Santana wins Grammy record of the year

Carlos Santana waves to fans as he arrives at the Arista Records pre-Grammy party with the recording company's president and founder Clive Davis

February 23, 2000
Web posted at: 9:44 p.m. EST (0244 GMT)

(CNN) -- Carlos Santana has won seven Grammy Awards so far as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences celebrates an eclectic year in music on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Santana beat another music veteran -- Cher -- as well as TLC, Ricky Martin and the Backstreet Boys, to take record of the year for "Smooth." The win followed a half dozen Grammys Santana won in the pre-awards ceremony for his album "Supernatural": rock album, rock performance by a duo or group with vocal, pop performance by a duo or group with vocal, pop instrumental performance, pop collaboration with vocals and rock instrumental performance.

"To live is to dream. To die is to awaken, Please don't wake me up," Santana, 52, said in accepting the prize for the single "Smooth," his hit collaboration with Rob Thomas.

Later, in accepting the prize for "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.

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"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."

The 42nd annual Grammy Awards was hosted by comic actress-talk show host Rosie O'Donnell. Predictably, she offered humorous commentary, claiming at one point 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.

Several artists in different music genres have already performed at the awards, including Ricky Martin, the Backstreet Boys, Will Smith, the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill and Whitney Houston.

Nominee Profiles Learn more about the musicians poised for a win Fun and Games Take our Grammy challenge! You Be the Academy Cast your own vote for several Grammy categories Message Board What do you think of the Recording Academy's selections?

Houston also took the stage to accept a Grammy for best female R&B vocal performance. Other winners so far: the Dixie Chicks for best country album in "Fly"; TLC for best R&B album in "FanMail"; and Sting, who won for best male pop vocal performance. It was his second Grammy for the album "Brand New Day," which won best pop album earlier in the evening.

Some other top awards still to come:

Vying for album of the year are the Backstreet Boys for "Millennium," Dixie Chicks for "Fly," Diana Krall for "When I Look In Your Eyes," Santana for "Supernatural," and TLC for "FanMail."

Nominees for song of the year are Andreas Carlsson and Max Martin for "I Want It That Way" (which was performed by the Backstreet Boys); Desmond Child and Robi Rosa for "Livin' La Vida Loca" (Ricky Martin); Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas for "Smooth" (Santana); Dallas Austin and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins for "Unpretty" (TLC); and Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania Twain for "You've Got a Way" (which Twain performs).

New artist nominees include Christina Aguilera, Macy Gray, Kid Rock, Britney Spears and Susan Tedeschi.

The Grammys have also featured interesting outfits. Jennifer Lopez has earned the loudest response for her full-length green dress, which featured a neckline that plunged down below her belly-button.

"It's always great to see Jennifer Lopez in a classy, understated number like that," joked O'Donnell.

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The 42nd Grammy Awards

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