Las Vegas Weekly

February 9, 2009 · 12:40 AM

Grammys score a deuce for the home team

By Sarah Feldberg

Ne-Yo, left, and Tennille Jimenez arrive at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles.

Photo: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

At Sunday night’s 51st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, one perpetually dapper Vegas son had an extra reason to shine. Make that two extra reasons, actually.

After playing the Pearl at the Palms on Thursday, R&B crooner Ne-Yo headed to L.A., where he took home two Grammy’s Sunday night.

The 29-year-old singer-songwriter won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his hit single “Miss Independent,” beating out nominees Eric Benét, Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Usher. The track’s songwriting team also took home the Grammy in the category of Best R&B Song.

Nominated in six categories, the local product who has written songs for Rihanna, Beyonce and local diva Celine Dion told the Weekly the Grammy nods were “basically God telling me to calm down, to stop whining and complaining. The respect and recognition I get is enough.”

But it’s not really the thought that counts. While Ne-Yo’s Year of the Gentleman was passed by for Record Of The Year – the win went to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for Please Read The Letter - two golden gramophones are nothing to complain about.

Photo: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

From left, Smokey Robinson, Ne-Yo and Duke Fakir perform at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles.

Neither, of course, is the chance to perform on stage alongside Smokey Robinson and Duke Fakir, as Ne-Yo did during the award ceremony. Dressed in a sharp tux and his classic fedora, Vegas’ R&B hit maker seemed thrilled to be standing on the Grammy stage next to the two musical vets.

And hey, two out of six ain’t bad.

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