Lauryn Hill, Will Smith, And B.B. King Win NAACP Awards

02/16/1999 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(2/16/99, 1 p.m. PST) - In perhaps what was a preview of some Grammy Awards categories, Lauryn Hill and Will Smith were the big music award-winners at the 30th annual NAACP Image Awards, held Saturday and Sunday in Pasadena. And, like the Grammy show often does, the Image Awards also offered some surprise guests.

Hill, whose 10 nominations makes her the leading Grammy nominee, was named Best New Artist, Outstanding Female Artist, and also picked up Best Album for The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. In addition, she was presented with the President's Prize for "special achievement in furthering the cause of civil rights and public service."

Smith, whose "Getting' Jiggy Wit It" is Grammy-nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance, won an Image Award for Best Rap Artist for his song "Just The Two Of Us," and Entertainer Of The Year for his music and starring roles in such films as Men In Black and Enemy Of The State.

Blues legend B.B. King, who is nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album with Deuces Wild, was presented with a lifetime achievement award by Jay Leno. The Tonight Show host came onstage strumming a guitar with Kevin Eubanks and the Tonight Show band. The big surprise of the weekend came after King gave a short speech. Leno led the guitarist over to a stool and Eric Clapton strolled onto the stage to perform "Rock Me Baby" as a special tribute to King. If that weren't enough, halfway through Clapton's performance, George Benson joined in. Finally, King's trusty guitar, Lucille, was lowered into his hands on wires, and the three legendary guitarists finished the song together.

Tonight King is making a special appearance at his nightclub at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles.

To read a feature on B.B. King, click here.

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