by Dionne Warwick and Keith Sweat were honored at the 2013 presentation of the Soul Train Awards in Las Vegas Friday night.
With tributes from Gladys Knight, Ronald Isley, Eric Benet, Ruben Studdard, Kenny Lattimore, Bobby V and "American Idol" winner Candice Glover, Warwick received the Legend Award.
"Dionne Warwick’s relationship with the Soul Train brand dates all the way back to the beginning. In her basement, along with Don Cornelius, the idea and concept for the Soul Train Awards was conceived. Committed to providing artists with a platform to showcase their talent, Cornelius and Warwick put together an innovative show at a time where African American artists were not widely recognized for their contributions," Soul Train Award organizers report.
Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Sweat performed a medley of his own hits and welcomed Faith Evans for a special performance.
“Dionne Warwick is a legend in every sense of the word, especially as it relates to the Soul Train brand and you can’t pay homage to the 90’s without mentioning one of the greatest contemporary artists of our time and the innovator behind New Jack Swing, Keith Sweat,” said Paxton Baker, General Manager and Executive Vice President, CENTRIC. “It’s an incredible honor for us to be able to recognize two great artists and their trailblazing paths not only as musicians, but entrepreneurs who have proven their passion and commitment to music.”
The Soul Train Awards will air on CENTRIC and BET, December 1, 2013 at 8PM ET/PT.
