LOS ANGELES (AFP) - John Prine, the late American folk legend who was among his generation's most influential songwriters, won two posthumous Grammys on Sunday (March 14) after dying of coronavirus complications.

Prine - who died at the age of 73 last April, as the first wave of Covid-19 was sweeping much of the United States - won for his final tune I Remember Everything, for Best Roots Performance and Best Roots Song.

The artist dubbed the "Mark Twain of American songwriting" last year received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy.

"We love and miss you, dad," said one of his sons via video chat as his family accepted the awards.

Also celebrated with two posthumous Grammys was Chick Corea, the American jazz composer whose visionary fusion work stretched the traditional boundaries of musical genres.

Corea - who died in February of a rare form of cancer - won for Best Improvised Jazz Solo and Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

"He always said, 'Go for it'," said Mrs Gayle Corea, the pianist's wife, who accepted the awards on his behalf.

"Don't ever say you cannot do it," she said, when asked in the virtual press room about Corea's legacy.

"He's with me - he's on my shoulder right here. He's with us in spirit."

Other artistes who earned posthumous nominations included rappers Pop Smoke and Nipsey Hussle, and folk icon Leonard Cohen.