Watch this story in Real Video

The veteran musician, Bob Dylan, has won three Grammy awards after a year in which he made a musical comeback from a life-threatening illness.

Dylan's son, Jakob, won two awards as the American music business handed out its top honours.

Elton John won his Grammy for Candle in the Wind 97

Elton John also won a best male pop vocal performance Grammy for Candle in the Wind 1997, his eulogy to Princess Diana that became the best-selling single of all time.

The folk rocker, Shawn Colvin won the Grammy for song of the year, the most prestigious songwriter award with Sunny Came Home.

But as she came up to the stage to accept her award, the microphone was hijacked by ODB of the rap group Wu-Tang Clan, who bragged about his group.

Dylan's Time Out of Mind won best album of the year

Rapper Puff Daddy, Lilith Fair founder Sarah McLachlan, country-bluegrass performer, Alison Kraus, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, soul newcomer Erykah Badu and the late newsman Charles Kuralt were also multiple winners in the 40th annual awards show, held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Tribute to 'prophets'

Actor and rapper Will Smith, who won his third Grammy award in a decade for Men in Black, dedicated his award to the late rapper Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. He called them prophets who helped rap out of its own "dark ages."

Grammy voters chose Trisha Yearwood's "How Do I Live" as best female country performance. Among her competitors was LeAnn Rimes, for her version of the same song written by Diane Warren.

Tony Bennett crooned his way to a Grammy

Dylan's awards were for Time Out of Mind, which won best album and best contemporary folk album of the year.

A song from the record, "Cold Irons Bound," won for best male rock vocal performance. The album was released only months after he suffered a painful heart infection.

Jakob Dylan won as a composer of the best rock song, "One Headlight," performed by his band, the Wallflowers. The same song was honoured as the best rock vocal performance by a duo or group.

Puff and Tony honoured

Puff Daddy was honoured with the best rap album Grammy for "No Way Out." His top-selling tribute to the Notorious B.I.G., "I'll Be Missing You," won best rap performance by a duo or group. Known more as a producer, Puff Daddy wasn't even nominated in the best producer category, won by Babyface.

Tony Bennett won the award for for the best traditional pop vocal performance for "Tony Bennett on Holiday".

The late classical conductor, Sir Georg Solti, won his record high 31st Grammy, for best opera recording. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma won two awards.

The ceremony may be the last in Manhattan for a while. New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Grammy chief Michael Greene have been feuding after the mayor accused Greene of swearing at one of his aides.

Winners of the Grammy Awards are determined by the votes of eligible members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©