WATCH: Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men perform touching tribute to Kobe Bryant

Cape Town – The Grammys paid tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant at the annual awards ceremony.

The 41-year-old and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna - along with seven others - died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas.

Host Alicia Keys, offered a love letter to Kobe's memory: "We're all feeling crazy sadness right now. Earlier today, Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero."

"And we're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built," said Alicia, before launching into a soulful rendition of It's So Hard to Say Goodbye (To Yesterday) with the group Boyz II Men.

WATCH THE TRIBUTE HERE:

"He would want us to keep the vibrations high," Alicia later said, before singing a humorous yet soothing opening monologue at the piano.

A mushrooming crowd of people, many of them in tears, gathered near the arena to mourn the 41-year-old Bryant. Flags were flying at half-mast.

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Compiled by Leandra Engelbrecht. (Sources: AFP)