Quincy Jones Roars Back, Wins 6 Grammy Awards : Music: Songwriter Julie Gold takes song of the year honors. The late Roy Orbison is best pop male vocalist.

Quincy Jones, jazz musician, composer and producer of records and television shows, burst back into the limelight as a performing artist Wednesday, winning six Grammy awards for his eclectic album “Back on the Block.”

“I can’t believe this,” said Jones, a tremor in his voice as he accepted the album of the year award at the Grammy ceremonies. “I’ve been in this academy since 1958 and this is the first time I ever dared to think about having a Grammy under my own name. And I’m so proud.”

He dedicated the Grammy to the late Sarah Vaughan, whose last performance was “Birdland” on the album, which danced through just about every musical genre, including rap and jazz. Jones also won producer of the year for a non-classical album.

Songwriter Julie Gold won the song of the year Grammy for “From a Distance,” performed by Bette Midler.

The late Roy Orbison won the pop male vocal award for his rock standard, “Oh Pretty Woman.”

Rap sensation M. C. Hammer, capering before the audience at the awards program at Radio City Music Hall, won three awards in the early going.

“I would like to send this out to the families and to the men and women who are putting their lives on the line for us in the Persian Gulf,” Hammer said in accepting the Grammy for solo rap performance for “U Can’t Touch This.”

“Your love is all-l-l-l-l I need,” sang Luther Vandross, accepting the male rhythm and blues vocal Grammy for “Here and Now.”

Mariah Carey, a former backup singer whose seven-octave range was showcased on her debut album, won the Grammy as best new artist.

Jones, 57, is the most-nominated artist in Grammy history, with 76. His six wins Wednesday made him the second-biggest winner in Grammy history with 25. Georg Solti is No. 1 with 28 Grammys.

Jones’ album won two other awards for engineering and best rhythm and blues performance by a duo or group. He produced Michael Jackson’s two megahit albums as well as the Grammy-winning “We Are the World.”

Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, accepted a special award for her husband. “John would have been especially pleased to be noticed by an industry he helped expand,” she said.

Hammer also won for best music video-long form for “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em the Movie.”

Jones, along with rappers Ice-T, Melle Mel, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee and Quincy D. III, won for best rap performance by a duo or group.

Another track from Jones’ “Back on the Block” album, “I’ll Be Good to You,” by Ray Charles and Chaka Khan, won best R&B; performance by a duo or group with vocals.

The rap group Public Enemy, which boycotted the ceremony, vied for the same category. Public Enemy labeled as racist the decision to present some of the rap Grammys before the televised portion of the show.

Sinead O’Connor, up for four awards, won the alternative music performance Grammy. She did not attend the event, saying her decision was based on the Grammys’ recognition of sales over art.

Anita Baker’s “Compositions” won the best female R&B; vocal performance.

Jones, nominated for seven Grammys, competed with established artist Phil Collins and newcomers Carey, Wilson Phillips and Hammer for album of the year.

Carey had five nominations, including record of the year, album of the year and song of the year. Pop trio Wilson Phillips was up for four awards from its debut album.

Hammer also was nominated for record of the year, while rockers the Black Crowes and pop diva Lisa Stansfield joined Carey and Phillips in the best new artist category.

This year’s four Lifetime Achievement Award winners were opera singer Marian Anderson, country and western singer Kitty Wells, and rock icons Bob Dylan and Lennon.

Security was tight for the televised portion of the program. Police, guards, bomb-sniffing dogs and hand-held metal detectors were used inside and outside the hall, and adjoining side streets were closed to traffic.

Here is a partial list of the winners:

POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE: “Twin Peaks Theme,” Angelo Badalamentei.

ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE: “The Black Velvet,” Alannah Myles.

ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE: “D-FW,” the Vaughan Brothers.

METAL PERFORMANCE: “Stone Cold Crazy,” Metallica.

BEST NEW AGE PERFORMANCE: Mark Isham, “Mark Isham.”

JAZZ VOCAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE: “All That Jazz,” Ella Fitzgerald.

JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE, SOLOIST: “The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Blue Note,” Oscar Peterson.

JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE, GROUP: “The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Blue Note,” Oscar Peterson.

JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE, BIG BAND: “Basie’s Bag,” George Benson featuring the Count Basie Orchestra.

COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE: “Where’ve You Been,” Kathy Mattea.