Blige, Chili Peppers win three Grammys each

LOS ANGELES, Feb 12 (Reuters) R&B singer Mary J Blige and California rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers each won three Grammy Awards today, while pop veterans Stevie Wonder and Tony Bennett added to their bulging collections during early proceedings.

On another nostalgic note, reunited rock band The Police opened the televised ceremony at the Staples Center by playing their first major public show in more than 20 years.

Blige headed into ceremony with a leading eight nominations, ahead of six for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. She also lost three races, but remains a contender for record and song of the year.

Blige won the statuettes for best R&B album, ''The Breakthrough,'' as well as R&B song and female R&B vocal performance, both for ''Be Without You.'' An emotional Blige said she was gratified at the positive attention she was now receiving after years of negative publicity surrounding the hard-living ways she has now renounced.

''I want to use this success to build bridges, not to burn them,'' she said. Her career Grammy haul now stands at six.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who had won just two previous Grammys to date, were honoured for best rock song and best vocal performance, both for the hit single ''Dani California.'' Their CD, ''Stadium Arcadium,'' which is up for the coveted album of the year award, also won for the boxed/limited-edition package Grammy. The band lost the short-form video race.

In the first televised awards presentation, following a ceremony where 97 winners of the 108 categories were announced in haste, Wonder and Bennett took the pop collaboration with vocals Grammy over Blige and U2's cover of the Irish rock band's ''One.'' Wonder and Bennett were honored for a reworking of the Motown icon's ''For Once In My Life.'' Wonder, 56, noted that he first wrote the song when he was 17 With a career tally of 25 Grammys, he now ranks at No 4 on the all-time list, tied with classic pianist Vladimir Horowitz.

Bennett, who also won the traditional pop vocal album Grammy, was cut off by loud music as he tried to thank his tour sponsor. His career total stands at 14.

TIMBERLAKE WINS TWO Other key nominees also took early prizes, including country trio the Dixie Chicks, who won the group-country performance Grammy for ''Not Ready to Make Nice,'' a response to the backlash over singer Natalie Maines' criticism of President George W Bush. The victory brought the group's career Grammy tally to nine. They will also compete for album, song and record of the year, as well as best country album.

Two other acts competing for album of the year, the soul-pop duo Gnarls Barkley and pop vocalist Justin Timberlake, each took home two early Grammys.

Gnarls Barkley, consisting of hip-hop singer Cee-Lo Green and producer Danger Mouse, won the urban/alternative performance Grammy for their international chart-topper ''Crazy.'' Their album ''St.

Elsewhere'' also took home the alternative music album Grammy.

Timberlake (and producer Timbaland) won the dance recording Grammy for ''Sexy Back.'' The former member of boy band 'N Sync also was an unusual winner in the rap category for ''My Love.'' REUTERS DKS PM0804