Sam Smith, Pharrell, Beyonce early Grammy winners

Up and coming British soul singer Sam Smith has taken an early lead at the Grammy awards with two wins, including best new artist. Smith won the prize for Best New Artist and is also in contention in the other three most prestigious categories - Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Smith has enjoyed a phenomenal rise with “Stay With Me” - a tender ballad about a one-night stand.

Before I made this record, I was doing everything to try and get my music heard.

Best New Artist winner Sam Smith

Pharrell Williams won for Best Urban Contemporary Album and for Best Video for “Happy,” his viral ode to happiness that spawned hundreds of imitations around the world. Williams, 41, has emerged as a star in his own right with “Happy” after years on the sidelines as a producer. Last year, he enjoyed Grammy nominations for his work both on Robin Thicke’s lustful “Blurred Lines” and with the French electronic duo Daft Punk, who were 2014’s big winners. Beyonce won for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance with “Drunk In Love,” her tale of marital bliss sung with her husband Jay-Z, as well as for the more technical Best Surround Sound Album. With the latest honor, Beyonce has won 20 Grammys - topping Aretha Franklin for the woman with the second biggest all-time haul, although still well behind the country star Alison Krauss at 27.

Life is a carousel.

Grammy winner and “Happy” producer Pharrell Williams.

Entertainment Grammys2015