The 1989 Soul Train Music Awards was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and aired live in select cities on April 13, 1989 (and was later syndicated in other areas), honoring the best in R&B, soul, rap, jazz, and gospel music from the previous year. The show was hosted by Patti LaBelle, Ahmad Rashad and Dionne Warwick.
Special awards Heritage Award for Career Achievement Michael Jackson
Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year Michael Jackson
Winners and nominees Winners are in bold text.
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Male Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel Bobby McFerrin – Simple Pleasures Al B. Sure – In Effect Mode Luther Vandross – Any Love
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Female Anita Baker – Giving You the Best That I Got Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman Sade – Stronger Than Pride Vanessa Williams – The Right Stuff
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Group, Band, or Duo New Edition – Heart Break Guy – Guy LeVert – Just Coolin' Tony! Toni! Toné! – Who?
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Male Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror" Bobby Brown – "My Prerogative" Johnny Kemp – "Just Got Paid" Keith Sweat – "Make It Last Forever""
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Female Anita Baker – "Giving You the Best That I Got" Whitney Houston – "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" Karyn White – "Superwoman" Vanessa Williams – "The Right Stuff" Note: This segment of the awards ceremony is most memorable because when Whitney Houston's name was called, the crowd began to boo her, citing the idea that Houston was "acting white" and was a "sell-out".
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Group Band or Duo E.U. – "Da Butt" Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock – "It Takes Two" Guy – "Groove Me" New Edition – "If It Isn't Love"
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year Anita Baker – "Giving You the Best That I Got" Bobby Brown – "My Prerogative" Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror" Keith Sweat – "I Want Her"
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Music Video Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror" DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – "Parents Just Don't Understand" Kool Moe Dee – "Wild Wild West" Stevie Wonder – "Skeletons"
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary New Artist Al B. Sure! Guy Karyn White BeBe & CeCe Winans
Best Rap Album DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince – He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock – It Takes Two Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Salt-N-Pepa – A Salt with a Deadly Pepa
Best Gospel Album Take 6 – Take 6 Shirley Caesar – Live in Chicago The Clark Sisters – Conqueror James Cleveland – Inspired
Best Jazz Album Kenny G – Silhouette Bobby McFerrin – Simple Pleasures Najee – Day by Day Sade – Stronger Than Pride
Performances Ashford & Simpson – "I'll Be There for You" Sheena Easton – "The Lover in Me" Sinbad and Paul Rodriguez Levert and Heavy D & The Boyz – "Just Coolin'" Bobby Brown – "My Prerogative" Michael Jackson Tibute: Patti LaBelle – "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" Dionne Warwick – "Man in the Mirror" New Edition and Rob Base – "Crucial" Shirley Caesar, The Clark Sisters, Thelma Houston, BeBe & CeCe Winans and The Winans – "Lean on Me"
Presenters
Jasmine Guy and Keith Sweat - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary New Artist Louis Gossett Jr. and Stephanie Mills - Presented Best Gospel Album Run DMC and Johnny Kemp - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Album Group, Band, or Duo Don King and Mike Tyson - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Album Male Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam and Al B. Sure! - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Single Group, Band, or Duo Karyn White and Public Enemy - Presented Best Jazz Album Pebbles and Guy - Presented Best Rap Album James Ingram and Heather Locklear - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Single Female Eddie Murphy and Elizabeth Taylor - Presented Sammy Davis Jr. For Enetrtainer of the Year LL Cool J., Cheryl Pepsii Riley, and Alyson Williams - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Single Male Melissa Manchester and The Boys - Presented Best Urban Contemporary Song of the Year Quincy Jones and Anita Pointer - Presented Best Urban Contemporary Music Video Billy Dee Williams and Desiree Coleman - Presented R&B Urban Contemporary Album Female
References