LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 -- Carlos Santana's top-selling album, "Supernatural," won nine trophies at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Wednesday, as the veteran rock guitarist reached the crest of a comeback that began last year with the release of his first CD in seven years.
The Recording Academy named "Supernatural" Album of the Year and Rock Album of the Year, and recognized the chart-topping single "Smooth" as Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Santana tied Michael Jackson's record -- set in 1983 -- of eight Grammys in a single year.
Technically, the Song of the Year award did not go to Santana, since the song was written by Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, who sang on the record.
The album -- which teamed Santana with an array of artists including Thomas, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill and Everlast -- also won Grammys for Pop Duo/Group Vocal ("Maria Maria"); Pop Collaboration with Vocals ("Smooth"); Pop Instrumental Performance ("El Farol"); Rock Duo/Group with Vocal ("Put Your Lights On," featuring Everlast); and Rock Instrumental Performance ("The Calling," featuring Eric Clapton).
Santana dedicated his Grammy win to "all the people who don't have running water or electricity...if I could do it, you could do it."
He told reporters backstage that the awards underscore his philosophy that "together we can make music to heal this planet."
The guitar legend's big night came as he was going public with details of sexual abuse he suffered in his native Mexico from the time he was 10 until he turned 12, at the hands of a Vermont man who used to take him across the Tijuana border routinely.
Santana told Rolling Stone the man bought him food, clothes and toys before abusing him. He said he did not realize the man was "a very sick person" until the man smacked him for looking at a girl, at which point Santana says he ended the relationship.
He said in the interview, "You want to get angry with yourself for not knowing better...the mind has a very insidious way of making you feel guilty...you're the one who brought this on yourself." He said the guilt, and his Catholic upbringing, combined to make him angryuntil his wife, Deborah, told him in 1995 that he had to get into therapy or risk losing her.
Santana says that's when he started engineering the comeback that reached its high point with the phenomenal critical and commercial success of "Supernatural."
The R&B trio TLC won three Grammys. Their hit CD, "Fanmail" won for Best R&B Album, and the single "No Scrubs" won for R&B Song and R&B Duo/Group with Vocal.
Sting, Eminem, Shania Twain, the Dixie Chicks, Asleep at the Wheel and jazz composer-arranger Don Sebesky each won two Grammys, which were handed out in ceremonies at the new Staples Center in Los Angeles, hosted by Rosie O'Donnell.
Sting won for Best Pop Album and Male Pop Vocal Performance ("Brand New Day"). Eminem won for Rap Album ("The Slim Lady LP) and Rap Solo Performance ("My Name Is").
Shania Twain won for Female Country Vocal ("Man I Feel Like a Woman") and Country Song ("Come on Over"). The Dixie Chicks' "Fly" was named best Country Album, and the trio won for Country Duo/Group with Vocal for "Ready to Run."
Christina Aguilera won for Best New Artist, and Cher won Best Pop Dance Record for "Believe," her first Grammy in a career dating back to the mid-'60s.
The Recording Academy presented pop icon Elton John with its Living Legend Award and also presented special awards to singer-activist Harry Belafonte, legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie, blues man John Lee Hooker, producer-arranger Mitch Miller, and country music legend Willie Nelson.
