The 1991 Soul Train Music Awards aired live on March 12, 1991 (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 Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was hosted by Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick.
Special awards Heritage Award for Career Achievement Smokey Robinson
Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year M.C. Hammer
Winners and nominees Winners are in bold text.
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Male Johnny Gill – Johnny Gill Al B. Sure! - Private Times...and the Whole 9! MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em Keith Sweat – I'll Give All My Love to You
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Female Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey Anita Baker – Compositions Michel'le – Michel'le Lisa Stansfield – Affection
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Group, Band, or Duo Bell Biv Devoe – Poison En Vogue – Born to Sing Tony! Toni! Toné! – The Revival The Whispers – More of the Night
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Male Johnny Gill – "My, My, My" Babyface – "Whip Appeal" MC Hammer – "U Can't Touch This" James Ingram – "I Don't Have the Heart"
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Female Mariah Carey – "Vision of Love" Anita Baker – "Talk to Me" Janet Jackson – "Alright" Lisa Stansfield – "All Around the World"
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Group, Band or Duo En Vogue – "Hold On" After 7 – "Ready or Not" Bell Biv DeVoe – "Poison" Quincy Jones – "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)"
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year MC Hammer – "U Can't Touch This" Johnny Gill – "My, My, My" Mariah Carey - "Vision Of Love" En Vogue – "Hold On"
Best Music Video Janet Jackson – "Alright" En Vogue – "Hold On" MC Hammer – "U Can't Touch This" Public Enemy – "911 Is a Joke"
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary New Artist Mariah Carey Oleta Adams En Vogue Vanilla Ice
Best Rap Album MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em Ice Cube – Amerikkka's Most Wanted LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
Best Gospel Album The Winans – Return Commissioned – State of Mind Tramaine Hawkins – Live Take 6 – So Much to Say
Best Jazz Album Najee – Tokyo Blue Anita Baker – Compositions Branford Marsalis Quartet and Terence Blanchard – Music from Mo Better Blues Take 6 – So Much to Say
Performers Johnny Gill – "Rub You the Right Way" Ralph Tresvant – "Sensitivity" Bell Biv DeVoe – "She's Dope!" En Vogue – "Hold On" LL Cool J – "Around the Way Girl" Dionne Warwick – "Night and Day" Teddy Pendergrass – "Make It With You" Smokey Robinson Tribute: Luther Vandross – "Since I Lost My Baby" Patti LaBelle – "Ooo Baby Baby" Gladys Knight – "The Tracks of My Tears" MC Hammer – Medley: "Let's Get It Started" / "Turn This Mutha Out" / "Here Comes the Hammer"
Presenters
Heavy D, Anita Pointer, and Al Jarreau - Presented Best Urban Contemporary New Artist Sheena Easton and The Boys - Presented Best Gospel Album Fred Hammond, Oleta Adams, and Tony! Toni! Tone! - Presented Best Jazz Album Altovise Davis - Presented Sammy Davis Jr. For Entertainer of the Year James Ingram, Tramaine Hawkins, and Run DMC - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Single Female David Peaston, Queen Latifah, and After 7 - Presented Best Music Video The Winans, Michel'le, and Ice-T - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Single Group, Band, or Duo BeBe and CeCe Winans, John Tesh, and Vanessa Williams - Presented Best Rap Album Whoopi Goldberg - Presented Outstanding Award For Career Achievement Barry White, Cree Summer, and Big Daddy Kane - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Single Male Take 6, Vanity, and Will Smith - Presented Urban Contemporary Song of the Year Holly Robinson Peete, Stephanie Mills, and Guy - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Album Female Jody Watley, Mario Van Peebles, and Kid 'n Play - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Album Male Sinbad, Rosie Perez, and Jeffrey Osborne - Presented Best R&B Urban Contemporary Album Group, Band, or Duo
References