LOS ANGELES -- Lamb of God and Trey Songz didn't get to bring home the gold, but Mechanicsville's Jason Mraz was a mini Grammy darling, claiming two of music's most prestigious prizes.
Mraz, who lives in San Diego, won his first-ever trophies for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Make it Mine" and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Lucky," his duet with Colbie Caillat, during the Grammy pre-show yesterday.
"We're elated," said Mraz's mom, June Tomes, who watched the pre-show online in Richmond. "To win both his categories, it's amazing. He's worked very hard."
Mraz, who was not present at the early portion of the show, attended the evening ceremony with his father, Tom, who also lives in Mechanicsville.
Meanwhile, Petersburg High School grad Trey Songz was bested by Beyoncé in the Best Contemporary R&B category, while Richmond's metal kings Lamb of God's "Set to Fail" lost to Judas Priest's "Dissident Aggressor" for Best Metal Performance.
"We are extremely happy for Judas Priest, a band that helped define and create the music we play. There is no one more deserving," Lamb of God's drummer, Chris Adler, texted soon after the award was presented.
During the pre-telecast, awards were presented in 100 of the Grammys' 109 categories.
And already, rumblings of a friendly catfights brewed.
Beyoncé, the most nominated artist at last night's ceremony with 10, went four-for-four in her nominated categories, while Taylor Swift, with eight noms, won her first-ever Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and giddily raced onstage to hug presenters Mick Fleetwood and Caillat.
It was a rare appearance by an artist of Swift's stature -- most big names bypass the pre-show to primp for the televised event.
But the 20-year-old industry darling, in typically girlish form, wasn't about to suppress her excitement.
"This is my first Grammy, you guys! I mean . . . this is a Grammy! I live in awe of the people I was nominated against," Swift said. "Thank you to everyone who is a Grammy voter and decided it was a good idea to vote for me for this."
Moments later, Swift was back onstage to accept her second award, with co-writer Liz Rose, for "White Horse" as Best Country Song.
Another Grammy newcomer, Lady Gaga, up for five awards, started strong by winning the first two of her nominated categories: Best Dance Recording ("Poker Face") and Best Electronic/Dance Album ("The Fame").
She competed later in the evening -- against Swift and others -- in the marquee categories Album, Song and Record of the Year.
Also in the first-timers club was Maxwell, who fought to restrain his emotions when accepting his trophy for Best Male R&B Solo for "Pretty Wings."
"I'm trying to keep it together," said the singer, nattily dressed in a dark suit. "Thank you to everybody who has waited for this record."
Maxwell also won Best R&B Album for his long-awaited critical and commercial success, "BLACKsummers' Night."
Awards are determined by more than 12,000 voting members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or mruggieri@timesdispatch.com.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement