Marianne Faithfull News

Chicago rapper Kanye West, who survived a near-fatal car crash to score one of the biggest hits of the year with his debut album, led an eclectic field of commercially successful Grammy Award contenders with 10 nominations, organizers said on Tuesday.

R&B singers Alicia Keys and Usher picked up eight nominations each, followed by late "Genius of Soul" Ray Charles with seven, and punk rock band Green Day with six.

Jazz pianist Norah Jones , country veteran Loretta Lynn, funk musician Prince and engineer Al Schmitt each earned five.

West, whose nominations included the key categories of best new artist, album of the year and song of the year, told Reuters he was overwhelmed to receive so many nods.

"I won't even lie. It's really just as much scary as it makes you happy," he said.

Already a successful producer, West began recording his first album in 2001. But work was halted in October 2002 when he was involved in a car crash. Battered and bruised with his jaw wired shut, he returned to record the track "Through the Wire," which related his experience.

His debut album, "The College Dropout," a soulful mix of hip-hop and gangsta rap, has sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States since its February release.

It will compete for album of the year with Charles' posthumous duets album "Genius Loves Company," Green Day's "American Idiot," Keys' "The Diary of Alicia Keys" and Usher's "Confessions.

Green Day, which burst on the scene 10 years ago with its Grammy-winning major-label debut, becomes the first punk rock band to be nominated in this category, having topped the U.S. charts with its million-selling "American Idiot" in September.

"The older that you get and the longer that you've been around, for me, it's a lot sweeter," said Billie Joe Armstrong, the band's singer/guitarist and primary songwriter.

RAY VS. RAY

It was a bittersweet experience for Ray Charles' friends and collaborators. The soul icon, who won 12 Grammys during his career, died of liver disease in June, aged 73.

Charles will compete against himself in the pop collaboration with vocals category, with "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" (with Elton John ) going up against "Here We Go Again" (with Norah Jones). Two other dead artists, punk rocker Joe Strummer and country outlaw Johnny Cash, were nominated for their cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song."

There were few surprises among the main categories, although Irish rock band U2's new single "Vertigo" failed to make the key song and record of the year categories. The song landed three nominations in the rock and video categories.

Although the Grammys honor artistic excellence, most of the leading nominees have in fact sold millions. Usher's "Confessions" was the biggest seller in the United States this year with sales of 7 million copies.

Keys, who was the big star of the 2002 Grammys when she won five awards for her debut album, has sold 3.6 million copies of her follow-up, "The Diary of Alicia Keys." Jones has also sold 3.6 million copies of her second album, "Feels Like Home," having won five Grammys in 2003. Charles' album has sold 1.6 million copies, the biggest tally of his career.

Besides West, the other best new artist nominees were Texan rock trio Los Lonely Boys, country singer Gretchen Wilson, pop band Maroon5, and young English soul singer Joss Stone.

Winners of the 47th annual Grammy Awards will be announced on Feb. 13 during ceremonies at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.