1987 Soul Train Music Awards
# 1987 Soul Train Music Awards

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 awards

### 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
* Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross – Medley: "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"
