The late Ray Charles' duet album "Genius Loves Company," recorded during the final months of his life, was the early leader at the Grammys in Los Angeles, with six wins on Sunday night.

The sentimental favorite won for best pop album and best pop collaboration with vocals for "Here We Go Again," with Norah Jones. Charles also was contending for album of the year and record of the year for "Here We Go Again."

Other winners included Alicia Keys and Usher, each nominated for eight Grammys. By midevening, Keys had won four, while Usher had three.

MSU students gathered around their dorm room TVs to cheer and jeer the winners and losers.

The opening number, which combined the Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani, Eve, Los Lonely Boys, Maroon 5 and Franz Ferdinand, ended when all the acts joined in a harmonized trainwreck.

"It was the music of 2004 in orgy form," said Jerry Dueitt, a Boston University junior studying computer engineering, who was visiting friends at MSU and watching in Case Hall.

Some students enjoyed the opening performance, but others said it was lacking in quality.

"For what they did, it sounded good," said Ryan Particka, a social relations and political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore.

Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures Professor Gary Hoppenstand said the Grammys aren't just about the awards.

"Unlike the Academy Awards, the Grammys focus on performance. This is both a strength and a weakness. It allows the musicians to focus on performing, rather than just the awards," Hoppenstand said.

Keys was chasing a record Grammy haul - she could win more than any other woman in one evening. Green Day, nominated for six Grammys, including album of the year for the politically charged punk-rock opera album "American Idiot," won for best rock album.

Staff writer Jacqueline WayneGuite contributed to this report.