— The British folk rock band Mumford and Sons has received the top award of album of the year at the Grammy Awards for its recording Babel.
The music honors in Los Angeles late Sunday were shared this year by industry veterans and independent artists.
Mumford and Sons earned the Grammy for best album. The group performed its hit I Will Wait at the annual music gala.
Mumford and Sons lost the Grammy for best rock album to The Black Keys, which won for the album El Camino. The Black Keys took Grammys for best rock performance and best rock song for Lonely Boy.
The Belgian-Australian musician Gotye took the Grammy for record of the year for Somebody That I Used to Know, performed with New Zealand artist Kimbra.
The song also brought the pair a Grammy for best pop duo, and Gotye earned the Grammy for alternative album for Making Mirrors.
The pop-rock trio Fun was named best new artist, and their hit track We Are Young, performed with Janelle Monae earned the songwriters’ award of song of the year.
Host LL Cool J speaks at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 10, 2013.
Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine (L) and Alicia Keys perform at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 10, 2013.
Jay-Z (L), Frank Ocean (C), and The-Dream accept the Grammy for best rap/sung collaboration for "No Church in the Wild" at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 10, 2013.
Nate Ruess, lead singer of Fun, performs at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 10, 2013.
Taylor Swift performs at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 10, 2013.
Skrillex and Sirah (R) accept their award for best dance recording for their work "Bangarang" in 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 10, 2013.
Gotye poses with his Grammy awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Kimbra (R) and for Best Alternative Music Album, backstage at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California Feb. 10, 2013.
The Robert Glasper Experiment accept their award for best R&B Album for their album "Black Radio" at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 10, 2013.
Singer Olga Levit looks on as DJ Al Walser, who is nominated for best dance recording, salutes photographers as they arrive at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California February 10, 2013.
Ashanti arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles.
Backstage, member Andrew Dost said the group is not new to the music scene, but is new to the Grammys.
“After years and years of touring, you start to think this is cool, but that’s a different world that we’ll never really be a part of. And so for us to be hear to night and for us to take a couple home is just a very special, incredible feeling,” said Dost.
Kelly Clarkson won the Grammy for best pop vocal album for Stronger. Clarkson got her start on the TV talent show American Idol and went on to become a major singing star. So did Carrie Underwood. She won the Grammy for best country solo performance for Blown Away.
Backstage, Underwood said she grew up loving country music.
“I love that world. I love the people in it. I love making country music that I feel like anybody can get into, no matter what kind of genre you listen to," she said. "I just want to make good song, sing good songs, write good songs."
The Zac Brown Band won the Grammy for best country album for Uncaged.
The British songstress Adele won for best pop solo performance for Set Fire to the Rain. She says competition was tough, with Kelly Clarkson, Carly Rae Jepsen, Katy Perry and Rihanna in that category.
“I just want to send big love to the other girls and al of us females doing this, because we work so hard, we make it look so easy,” said Adele.
Most Grammys were handed out before the award telecast began, including the Grammy for best world music album, which went to the late Indian musician Ravi Shankar.
Latin jazz musician Arturo Sandoval earned the Grammy for large jazz ensemble for his tribute to jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, called Dear Diz.
Backstage, Sandoval said the jazz genre has inspired him through five decades.
“I never lost the enthusiasm. I kept my desire every single day to practice, to improve, to write new music, like I am at the beginning of my career," said Sandoval. "I’ve played music for 54 years, but for me, it’s like I started last week.”
Rappers Jay-Z, Kanye West and the electronic musician Skrillex each earned three awards.