celebrated the year in music during its 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Santana, the 52-year-old singer-guitarist who played at the original Woodstock in 1969, took home eight Grammys for his 1999 album "Supernatural," including one for best album and two for the single "Smooth" featuring Rob Thomas. It was the most Grammys won by a single performer in Grammy history, tying the record set by Michael Jackson in 1983.

The song "Smooth" also won its writers, Itaal Shur and Thomas, a Grammy for song of the year.

Santana, meantime, won awards for best record, best album, best pop duo/group with vocals, best pop collaboration with vocals, best pop instrumental performance, best rock duo/group with vocals, best rock instrumental performance, and best rock album.

"To live is to dream. To die is to awaken. Please don't wake me up," Santana said in accepting his first award of the night for "Smooth."

WINNING TUNES Santana: "Smooth" TLC: "No Scrubs" Sting: "Brand New Day" Dixie Chicks: "Ready to Run" Christina Aguilera: "Genie in a Bottle" (Audio in MP3 format)     ARTIST BIOS Santana TLC Sting Christina Aguilera more...     ALSO Who won, who lost? Find out here!

Later, in accepting the prize for the song "El Farol," he dedicated his win to his father, Jose, a mariachi violinist "who taught me the value of music." He also said his success should serve as inspiration for others.

"This is for all the people who don't have running water or electricity," said Santana, a native of Mexico. "If I could do it, you could do it."

If anyone threatened to steal the spotlight from Santana, it was Elton John, who was honored with a Legend Award from the Academy. John, who says he had never attended a Grammy ceremony before Wednesday night, had his career revisited on the big screen at the Shrine Auditorium -- from his days as a burgeoning pop star in the early '70s, to his current status as a pop icon and writer of music for film and stage.

He capped the presentation by playing a rendition of one of his hit songs, 1975's "Philadelphia Freedom."

Other winners:

- Christina Aguilera was chosen best new artist by the NARAS on Wednesday night. It was the first Grammy for the 19-year-old.

"I seriously do not have a speech prepared whatsoever," a giddy Aguilera said as she accepted the award. "Thank you so, so much."

- Sting won two Grammys for his album "Brand New Day" -- best pop album and best male pop performance.

- TLC won two Grammys, including one for best R&B album for "FanMail," while songwriters Kevin Shekspere Briggs, Kandi Burruss and Tameka Cottle took home the best song award for "No Scrubs."

- The Dixie Chicks won two Grammys, including best country album for "Fly."

The ceremony was hosted by Rosie O'Donnell, who injected her brand of humor throughout the festivities. At the beginning of the show, she told the audience that David Crosby was her father. Crosby made headlines earlier this year when it was revealed that he was the biological father to Melissa Etheridge's two children.

After singer-actress Jennifer Lopez presented an award in a floor-length green dress with a neckline plunging to her midsection, O'Donnell cracked, "It's always great to see Jennifer Lopez in a classy, understated number like that."

Nominee Profiles Learn more about the musicians Fun and Games Take our Grammy challenge! Message Board What do you think of the Recording Academy's selections?

Performances by some of the top acts in the music business also highlighted the event. Ricky Martin, the Backstreet Boys, Will Smith, the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears and TLC were some of the artists who sang their hit songs.

Kid Rock, the controversial metal-rap performer, might have earned the loudest response with his rendition of two songs from his album "Cowboy." It certainly affected O'Donnell.

"What the hell was that?" she said after Kid Rock left the stage. "Why does that scare me to death? Frankly, I'm a little frightened. I'm a Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow girl ... I'm so out of the loop."

The Backstreet Boys, the boy-band that has risen to fame thanks to a huge teen audience, and Ricky Martin were shut out from winning a Grammy. Martin launched his American success story by performing "Living La Vida Loca" at last year's Grammys.

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The 42nd Grammy Awards

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