The 1996 Soul Train Music Awards was held on March 29, 1996, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The show honored the best in R&B, soul, rap, jazz, and gospel music from the previous year. The show was hosted by Brandy, LL Cool J and Anita Baker.
Special awards
Heritage Award for Career Achievement Patti LaBelle
Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year Boyz II Men
Winners and nominees Winners are in bold text.
R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Male D'Angelo – Brown Sugar 'Michael Jackson' – HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I Jon B. – Bonafide Brian McKnight – I Remember You
R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Female Mary J. Blige – My Life Mariah Carey – Daydream Faith Evans – Faith Monica – Miss Thang
R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo TLC – CrazySexyCool Jodeci – The Show, the After Party, the Hotel Solo – Solo Xscape – Off the Hook
Best R&B/Soul Single – Male D'Angelo – "Brown Sugar" Michael Jackson – "You Are Not Alone" Montell Jordan – "This Is How We Do It" Seal – "Kiss from a Rose"
Best R&B/Soul Single – Female Whitney Houston – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" Mary J. Blige – "I'm Going Down" Brandy – "Brokenhearted" Monica – "Like This Like That/"Before You Walk Out Of My Life"
Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band, or Duo TLC – "Waterfalls" Boyz II Men – "Water Runs Dry" Groove Theory – "Tell Me" Jodeci – "Love U 4 Life"
R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year The Notorious B.I.G. – "One More Chance" Whitney Houston – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" Method Man – "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" TLC – "Waterfalls"
Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video TLC – "Waterfalls" Coolio – "Gangsta's Paradise" Dr. Dre – "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – "Scream"
Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist D'Angelo Faith Evans Junior M.A.F.I.A. Monica
Best Rap Album 2Pac – Me Against The World Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise Method Man – Tical
Best Jazz Album Fourplay – Elixir Boney James – Seduction Keiko Matsui – Sapphire Pat Metheny Group – We Live Here
Best Gospel Album The New Life Community Choir Featuring John P. Kee – Show Up Yolanda Adams – More Than a Melody Shirley Caesar – He Will Come Kirk Franklin and the Family – Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas
Performances LL Cool J – "Doin' It" TLC Anita Baker Mary J. Blige – "Not Gon' Cry" The Notorious B.I.G. – "One More Chance" / "Get Money" Faith Evans Yolanda Adams – "The Battle Is the Lord's" Brandy – "Sittin' Up in My Room" Patti LaBelle Tribute: Ronald Isley, Rachelle Ferrell, Peabo Bryson, Tamia – "If Only You Knew" Patti LaBelle – "Over the Rainbow"
Presenters
Shemar Moore, Salt-N-Pepa and Veronica Webb - Presented Best R&B/Soul Single - Group, Band or Duo Sinbad and Da Brat - Presented Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video Bill Cosby - Presented Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year Salli Richardson, Blackstreet and Method Man - Presented Best Jazz Album Tichina Arnold, Jon B. and Goodie Mob - Presented Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist D'Angelo, Chantay Savage and Immature - Presented Best R&B/Soul Single - Female Tamara Taylor, Chris Kelly and Montell Jordan - Presented R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year Monica, Dalvin DeGrate and Groove Theory - Presented Best Gospel Album Seal - Presented Quincy Jones Award Outstanding For Career Achievements Dorien Wilson, CeCe Peniston and Solo - Presented Best Rap Album Tevin Campbell, John Henton and Faith Evans - Presented Best R&B/Soul Album - Group, Band or Duo Brian McKnight, Xscape and Monifah - Presented Best R&B/Soul Single - Male Robert Townsend, Jermaine Dupri and Brownstone - Presented Best R&B/Soul Album - Male Heavy D, Terry Ellis and Total - Presented Best R&B/Soul Album - Female
References