Leonard Cohen, Michael Jackson Among Special Grammy Winners

Posted on Jan 31st 2010 3:00PM by Liz Colville
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Leonard Cohen and Michael Jackson were awarded special Grammys honoring lifetime achievement in a separate ceremony at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles Saturday. The 75-year-old Canadian songwriter and the late pop star were named alongside country great Loretta Lynn, the late crooner Bobby Darin, jazz trumpeter Clark Terry, blues guitarist David "Honeyboy" Edwards and classical pianist Andre Previn.

Several of the awards were accepted by others on behalf of the recipients, Reuters reports. But Cohen, 75, accepted his own award, observing in his speech that he has never before won a Grammy for his recorded work, though he did win for his appearance on Herbie Hancock's 2008 Album of the Year.

"As we make our way toward the finish line that some of us have already crossed, I never thought I'd get a Grammy award. In fact, I was always touched by the modesty of their interest," Cohen quipped.

Dodd Darin, Bobby's son, paid tribute to his father, who died of complications from a congenital heart condition at age 37, describing him as a hard worker who would have achieved the status of a singer like Tony Bennett, had his health not gotten in the way.

Michael Jackson's manager, Frank DiLeo, accepted the award on the late singer's behalf, praising Jackson as "a funny guy, he had a sense of humor like none of you ever knew."

Saturday's ceremony won't be the only tribute to the King of Pop. The official Grammy show will feature a star-studded 3-D tribute to Jackson including some of his reportedly favorite performers: Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and his godfather Smokey Robinson, according to E!

Leonard Cohen on AOL Music
Michael Jackson on AOL Music