The 1987 Soul Train Music Awards aired live on March 23, 1987 (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 held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was hosted by Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick.
Special award Heritage Award for Career Achievement Stevie Wonder
Winners and nominees Winners are in bold text.
Album of the Year – Male Luther Vandross – Give Me the Reason Freddie Jackson – Rock Me Tonight Billy Ocean – Love Zone Stevie Wonder – In Square Circle
Album of the Year – Female Janet Jackson – Control Anita Baker – Rapture Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston Patti LaBelle – Winner in You
Album of the Year – Group, Duo, or Band Cameo – Word Up! Atlantic Starr – As the Band Turns Kool & the Gang – Forever Run–D.M.C. – Raising Hell
Best Single – Male Gregory Abbott – "Shake You Down" Freddie Jackson – "Tasty Love" Prince – "Kiss" Luther Vandross – "Give Me the Reason"
Best Single – Female Anita Baker – "Sweet Love" Whitney Houston – "The Greatest Love of All" Janet Jackson – "What Have You Done for Me Lately" Meli'sa Morgan – "Do Me Baby"
Best Single – Group, Duo, or Band Cameo – "Word Up" Atlantic Starr – "Secret Lovers" Timex Social Club – "Rumors" Dionne Warrick and Friends – "That's What Friends Are For"
Best Rap Single Run–D.M.C. – "Walk This Way" Joeski Love – "Peewee's Dance" Timex Social Club – "Rumors" Whodini – "One Love"
Best Music Video Janet Jackson – "What Have You Done for Me Lately" Anita Baker – "Sweet Love" Cameo – "Word Up" Peter Gabriel – "Sledgehammer"
Best New Artist Gregory Abbott Club Nouveau The Jets Shirley Murdock
Best Rap Album Run–D.M.C. – Raising Hell Fat Boys – Fat Boys Are Back LL Cool J – Radio Whodini – Back in Black
Best Gospel Album – Solo Al Green – He Is the Light Shirley Caesar – Celebration Andraé Crouch – Autograph Tramaine – The Search Is Over
Best Gospel Album – Group, Duo, or Choir The Winans – Let My People Go Aretha Franklin with James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir – Amazing Grace Various Artists – The Color Purple Original Motion Picture Soundtrack The Williams Brothers – Blessed
Best Jazz Album – Solo George Howard – Love Will Follow Miles Davis – Tutu Kenny G – Duotones Sade – Promise
Best Jazz Album – Group, Duo, or Band Bob James and David Sanborn – Double Vision Spyro Gyra – Breakout Hiroshima – Another Place The Yellowjackets – Shades
Performers Cameo – "Word Up!" LL Cool J – "I'm Bad" Al Jarreau Run–D.M.C. and Aerosmith – "Walk This Way" Whitney Houston – "You Give Good Love" George Benson Luther Vandross – "So Amazing" Bob James Stevie Wonder Tribute: Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross – "My Cherie Amour" / "All is Fair in Love" / "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" / "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder – "I Can Only Be Me" David Sanborn, Bob James, George Benson, and the George Duke Jazz Orchestra – "It's You" Cissy Houston, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Andrae Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Shirley Caesar, Tramaine Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, The Williams Brothers and The Winans – "Mary Don't You Weep" Carlos Vega George Duke Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick and Stevie Wonder – "That's What Friends Are For"
References